Cinema and theatrical arts: Cinema

Internationally Renowned Films

• Brief Encounter is a 1945 British romantic drama film directed by David Lean. In 1999 it was renowned as the second greatest British film of all time. It tells e story of the romance between a married woman called Laura with a married stranger she met at the train station.
• The Ladykillers from 1955 and directed by Alexander Mackendrick is a great crime comedy about an old woman who unexpectedly crosses plans with a crime gang. The Guardian labelled it the 5th greatest comedy of all time in 2010.
• Lawrence of Arabia is a British adventure drama from 1962 directed by David Leon, based on the autobiographical novel by T.E. Lawrence. It was nominated in 1963 for 10 Academy Awards and won 7 including the best film award.
• A Clockwork Orange is a movie directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel by Anthony Burgess. It is a science fiction classic. The main character, Alex DeLarge is a dangerous criminal that is qualified for the experimental rehabilitation program of prisoners.
• Harry Potter film series is a series of eight British-American fantasy films. They are based on the novel series by J.K. Rowling. First part Philosopher’s Stone and last part Deathly Hallows – Part 2 are among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time.

Internationally Renowned Film Directors

• Alan Clarke is an English television and film director, and also a producer and writer. His important works are Scum, The Wednesday Play, Play for Today and Play of the Month.
• Danny Cannon is a British film and television writer, director and producer. He also directed Phoenix and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. He is well known for producing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series. In 2010, he joined the television series, Nikita, as director and executive producer.
• Charlie Chaplin is an English comic actor, director and composer. He was famous in the silent film era. He became a worldwide icon with his persona “The Tramp.” He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the film industry. His important films are A Woman Of Paris, The Gold Rush, The Circus and The Great Dictator. He directed around 81 films.

Internationally Renowned Actors and Actresses

• Cary Grant is an English actor who later becomes an American citizen. He is mostly known for his transatlantic accent, comic timing and good looks. His important films are Penny Serenade, None but the Lonely Heart and Charade.
• Audrey Hepburn is a British actress. Before acting she was a dancer and a model. Today she is considered as a film and fashion icon. She starred in the 1951 Broadway play Gigi. She had major roles in Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Nun’s Story.
• Ian McKellen is an English actor. He is seen as one of the greatest stage and screen actors, both the UK and internationally. He is best know for playing as Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy.
• Colin Firth is a British film and theatre actor, winner of an Oscar, a Golden Globe, two BAFTA Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, winner of the Volpi Cup at the Venice International Film Festival. He gained popularity as Mr Darcy in the serial adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice.
• Benedict Cumberbatch is a British film, television and theatre actor and producer. He gained international popularity after playing Sherlock Holmes in the Sherlock BBC series. He is also well known for staring in movies like “Hawking” and “Doctor Strange.”
• Emma Wattson is an English actress, model and activist. Her first professional acting role was as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” film series, before that she only acted in school plays. She also played in Colonia, Beauty and the Beast and Little Women.

The Importance of Alfred Hitchcock and His Work in the History of World Cinema

Alfred Hitchcock is known as “The Master of Suspense”. He is a film director and producer. His films include many elements from the psychological thriller genre and silent films. Psycho, Vertigo and The Birds are some of his most well-known films. From his works comes “Hitchcockian” style which includes the use of camera movement to mimic a person’s gaze. He used innovative film editing techniques. He is also known for creating so-called “icy blond” characters, which refers to beautiful female blonde characters with the aura of mystery around them. Hitchcock himself appears for a short moment in most of his films.

The Importance and Place that the work of Christopher Nolan has in the Diffusion of British Cinema Abroad

Christopher Nolan started his career with Following, but he gets recognized after the movie Memento, for which he received an Oscar nomination. After Memento success he starts making other big-budget films like Insomnia and The Prestige. He gains more popularity with Inception and Interstellar. His work is highly recognizable because of his unique style influenced by film noir. He also prefers shooting in natural settings and working at real filming locations than in studios. His movies are often dark and use experimental soundscapes. Nolan’s films touch philosophical, sociological and ethical concepts like human morality and the persistence of memory and personal identity.

Exercises

External link to Cinema and theatrical arts: Cinema exercises (499).