UNIT 4 TRANSFORMATION AND TENSION 1945-1963(V6)

Cold War Film Review

Assignment

Write a review of a film that deals with an event or development during the Cold War between the years 1945-1963. The purpose of the review is to evaluate the historical accuracy of the film’s representation of the event or development.

Films

Choose a film that deals with an event or development of the Cold War from the list provided in this handout.

Researchand Documentation of Sources: In-text Citations and Works Consulted

Conduct research on the event or development and read reviews of the film’s historical accuracy and use the information to write your review. Use Wikipedia as a starting point.

  • In-text Citations

Ideas and information obtained from the sources used in the review whether paraphrased or “direct quotes” must be documented using in-text citations.

  • Works Consulted/Cited

All the sources consulted and used to obtain ideas and information must be listed on a separate page at the end of the review in the works consulted/cited.

Son of Citation Machine

Film Review Outline

Use the Film Review Outline provided to write the review of the film.

Evaluation

Refer to the Marking Criteria for the Film Review.

General Sources

Wikipedia-Cold War Films

History vs Hollywood

Great Movies for Teaching US History - Cold War

Reel History

Film Review Outline
Introduction
Plot Summary and Thesis Sentence
  • Write a brief summary of the plot (three or four sentences).
  • State your assessment/evaluation of the historical accuracy of the film (thesis sentence).

Body/Middle Paragraphs
Historical Accuracy
  • What is accurately represented in the film? Identify significant examples.
  • What is not accurately represented in the film (omissions, additions, revisions) and explain why it is not accurate? Identify significant examples.
  • What impact or effect do the revisions have on the representation of the historical event?
Historical Figures/Fictitious Characters
Film with Historical Figures
  • Are the historical figures accurately represented? Explain.
OR
Film with Fictitious Characters
  • Are the fictitious characters effective representations of the people in their situation and circumstance regarding the event or development? What similarities do the characters possess with the historical figures? What are the significant differences?
Setting (do not complete if the film was made during the time the event occurred)
  • Are the locations, clothing, and sets historically authentic and accurate? [Applies to films made after the Cold War not during the Cold War].
  • What details does the film contain that enhance the historical atmosphere and viewing experience (music, images, black and white, symbols, etc.)?
Bias, Point of View, Message
  • What biases are evident in the film? Explain
  • What point of view is represented in the film? What point of view is not represented in the film? Explain
  • Who are the heroes and villains in the film?
  • What message(s) does the film convey?

Conclusion
Source of Historical Information
To what extent is the film useful (how is it usefuland not useful) as a source of historical information about the event or development?

Marking Criteria for the Cold War Film Review

A
100%
or
93% /
  • the review demonstrates an excellent understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions are effectively and thoroughly addressed
  • the information is thorough, accurate, relevant
  • the introduction and conclusion provides an effective assessment of the historical accuracy of the film
  • the research is outstanding
  • the review is effectively organized
  • the writing style is effective, sentences varied, and techniques mature
  • it contains minor writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

B
85%
or
79% /
  • the review demonstrate a very good understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions are effectively and thoroughly addressed with one or two exceptions
  • the information is generally thorough, accurate, relevant
  • the introduction and conclusion provides an effective assessment of the historical accuracy of the film with one or two exceptions
  • the research is effective
  • the review is effectively organized
  • the writing style is effective, sentences varied, and techniques mature with one or two exceptions
  • it contains a few writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

C+
72% /
  • the review demonstrate a good understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions are effectively and thoroughly addressed but inconsistent
  • information is mostly thorough, accurate, relevant but inconsistent
  • the introduction and conclusion provides a capable assessment of the historical accuracy of the film
  • the research is evident
  • the review is well organized
  • the writing style is effective, sentences varied, and techniques mature with some exceptions
  • it contains some writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

C

66% /
  • the review demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions are addressed satisfactorily but not thoroughly
  • information is adequate but not thorough, accurate, relevant
  • the introduction and conclusion provides a satisfactory assessment of the historical accuracy of the film
  • the research is limited
  • the review is adequately organized
  • the writing style is satisfactory but inconsistent, some sentences are varied, techniques are not mature
  • it contains writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

C-
59% /
  • the review demonstrate a limited understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions are not addressed adequately
  • the information is limited and not thorough, accurate, or relevant
  • the introduction and conclusion provides limited assessment of the historical accuracy of the film
  • the research is limited or not sufficient
  • the review is not effectively organized
  • the writing style is not effective and techniques not mature
  • it contains several writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

F

49% /
  • the review demonstrate an inadequate understanding of the film/topic
  • the questions have not all been addressed
  • information is not thorough, valid, relevant, accurate
  • the introduction and/or conclusion does not provide an effective assessment of the historical accuracy of the film
  • the research is not evident
  • the review is not effectively organized
  • the writing style is ineffective and techniques immature
  • it contains many writing errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

I

/
  • the film review is incomplete and cannot be assessed

Cold War Films

Chooseone of the following films dealing with an event or development of the Cold War:

Event or Development 1945-1963 / Film
Red Scare/McCarthyism /
  • Guilty by Suspicion (1991)
  • Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
  • Trumbo (2015)

Korean War /
  • MASH (1970)
  • Inchon (1981)
  • Taegukgi (Korean) (2004)

Berlin Wall /
  • The Tunnel (Der Tunnel)(German)(2001)

Cuban Missile Crisis /
  • Seven Days in May (1964)
  • The Missiles of October (1974)
  • Thirteen Days (2000)

Vietnam War /
  • The Green Berets (1968)
  • The Boys in Company C (1978)
  • Go Tell the Spartans (1978)
  • Apocalypse Now (1979)
  • Platoon (1986)
  • Full Metal Jacket (1987)
  • Hamburger Hill (1987)
  • Casualties of War (1989)
  • Dien Bien Phu (1992)
  • We Were Soldiers (2002)

Espionage/spying /
  • The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
  • The Fourth Protocol (1987)
  • No Way Out(1987)
  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979 & 2011)
  • Bridge of Spies (2015)

Nuclear weapons /
  • Dr. Strangelove (1964)
  • Failsafe (1964 & 2000)

Please discuss with me a film you are interested in that is not on the list and is associated with these events or development of the Cold War and falls within the time frame indicated.