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give me a smile
May. 11th, 2005 08:45 pmThere's something mildly disturbing about being this excited about a history project, the make-your-own-document-based question. You ask a question about a certain time period and have various primary source documents that must be incorporated into the essay to back up your points as well as incorporate outside knowledge about the era. Since we're allowed to branch off and examine aspects of history that normally don't get covered on the AP exam, I'm choosing the portrayal of the Soviet Union and communism in film and TV during the late 50's and 60's. Essentially, it's an excuse to put my love of cult spy series to academic use. It's a pity that I'm mostly familiar with the British ones, but I can sort of get away with how British spy shows were tremendously popular in the US.
So at the moment I'm considering the following:
Fear of Nuclear Holocaust:
Dr. Strangelove-what else can you say? I'm trying to find some good quotations to use to illustrate the political tensions, perhaps when the Russian ambassador is first explaining the Doomsday machine?
Fail Safe-I haven't seen this one yet, but it's supposed to be Dr. Strangelove's more serious counterpart.
-Thunderball: especially since it's based on true events that took place during WWII in Gibraltar?(!) Really usure about this one, although I know quite a bit about it as it's one of Dad's favorite Bond films.
-that one with Burt Lancaster as a mad general? I have no idea what the title is and have never seen it.
Those damned commies! (well, not quite):
-Danger Man: This one is tricky because it can be used in many different contexts.
"Parallel Lines" has some good clashing of Soviet and British ideals.
"Fair Exchange" is more overtly political with the Eastern Europeans torturing the British agent and foiled assassination attempts and more fun at Checkpoint Charlie.
"The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" is a pretty gritty episode with torturing British agents and those mercenary communists.
There are others, but those are the best, I think.
-A Funeral in Berlin: Unfortunately I've only seen the first Harry Palmer movie, widely considered to be the best one anyway. I have some nice quotations that I can use from this one courtesy of the IMDB with their sharp portrayal of the defecting Colonel Stok.
-the Spy Who Came in From the Cold: have yet to see this one and have no idea what it's about.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dfordoom, perhaps you can tell me as you've recommended it before?
More (but not entirely) sympathetic views on the Iron Curtain:
-From Russia With Love: Finally, something that I really know about! SPECTRE was used as the villainous organization instead of Russia in order not to stir up too much political tension. Tatiana Romanova comes across as a very sympathetic, naive young cypher clerk dedicated to serving Mother Russia. As for Colonel Klebb as the double agent for the KGB and SPECTRE, well, I happen to consider her to be one of the creepiest Bond villainesses to date.
-Man from U.N.C.L.E. Alas, I know virtually nothing about this show except that the two main characters are American and Russian, and that Ian Fleming helped create the character of Napoleon Solo. Anyone know about this one, perhapseldritchhobbit?
-One, Two, Three: A satirical look at American capitalist forces in Eastern Europe though still skewering communism, and plenty of good quotations. It's tremendously funny and is one of my favorite Cold War comedies.
Mostly I need to search for posters and/or quotations from said films/TV shows. I've got some good ones for Danger Man, and Funeral in Berlin, but that's it so far.
I'm a little disturbed about how enthusiastic I'm feeling about this already; it's due in one day less than two weeks! This reminds me of my freshman movie project when I got away with doing a kung fu film because I didn't give the badly dubbed version to my then teacher. It's amazing what you can get away with in foreign films :P
Dad accidentally dropped the cutting board on my middle and ring fingers of my right hand. I didn't break any bones or blood vessels or anything, but I do apologize for making more typos in advance as I'm avoiding using those two fingers for the moment.
So at the moment I'm considering the following:
Fear of Nuclear Holocaust:
Dr. Strangelove-what else can you say? I'm trying to find some good quotations to use to illustrate the political tensions, perhaps when the Russian ambassador is first explaining the Doomsday machine?
Fail Safe-I haven't seen this one yet, but it's supposed to be Dr. Strangelove's more serious counterpart.
-Thunderball: especially since it's based on true events that took place during WWII in Gibraltar?(!) Really usure about this one, although I know quite a bit about it as it's one of Dad's favorite Bond films.
-that one with Burt Lancaster as a mad general? I have no idea what the title is and have never seen it.
Those damned commies! (well, not quite):
-Danger Man: This one is tricky because it can be used in many different contexts.
"Parallel Lines" has some good clashing of Soviet and British ideals.
"Fair Exchange" is more overtly political with the Eastern Europeans torturing the British agent and foiled assassination attempts and more fun at Checkpoint Charlie.
"The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" is a pretty gritty episode with torturing British agents and those mercenary communists.
There are others, but those are the best, I think.
-A Funeral in Berlin: Unfortunately I've only seen the first Harry Palmer movie, widely considered to be the best one anyway. I have some nice quotations that I can use from this one courtesy of the IMDB with their sharp portrayal of the defecting Colonel Stok.
-the Spy Who Came in From the Cold: have yet to see this one and have no idea what it's about.
dfordoom, perhaps you can tell me as you've recommended it before?More (but not entirely) sympathetic views on the Iron Curtain:
-From Russia With Love: Finally, something that I really know about! SPECTRE was used as the villainous organization instead of Russia in order not to stir up too much political tension. Tatiana Romanova comes across as a very sympathetic, naive young cypher clerk dedicated to serving Mother Russia. As for Colonel Klebb as the double agent for the KGB and SPECTRE, well, I happen to consider her to be one of the creepiest Bond villainesses to date.
-Man from U.N.C.L.E. Alas, I know virtually nothing about this show except that the two main characters are American and Russian, and that Ian Fleming helped create the character of Napoleon Solo. Anyone know about this one, perhaps
eldritchhobbit?-One, Two, Three: A satirical look at American capitalist forces in Eastern Europe though still skewering communism, and plenty of good quotations. It's tremendously funny and is one of my favorite Cold War comedies.
Mostly I need to search for posters and/or quotations from said films/TV shows. I've got some good ones for Danger Man, and Funeral in Berlin, but that's it so far.
I'm a little disturbed about how enthusiastic I'm feeling about this already; it's due in one day less than two weeks! This reminds me of my freshman movie project when I got away with doing a kung fu film because I didn't give the badly dubbed version to my then teacher. It's amazing what you can get away with in foreign films :P
Dad accidentally dropped the cutting board on my middle and ring fingers of my right hand. I didn't break any bones or blood vessels or anything, but I do apologize for making more typos in advance as I'm avoiding using those two fingers for the moment.
