Component 1a: U.S. Film Comparative Study Answer
An Answer to the Summer 2019 comparative essay between E.T. and Invasion of the body snatchers.
Compare the contexts of your chosen films.
In your answer you may consider:
Social, cultural contexts (e.g. attitudes and beliefs at the time).
Historical, political contexts (e.g. key events at the time).
Production (e.g. technological, institutional).
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (Don Siegel , 1956) are contextually quite different. One represents a Cold War film showing the mistrust spread in America by a mass hysteria. While The other is a children’s film that generated a mass hysteria around it and grew into a family show.
Both films are filmed on location, this as well as being cheaper helps to make the film feel more realistic and therefore helps to make it feasible. this is essential both films are in the sci-fi genre so don’t feel innately real. This makes it harder to relate to the characters which is import in a film meant for kids and a film you should fear for America. however This is more important for Invasion of the body snatchers as they had a significantly smaller budget. Additionally had ensure that It looked real and lived-in so that it would feel like the aliens had invaded some random town in America and that It could happen in real life, with the film suggesting feasible options for what happened. While in E.T. It is used to create a familiar action that children are used to with low camera shots helping to sell the effect.
The runtime on both films was subpar for the industry standard at the time with Invasion Of The Body Snatchers having 80 minutes and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial having 115 Minutes of runtime. In Invasion Of The Body Snatchers It was due to a limited budget but made the ending less satisfying. However In E.T. It was to account for a child’s shorter attention span and so it cloud finish earlier in the day.
Invasion of the bodysnatchers was used by Don Siegel as a metaphor as the mass hysteria that had taken over America at that time. People believed that Communism was spreading through America. The film used this fear to create a familiar and daunting reality for the Audience watching. This Idea can be released to McCarthyism, the act of make Accusations of subversion especially when released to communism. This use of terror throughout the film helped to keep it interesting similarly to Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) where the actual Shark is not often seen just implied. Contrastingly in E.T. The tension in the Cold War has died down significantly and is nearing an end. This is shown in the film as instead of spreading mistrust E.T. Spreads Joy even leaving a rainbow behind.
Overall the state of the world, economy and standards had changed in films between the time of the 2 films, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers takes place in the middle of the Cold war representing mistrust, having a low budget and a shorter run-time. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial shows how the Cold War is near a close, has a very high budget and longer runtime. however they are also similar both film ed on location to make It seem more realistic.
- 15/20
- Thoughtful answers, but you need to proof-read thoroughly and make sure you choose your vocabulary carefully. You don't always say what you think you're saying...