Opening Image – The film starts with title cards about the early years of aviation. The last title card before the action card says, "A small town - 1917 - youth and the dreams of youth." The scene opens with Jack taking a nap on the ground where he was daydreaming about flying.
Set-up – Jack loves to work on cars. His next door neighbor, Mary, is a tomboy who is in love with Jack. They work on his car together which she names the 'Shooting Star', They laugh and have fun together. But when it comes time for him to court a girl, he turns to Sylvia. David is from a wealthy family and is also in love with Sylvia.
Theme Stated – Typically the theme of the movie is stated within the first five or so minutes of a movie. However, this being a silent movie, the silent movie isn't 'stated'. However, almost eight minutes into the movie, a title card is put up that says: "So Youth laughed and wept and lived its heedless hour, while over the world hung a cloud which spread and spread until its shadow fell in some degree on every living person." I believe that this is the theme of the movie: that war is hell and that youthful dreams fly away with the realities of war.
Catalyst – The two men decide to train as aviators to fight in World War I.
Debate – Jack and David each have to say goodbye to their family and friends. Both men love Sylvia who truly only loves David. However, she doesn't want to send Jack off to war disappointed, so she gives him her picture. Jack also says goodbye to Mary who is obviously in love with him.
Break Into Two – Jack and David leave their comfortable lives and the innocence of youth behind as they start training camp to become aviators.
B Story – This is usually the 'love story'. To me, the true love story of this movie was that between Jack and David. They start out as enemies because both love the same girl, but quickly become fast friends.
Fun and Games – Jack and David learn how to fly and then use their skills to win battle after battle.
Midpoint – The two men have been decorated as war heroes and are sent to Paris for leave.
Bad Guys Close In – The fighting is fierce. Before Jack and David go up for the huge battle, they get into a fight over Sylvia. They both like her, but David realizes that she will just break Jack's heart as she does not love him.
All is Lost – Jack thinks that David is dead, even though he is still alive behind enemy lines. He vows to go out and kill the enemy for David.
Dark Night of the Soul – Jack realizes that he has shot down and killed David who was escaping in a German airplane.
Break Into Three – Traditionally, the third act lasts for about 20% of film. However, that is not the case in this movie. The break into three happens when the the main character chooses to try again or move forward. After David's death, Jack finds a letter that Sylvia wrote David that states she never really loved Jack even though Jack thinks she does. He realizes that David kept this from him out of friendship. He also finds his friend's good luck charm. While it's not clearly stated, this implies his willingness to move past Sylvia and to return the stuffed animal charm to David's parents.
Finale – Now that Jack realizes the truth about Sylvia and David, he realizes that true love was waiting for him in his own backyard - Mary. He comes home at war's end to a hero's welcome and her.
Final Image – Jack and Mary are in the car, a shooting star goes by and they kiss.
Set-up – Jack loves to work on cars. His next door neighbor, Mary, is a tomboy who is in love with Jack. They work on his car together which she names the 'Shooting Star', They laugh and have fun together. But when it comes time for him to court a girl, he turns to Sylvia. David is from a wealthy family and is also in love with Sylvia.
Theme Stated – Typically the theme of the movie is stated within the first five or so minutes of a movie. However, this being a silent movie, the silent movie isn't 'stated'. However, almost eight minutes into the movie, a title card is put up that says: "So Youth laughed and wept and lived its heedless hour, while over the world hung a cloud which spread and spread until its shadow fell in some degree on every living person." I believe that this is the theme of the movie: that war is hell and that youthful dreams fly away with the realities of war.
Catalyst – The two men decide to train as aviators to fight in World War I.
Debate – Jack and David each have to say goodbye to their family and friends. Both men love Sylvia who truly only loves David. However, she doesn't want to send Jack off to war disappointed, so she gives him her picture. Jack also says goodbye to Mary who is obviously in love with him.
Break Into Two – Jack and David leave their comfortable lives and the innocence of youth behind as they start training camp to become aviators.
B Story – This is usually the 'love story'. To me, the true love story of this movie was that between Jack and David. They start out as enemies because both love the same girl, but quickly become fast friends.
Fun and Games – Jack and David learn how to fly and then use their skills to win battle after battle.
Midpoint – The two men have been decorated as war heroes and are sent to Paris for leave.
Bad Guys Close In – The fighting is fierce. Before Jack and David go up for the huge battle, they get into a fight over Sylvia. They both like her, but David realizes that she will just break Jack's heart as she does not love him.
All is Lost – Jack thinks that David is dead, even though he is still alive behind enemy lines. He vows to go out and kill the enemy for David.
Dark Night of the Soul – Jack realizes that he has shot down and killed David who was escaping in a German airplane.
Break Into Three – Traditionally, the third act lasts for about 20% of film. However, that is not the case in this movie. The break into three happens when the the main character chooses to try again or move forward. After David's death, Jack finds a letter that Sylvia wrote David that states she never really loved Jack even though Jack thinks she does. He realizes that David kept this from him out of friendship. He also finds his friend's good luck charm. While it's not clearly stated, this implies his willingness to move past Sylvia and to return the stuffed animal charm to David's parents.
Finale – Now that Jack realizes the truth about Sylvia and David, he realizes that true love was waiting for him in his own backyard - Mary. He comes home at war's end to a hero's welcome and her.
Final Image – Jack and Mary are in the car, a shooting star goes by and they kiss.
No comments:
Post a Comment