lafsc film notes

Casablanca - 1942Director: Michael CurtizProducer: Hal B. WallisScreenwriter: Julius J. Epstein

Philip G. EpsteinHoward KochCasey Robinson (uncred)

Based on: Everybody Comes to Rick'sby Murray BurnettJoan Alison

Starring: Humphrey Bogart Ingrid Bergman Paul Henreid

Composer: Max SteinerCinematographer: Arthur EdesonEditor: Owen MarksStudio: Warner Bros.Distributor: Warner Bros.Plot: Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World

War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.

Awards: 8 wins & 6 nominationsQuotes:

Rick Blaine: Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.

Rick Blaine: Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Capt. Renault: Round up the usual suspects.

Ilsa Laszlo: Play it, Sam. Play "As Time Goes By."

Rick Blaine: We'll always have Paris.

Rick Blaine: Here's looking at you, kid.

Rick Blaine: Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

Citizen Kane - 1941

Director: Orson WellesProducer: Orson Welles for Mercury Productions

RKO Radio PicturesScreenwriter: Herman J. Mankiewicz

Orson WellesBased on: partly the life of William Randolph Hearst and a few

other peopleStarring: Orson Welles

Joseph Cotton Dorothy Comingore Everett Sloane Ray Collins George Coulouris Agnes Moorehead Paul Stewart Ruth Warrick Erskine Sanford William Alland

Composer: Bernard HerrmannCinematographer: Gregg TolandEditor: Robert WiseStudio: RKO Radio PicturesDistributor: RKO Radio PicturesPlot: Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters

scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.Awards: 8 wins & 10 nominationsQuotes:

Charles Foster Kane: Rosebud.

It's a Wonderful Life - 1946

Director: Frank CapraProducer: Frank CapraScreenwriter: Frances Goodrich

Albert Hackett Jo Swerling Frank Capra

Based on: "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern

Starring: James Stewart Donna Reed Lionel Barrymore Henry Travers

Composer: Dimitri TiomkinCinematographer: Joseph WalkerEditor: William HornbeckStudio: Liberty FilmsDistributor: RKO Radio PicturesPlot: An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly

frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.


George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.

Harry Bailey: To my big brother George, the richest man in town!

Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, "Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."

The Wizard of Oz - 1939

Director: Victor FlemingProducer: Mervyn LeRoyScreenwriter: Noel Langley

Florence Ryerson Edgar Allan Woolf

Based on: The Wonderful Wizard of Ozby L. Frank Baum

Starring: Judy Garland Frank Morgan Ray Bolger Bert Lahr Jack Haley Billie Burke

Composer: Herbert Stothart (score)Harold Arlen (songs)

Cinematographer: Harold RossonEditor: Blanche SewellStudio: Metro-Goldwyn-MayerDistributor: Loew'sPlot: Dorothy Gale is swept away to a magical land in a tornado

and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home.


Dorothy Gale: Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

The Wicked Witch of the West: I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!

Dorothy Gale/The Scarecrow/The Tin Man: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

The Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! Melting! Oh, what a world! What a world!

The Wizard of Oz: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

Dorothy Gale: There's no place like home.

To Kill a Mockingbird - 1962

Director: Robert MulliganProducer: Robert Mulligan

Alan J. PakulaScreenwriter: Horton FooteBased on: To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper LeeStarring: Gregory Peck

Mary Badham Phillip Alford

Composer: Elmer BernsteinCinematographer: Russell HarlanEditor: Aaron StellStudio:Distributor: Universal PicturesPlot: Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South,

defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice.


Reverend Sykes: Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passing.

Atticus Finch: You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

Star Wars (Episode IV) - 1977

Director: George LucasProducer: Gary KurtzScreenwriter: George LucasBased on:Starring: Mark Hamill

Harrison Ford Carrie Fisher Peter Cushing Alec Guinness

Composer: John WilliamsCinematographer: Gilbert Taylor, BSCEditor: Paul Hirsch

Marcia Lucas Richard Chew

Studio: LucasfilmDistributor: 20th Century FoxPlot: Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky

pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the universe from the Empire's world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader.


Han Solo: May the force be with you.

