A Second Look: Screening and Analysis of Three Classic Films
a/perture cinema 311 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem
Steve Jarrett Lecturer in the Communication Department
CITIZEN KANE – Thursday, September 25 2-5 pm
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE – Thursday, October 23 2-5 pm
THE GRADUATE – Thursday, November 20 2-5 pm
Everyone enjoys a night at the movies – action, romance, laughs, and hot buttered popcorn.
But in the work of the best filmmakers there is much more to be seen than a moviegoer is likely
to catch in a single viewing. Cinema is an entertainment medium, but also an art form. And
when a master of the craft is at the helm you can bet that multiple viewings and careful analysis
will be rewarding – maybe even more satisfying than the enjoyment of the initial viewing. This
series seeks to look more deeply at a selection of films chosen for their aesthetic richness. We
will examine each film in depth to highlight details that a casual viewer might miss. Parking for
the Film Series will be available at the Milton Rhodes Center, with a shuttle to and from the
theater.
CITIZEN KANE (1941), the motion picture debut of theatrical prodigy Orson Welles, has consistently
been cited at or near the top of critics’ listings of the best films ever made. A great many filmmakers
have pointed to it as the film that inspired them to pursue directing as a career.
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955) is a classic portrayal of 1950s teen angst from screenwriter Stewart
Stern and director Nicholas Ray. Its star, James Dean, became — and remains — an icon of American
culture largely on the strength of his performance in this film.
THE GRADUATE (1967), released in the wake of the political and social ferment of 1967’s “summer
of love,” tapped into the alienation of American youth in a powerful way. Director Mike Nichols and
screenwriter Buck Henry adapted Charles Webb’s
generation of disaffected youth.