Extra Credit Assignment: 1920s & Great Depression

Due:

Task: Choose a movie from the list below and view it in its entirety. Complete the following tasks:

  • Summarize the movie in 1-2 paragraphs, including plot development (what happened) and resolution (how it ended).
  • Analyze the historical accuracy of the film. Questions to think about:

--Were the characters based on historical people?

--Did the events that are depicted actually occur?

--Is the geographical setting similar to the area it is supposed to depict?

--Is there evidence of cultural bias?

--Are there elements of the story missing? This will require some research, as the textbook will most likely not be detailed enough. Therefore, you must cite any sources used.

  • Provide a critique of the film as a work of art. Consider:

--Pacing

--Quality of acting, costumes, special effects

--Cinematography (use of the camera to create drama, visual impact)

  • Rate the film from 0 to 4 stars, and provide a quick justification for your rating as if it were to appear in a newspaper.
  • Pick at least one scene that you think I could use in class (please provide scene # and/or timing) and give an explanation.

Choices:

Movie Title / Rating / Date / Summary**
*The Great Gatsby / PG-13 / 2013 / A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.
*Boardwalk Empire (TV Series) / TV-MA / 2010-2014 / An Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law, conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era.
It’s a Wonderful Life / PG / 1946 / An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.
*Chicago / PG-13 / 2002 / Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Seabiscuit / PG-13 / 2003 / True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.
Cinderella Man / PG-13 / 2005 / The story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer who came back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s.
*The Cotton Club / R / 1984 / The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem. The story follows the people that visited the club, those that ran it, and is peppered with the Jazz music that made it so famous.
Of Mice and Men / PG-13 / 1992 / Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.
The Grapes of Wrath / Not Rated / 1940 / A poor Midwest family is forced off of their land. They travel to California, suffering the misfortunes of the homeless in the Great Depression.
*The Untouchables / R / 1987 / Federal Agent Eliot Ness sets out to stop Al Capone; because of rampant corruption, he assembles a small, hand-picked team.
The Immigrant / R / 2013 / 1921. An innocent immigrant woman is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

**All descriptions from IMBD

*Next the movie title indicates this movie is about the 1920s

Name ______Date ______

Extra Credit: Movie Review

Plot Summary
Historical accuracy
Critique/Rating
The selection of a scene that you think would be useful to use in the classroom to teach about the topic – please use the scene selection mode or counter if possible so that I can pinpoint those scenes
Your signature indicates that you have actually watched the film and completed this assignment independently.
Student Signature / Parent permission is required prior to viewing any film rated ‘R”. Your signature indicates your child has watched the movie.
Parent Signature