Princess Leia: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

Rear Window - 1954

Director: Alfred HitchcockProducer: Alfred HitchcockScreenwriter: John Michael HayesBased on: "It Had to Be Murder"

by Cornell WoolrichStarring: James Stewart

Grace Kelly Wendell Corey Thelma Ritter Raymond Burr

Composer: Franz WaxmanCinematographer: Robert BurksEditor: George TomasiniStudio:Distributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: A wheelchair bound photographer spies on his neighbours

from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.

Awards: 6 wins & 10 nominations

The Godfather (Part 1) - 1972

Director: Francis Ford CoppolaProducer: Albert S. RuddyScreenwriter: Mario Puzo

Francis Ford CoppolaBased on: The Godfather

by Mario PuzoStarring: Marlon Brando

Al Pacino James Caan Richard S. Castellano Robert Duvall Sterling Hayden John Cazale Diane Keaton

Composer: Nino RotaCarmine Coppola (additional)

Cinematographer: Gordon WillisEditor: William H. Reynolds

Peter ZinnerStudio: Paramount Pictures

Alfran ProductionsDistributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty

transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.


Vito Corleone: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Pete Clemenza: It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

Pete Clemenza: Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.

Chinatown - 1974

Director: Roman PolanskiProducer: Robert EvansScreenwriter: Robert TowneBased on: the California Water WarsStarring: Jack Nicholson

Faye Dunaway John Huston

Composer: Jerry GoldsmithCinematographer: John A. AlonzoEditor: Sam O'SteenStudio:Distributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: A private detective hired to expose an adulterer finds

himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption and murder.


Duffy: Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.

Evelyn Mulwray: She's my sister! She's my daughter!

Ordinary People - 1980

Director: Robert RedfordProducer: Ronald L. SchwaryScreenwriter: Alvin Sargent

Nancy DowdBased on: Ordinary People

by Judith GuestStarring: Donald Sutherland

Mary Tyler Moore Timothy Hutton Judd Hirsch Elizabeth McGovern

Composer: Marvin HamlischCinematographer: John BaileyEditor: Jeff KanewStudio:Distributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family

deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father, and the guilt-ridden younger son.

Awards: 24 wins & 9 nominations

City Lights - 1931

Director: Charlie ChaplinProducer: Charlie Chaplin (uncred)Screenwriter: Charlie ChaplinBased on:Starring: Charlie Chaplin

Virginia Cherrill Florence Lee Harry Myers

Composer: Charlie ChaplinJose Padilla (uncred)Arthur Johnston (orch)Alfred Newman (orch)

Cinematographer: Rollie Totheroh Gordon Pollock Mark Marklatt (uncred)

Editor: Charlie Chaplin (uncred)Studio:Distributor: United ArtistsPlot: The Tramp struggles to help a blind flower girl he has

fallen in love with.Awards: 2 wins & 0 nominations

Sullivan's Travels - 1941

Director: Preston SturgesProducer: Paul Jones

Buddy DeSylva (uncred) Preston Sturges (uncred)

Screenwriter: Preston Sturges Ernst Laemmle (uncred)

Based on:Starring: Joel McCrea

Veronica LakeComposer: Charles Bradshaw

Leo ShukenCinematographer: John SeitzEditor: Stuart GilmoreStudio:Distributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: A director of escapist films goes on the road as a hobo to

learn about Life...which gives him a rude awakening.Awards: 2 wins & 0 nominationsQuotes:

John L. Sullivan: There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan. Boy!

Sunset Boulevard - 1950

Director: Billy WilderProducer: Charles BrackettScreenwriter: Billy Wilder

Charles Brackett D. M. Marshman, Jr.

Based on: {Wilder's experience; satire}Starring: William Holden

Gloria Swanson Erich von Stroheim Nancy Olson

Composer: Franz WaxmanCinematographer: John F. SeitzEditor: Doane Harrison

Arthur SchmidtStudio: Paramount PicturesDistributor: Paramount PicturesPlot: A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-

film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.Awards: 20 wins & 13 nominationsQuotes:

Norma Desmond: I am big! It's the pictures that got small.

Norma Desmond: We didn't need dialogue. We had faces.

