Grapes of Wrath Movie

As you are watching “The Grapes of Wrath” – directed by John Ford, pay close attention to production elements that are similar to the ones we have discussed in class and your readings. In your paper, provide a description of 10 elements from the film and why you felt they were impactful shots. Your comments should be from elements of the entire movie, not just the beginning. If there were certain elements that did not appeal to you personally, you may comment on these as well. (Limit of 2.) You will also provide three facts about the actual production of the film in the form of questions and provide the answers with sources (trivia questions.) These are facts dealing with production, not the story itself. Everything should be typed and your paper should be at least 2 pages with normal font (12pt) and margins (1.25 around).
383901
2 minutes ago
Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939, has long been recognized as one of the greatest films, both musically and cinematographically. Upon watching the film, the viewer may easily witness Fleming’s artistic direction and technical genius, which substantiates its beauty. The Wizard of Oz, which demonstrated the director’s passion and advanced understanding of emerging technologies, left a significant impact on the audience and the film industry, and continues to do so through the present.

Elements:

1. Scene Synopsis: After running away from the family farm in Kansas, Dorothy encountered the professor. During their meeting, he told her the future with a crystal ball, all while emphasizing her need to return home to those who loved her.

Production Comment: The elements comprised within this scene demonstrated the artisanship of the director, as well as conveyed the conversation’s emotional significance to Dorothy.
• The shots that comprised the dialogue between the professor and Dorothy not only captured the sentiment demonstrated by the character’s expressions, they also exhibited the quality use of an eyeline match. This postproduction technique gave credibility to the placement of the actors within the scene.
• One production technique that captured my attention, which occurred several times throughout the film, was the use of a soft-focus shot of Dorothy while she was in dialogue with the professor. A common technique in the film industry of the 1930s, this soft-focus (out-of-focus enough to create a soft glow over the female character) enhanced the emotion conveyed in the close-up shots of Dorothy.

2. Scene Synopsis: After the tornado, Dorothy walked out of the farmhouse in Kansas into Munchkinland.

Production Comment: Demonstrating a technical understanding and creativity far beyond the time, Victor Fleming created this incredibly beautiful and complex scene. The beginning scenes of the movie, while Dorothy remained in Kansas, were portrayed with a sepia-toned color. However, as Dorothy walked out of the farmhouse and into Munchkinland, the sepia tone of the former changed into Technicolor. The painstaking production and postproduction that went into this portion of the film created a beautiful distinction between the two worlds.

3. Scene Synopsis: After her introduction to Munchkinland, Dorothy embarked on a journey to “follow the yellow brick road.”

Production Comment: This scene demonstrated the conventional three shot sequence, featuring a close-up, medium shot and long shot. The close-up in this scene showed Dorothy’s ruby slippers as she began to walk along the winding yellow brick road, allowing the audience to visually begin the journey with the main character. Seamlessly, this shot cut to a medium shot of Dorothy dancing, while the characters are signing, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.” Finally, the long shot showed the main character on her journey, but showed the road as a whole, including the crowd that surrounded Dorothy as she left. This precise sequence of shots communicated the occurring actions, but more importantly caused anticipation in the audience’s mind for what she would encounter on this journey. Because of the use of the conventional shot sequence, the shots within the scene fluidly moved one from another.

4. Scene Synopsis: While Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Toto walked through the forest of apple trees, they encountered the Tin Man.

Production Comment: This scene demonstrated several key production techniques, most of which were positive. The first was the use of a tilt as the camera moved from a tight shot of the Tin Man’s feet all the way up to a his head. Fleming’s use of this camera technique allowed the audience to take in fully the many facets of the Tin Man. Another component of this scene was in relation to the 30-degree rule. Although fully obeyed for most of the scene, there was a point during the song, “If I Only Had a Heart,” in which the shot changed from a medium shot to a close-up, with no change in degree. Finally, in addition to the great tracking during the Tin Man’s dance, Fleming chose to use a reaction shot of Dorothy and Scarecrow to demonstrate their initial impressions of their new friend.

5. Scene Synopsis: As Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and Toto walked through the forest, they began to sing the song, “Lions, Tigers and Bears.”

