Course Details

In a time of crisis what is it that makes a man do what he must do? Through analysis and discussion, this course will put its focus on two films with two distinct artistic visions, High Noon (1952) and On The Waterfront (1954), both made during the Red Scare and both have transcended the times in which they were made to become timeless classics and considered essential viewing in the American film canon.

The 1950s were a time when Hollywood found itself under assault from within—i.e. the Hollywood blacklist—and from without—i.e. the House Un-American Activities Committee Hearings and the Joseph McCarthy Senate Hearings. While this course will include this dark chapter of American history, most of our focus will be in the form of an aesthetic deep dive into analyzing the pertinent themes, visual motifs, and dialogue within each film and what it tells us about the human condition and society at large. As such, some additional questions we will explore are as follows: As microcosms of society, what do these films say to us? What is the role and function of the various characters in each film? What is the moral universe that the respective characters operate in? How are the women portrayed? Together, we will address these questions and more, so remember to bring your thinking caps and join us for what I believe will be a truly provocative and enlightening experience that will deepen your appreciation of these two films and the society we live in. Note: Participants will be expected to have watched the assigned film for each session ahead of time. A list of available rental streaming sources will be emailed to you a week prior to the first session. This study group has a high class size capacity.