Norma Desmond: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

Strangers on a Train - 1951

Director: Alfred HitchcockProducer: Alfred HitchcockScreenwriter: Whitfield Cook

Czenzi Ormonde Raymond Chandler

Based on: Strangers on a Trainby Patricia Highsmith

Starring: Farley Granger Ruth Roman Robert Walker

Composer: Dmitri TiomkinCinematographer: Robert BurksEditor: William H. ZieglerStudio:Distributor: Warner Bros.Plot: A psychotic socialite confronts a pro tennis star with a

theory on how two complete strangers can get away with murder...a theory that he plans to implement.

Awards: 1 win & 2 nominations

The African Queen - 1952

Director: John HustonProducer: Sam Spiegel

John Woolf (uncred)Screenwriter: John Huston

James AgeeBased on: The African Queen

by C. S. ForesterStarring: Humphrey Bogart

Katharine Hepburn Robert Morley

Composer: Allan GrayCinematographer: Jack CardiffEditor: Ralph KemplenStudio: Horizon Pictures

Romulus Films Ltd.Distributor: United ArtistsPlot: In Africa during WW1, a gin-swilling riverboat

owner/captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship.


Charlie Allnut: A man takes a drop too much once in a while, it's only human nature.

Rose Sayer: "Nature," Mr. Allnut, is what we are put into this world to rise above.

The Searchers - 1956

Director: John FordProducer: Cornelius Vanderbilt WhitneyScreenwriter: Frank S. NugentBased on: The Searchers

by Alan Le MayStarring: John Wayne

Jeffrey Hunter Vera Miles Ward Bond Natalie Wood

Composer: Max Steiner (score)Stan Jones (title)

Cinematographer: Winton C. HochEditor: Jack MurrayStudio: C. V. Whitney PicturesDistributor: Warner Bros.Plot: A Civil War veteran embarks on a journey to rescue his

niece from an Indian tribe.Awards: 1 wins & 2 nominationsQuotes:

Ethan Edwards: Let's go home, Debbie.

The Apartment - 1960

Director: Billy WilderProducer: Billy WilderScreenwriter: Billy Wilder

I.A.L. DiamondBased on:Starring: Jack Lemmon

Shirley MacLaine Fred MacMurray

Composer: Adolph DeutschCinematographer: Joseph LaShelleEditor: Daniel MandellStudio: The Mirisch CompanyDistributor: United ArtistsPlot: A man tries to rise in his company by letting its executives

use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.


Fran Kubelik: Shut up and deal.

The Graduate - 1967

Director: Mike NicholsProducer: Joseph E. Levine

Lawrence TurmanScreenwriter: Calder Willingham

Buck HenryBased on: The Graduate

by Charles WebbStarring: Anne Bancroft

Dustin Hoffman Katharine Ross William Daniels Murray Hamilton Elizabeth Wilson

Composer: Dave Grusin (score)Paul Simon (songs)

Cinematographer: Robert SurteesEditor: Sam O'SteenStudio:Distributor: Embassy PicturesPlot: Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock is trapped

into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, who happens to be the wife of his father's business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her daughter, Elaine.


Benjamin Braddock: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?

Mr. Maguire: Plastics.

Jaws - 1975

Director: Steven SpielbergProducer: Richard D. Zanuck

David BrownScreenwriter: Peter Benchley

Carl GottliebBased on: Jaws

by Peter BenchleyStarring: Roy Scheider

Robert Shaw Richard Dreyfuss Lorraine Gary Murray Hamilton

Composer: John WilliamsCinematographer: Bill ButlerEditor: Verna FieldsStudio:Distributor: Universal PicturesPlot: When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the

small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.


Martin Brody: You're gonna need a bigger boat.

Taxi Driver - 1976

Director: Martin ScorseseProducer: Julia Phillips

Michael PhillipsScreenwriter: Paul SchraderBased on:Starring: Robert De Niro

Jodie FosterAlbert BrooksHarvey KeitelLeonard HarrisPeter BoyleCybill Shepherd

Composer: Bernard HerrmannCinematographer: Michael ChapmanEditor: Marcia Lucas (supervising)

Tom Rolf Melvin Shapiro

Studio: Bill/Phillips Italo/Judeo Productions

Distributor: Columbia PicturesPlot: A mentally unstable Viet Nam war veteran works as a

night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action, attempting to save a preadolescent prostitute in the process.


Travis Bickle: You talkin' to me?

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