Production Comment: Throughout the film, Director Victor Fleming implemented the use of close-up shots to convey the emotions portrayed by the characters. Serving as just one example, the use of close-ups in this scene captured the fear on the characters’ faces as they walked through the terrifying forest. Therefore, this technique drew the audience into the action of the film, enabling to empathize with the emotions and thoughts of the characters.
6. Scene Synopsis: After the four main characters were all acquainted and decided they were going to see the Wizard, they each began to say what they wanted from him.

Production Comment: The interesting component to this scene was the manner in which the characters guided the camera’s medium shot. For example, after the Tin Man said that he wanted to ask the Wizard for a heart, he turned to look at the Scarecrow who similarly followed suit. Each character would say what they wanted to ask of the Wizard and would turn to look at the character next to them. The fascinating feature of this technique was that this action, the turning to look at the character next in line, initiated a response from the camera to pan right to focus on another individual. This technique allowed the audience to cognitively capture the actions of each character and seamlessly process each one’s individual desires.

7. Scene Synopsis: As the Wicked Witch of the West gazed into her crystal ball (looking at a field of poppies), the scene shifts to the characters as they walked through the field of poppies.

Production Comment: This scene demonstrated a fascinating postproduction technique in which a shot of the Wicked Witch of the West staring into her crystal ball, faded into a shot of the action actually occurring. Victor Fleming’s use of this fade provided an intriguing element both technically and cognitively. As part of the technical component, he flawlessly implemented a technique that was highly advanced for the film industry of that era. However, the most fascinating component was its impact on the viewer, both visually and cognitively, as they were transported from the realm of the Wicked Witch to the outskirts of the Emerald City.

8. Scene Synopsis: As the group of four main characters entered the Emerald City, they took in its many intriguing and beautiful facets.

Production Comment: The most beautiful part of this scene was the director’s use of an establishing shot to introduce the audience to the countless, rare features that comprised the Emerald City. Not only did Fleming use this establishing shot to introduce the characters, he also directed the shot to be taken over the shoulders of the characters, or with them in the foreground and the elements in the background. Through this technique, the audience is fully introduced to the elements of this new environment.

9. Scene Synopsis: The Lion jumped through the window of the Wizard’s palace in the Emerald City.

Production Comment: Demonstrating a unique postproduction technique, the scene faded to black after the Lion jumped through the window. Equally as intriguing was the editor’s choice to use a fade in from the black to the group of four characters walking through the forest. This transition allowed the audience to connect the Lion’s escape in one scene, to the traveling group of four down the road. The use of this technology demonstrated the film’s use of advanced production techniques, as well as a means of conveying the storyline in a unique manner.

10. Scene Synopsis: The Wicked Witch of the West attempted to remove Dorothy’s ruby slippers.

• Production Comment: The most fascinating component of this scene was the director’s intentional choice to use a low-angle shot looking at the Witch from Dorothy’s perspective (at this point in time, trying to convey Dorothy’s superiority due to her possession of the ruby red slippers). Interestingly, this technique of demonstrating power through low and high-angles is prevalent throughout the film, particularly with the interactions between Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Production Facts:

1. In postproduction, whose scenes were deleted from the film because they were thought to be too frightening?

Much of Margaret Hamilton’s (the Wicked Witch of the West) performance was deleted in postproduction for fear that it would be too frightening for audiences (“Trivia for The Wizard of Oz.” 2008. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB). 6 December 2008. .)

2. What was the original running time of The Wizard of Oz?

The initial running time of The Wizard of Oz was 120 minutes. However, Producer Merven LeRoy decided to delete or edit several scenes so that the final duration would be exactly 101 minutes. (“Trivia for The Wizard of Oz.” 2008. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB). 6 December 2008. .)

3. What were the final production costs of The Wizard of Oz and how much did it earn during its initial release?

At a then unheard of sum, the final production costs for The Wizard of Oz totaled $2,777,000. To the disappointment of producers, the initial release only grossed $3,000,000 (“Trivia for The Wizard of Oz.” 2008. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB). 6 December 2008.

Last Completed Projects