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Classic Movies

Classic Movies

Date: Apr 01 2009

Themes: History

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

There’s just something about black and white that makes everything look classier, isn’t there? Maybe that’s why classic Hollywood films from the 1950s or earlier seem more glamorous and sophisticated than the new films that are being made these days.

Marni and Devan love classic movies. They both have their favorite directors and actors from the history of film. Listen to them talk about why they love classic movies so much.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Marni

Marni

Devan:  The other day I was watching a Jimmy Stewart marathon.

Marni:  Oh, I love Jimmy Stewart.

Devan:  Are you a big fan of the classic movies?

Marni:  I am. Anything with Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, those classic Hollywood actors.

Devan:  So, the black and white movies before everything became colorized?

Marni:  Yeah. You know, some of them are now out of print, so those are the real gems.

Devan:  Definitely. Do you ever go as far back as silent films? Or are you more into the Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant era?

Marni:  I think I’m definitely more into the ‘40s, ‘50s era of filmmaking, when there were talkies. But I would love to go back and actually watch some of the original Charlie Chaplin films.

Devan:  So do think movies have gone too far with special effects and everything now?

Marni:  No, not necessarily. I mean I still appreciate new filmmaking. But there are some classic directors, like my personal favorite is old Hitchcock films. I think Alfred Hitchcock was a genius. And they’re just…I mean he did such a good job of building suspense with subtle nuances and the acting.

Devan:  Oh yeah, definitely. To this day, I’m still afraid of seagulls.

Marni:  Yeah, exactly! Because The Birds was so terrifying. He made birds scary. It’s pretty genius.

 

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Discussion

Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Marilyn Monroe are actors from the 1940s and ‘50s who starred in classic Hollywood films. Marni and Devan both like watching old movies starring these iconic actors.

They also love films made by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock made suspenseful, scary movies like Psycho and The Birds, in which flocks of birds attack people.

Even though she enjoys classic films, Marni still appreciates new movies. But some people think that new movies aren’t as magical as classic films. They think that too many special effects, violence, and sex have changed Hollywood for the worse.

What’s your favorite classic film? Do you like older movies or new ones?

 

Comments

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Bogle

Bogle

Germany

You don't have to go to the 40's and 50's to get past the silent films ha ha. :)  Let's not forget the 30's and late 20's.  Silent movies died out in the early 20's and in my opinion, the greatest era of film making is the 30's.  Actually WW2 broken in 39 so I guess that was during the silent film era…pity we didn't have any dialogue to accompany all that footage ;P.  Or the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind…pity those were in the 30's ha ha.  I tend to group the 30's and 40's together culturally.  Even the 20's really.  The 50's had a very definite change and film reflected that as well.  Sooooo many fantastic films have been forgotten by the masses at large.  Not the least of whom would be the comedy duo of Laurel and Hardy.  They were big in both eras of silent films and 'talkies'.  My dad says that when he was little and a new Laurel and Hardy film came out, the line to get in the theater would go around the block.  They were good men too.  It was said they had the best friendship in Hollywood.  And Laurel (the mastermind of the duo) answered back every piece of mail sent to him.  But of course there are countless great movies from the era.  In today's culture of fast paced editing, it's hard for some to adjust, but if they just deal with it for about 20 to 30 minutes, they'll find it's not so hard…and they were treated to a fanstastic movie.

05:24 PM Jan 10 2011 |

Anita Triana

Indonesia

Thank you englishbaby i'm enjoyed it.

02:32 AM Feb 07 2010 |

andrescisneros

Colombia

always I'd like it CASABLANCA, I think that is the best movie from 40's

07:17 PM Apr 06 2009 |

ciberd7

ciberd7

Brazil

I like both. Classic films and new ones are cool enough to watch.

I was born in 80´s, so I´m not used to watch classic films, but I know some Hitchcock films that scares the shit out ehehehe. Sorry the word, but Hitchcock know the recipe for a good horror movie and he is a man that made legend.

About the movies, I´m enjoying new 3d movies, they´ll become a new craze of mine!

04:44 PM Apr 06 2009 |

qiqilinda

China

I can't understand it completely

06:18 AM Apr 05 2009 |

qiqilinda

China

I can't understand it completely

06:18 AM Apr 05 2009 |

scratchie

Turkey

My favourite black and white film is Schindler's List . I like new ones .Cuz these days,it's hard to find classic films so we're watchin' new films all the time.And who can deny that we are getting so excited when we see how technology go too far?

03:03 PM Apr 04 2009 |

chief_wang

chief_wang

China

Old films like silent ones, or black and white ones, are precious because in those day films were not easy to be made. Under the same reasons, the Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant era became true,  and Charlie Chaplin milestone appeared. They were not easy at all. The early birds should be remembered by us, for the early actors and actresses fought a way out for the following moving picture makers, and the colorful films nowadays are a fallout of the previous explorations.

12:57 PM Apr 04 2009 |

bassoum

Cote D'Ivoire

i like classic movies sometimes but i prefere romantic movies

10:30 AM Apr 04 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

Yes, I like classic movies, but I'm not really into black and white ones, not that old. I prefer color and classic movies, such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, 'The Godfather'.

The good thing is people reproduce a lot classic black and white movies these days, I mean only colorize the original movies, not adapt. I would like to watch those after-colorized old movies.

And I really like Hitchcock, I have his books.

06:59 AM Apr 04 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

Yes, I like classic movies, but I'm not really into black and white ones, not that old. I prefer color and classic movies, such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, 'The Godfather'.

The good thing is people reproduce a lot classic black and white movies these days, I mean only colorize the original movies, not adapt. I would like to watch those after-colorized old movies.

And I really like Hitchcock, I have his books.

06:57 AM Apr 04 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

One of the actors of the 50’s and 60’s that I like a lot is Jerry Lewis,he is funny and a great actor of comedy :)

08:03 PM Apr 02 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Humm I'm not so fan of classic movies…I prefer 60's movies and the current hollywoodian movies :)

07:58 PM Apr 02 2009 |

want-to-know

Russian Federation

Classic films are the great! They really have special magic atmosphere. I love films from 40s-50s ("Some like it hot", for example), from 60-70s (there were great films in France, in Soviet Union). I like how people look, how they talk, thier clothes and hairstyle.

But I don't like films from 80s.

03:27 PM Apr 02 2009 |

larrychen

larrychen

China

I love Hitchcock so much, too. It is not easy to get his works, nowadays.

01:35 PM Apr 02 2009 |

nokta_faith

Turkey

classic or not, I don´t care  a film´s style.I think that the most important is the story and its transmission to the audiences

10:09 AM Apr 02 2009 |

paldreams

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

i like the classic movie, and i like the unreal film,the romance film son on..

tnx for the lesson

09:43 AM Apr 02 2009 |

FlashRainbow

China

I don't like classic movies with Black and White. Those Like Prison Break and Hero are my favorite to watch. It is exciting and nervous when you watch and be into these movies. 

05:27 AM Apr 02 2009 |

tiagon85

Brazil

I like some old movies and new ones, my favorites are those made by Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino.

02:56 AM Apr 02 2009 |

Dani Tomeh

Dani Tomeh

Brazil

I hate classic movies ¬¬

08:32 PM Apr 01 2009 |

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