Neorealism and Cinecittà
Cultural and artistic difference through film
of the 40’s
What do you think of each?
● Purpose
● Audience
● Motivation
● Competition
● Artistic style
● Government
What do you think of?
Cinecittà
Hollywood
•Created by Mussolini
•Created by entrepreneurs in a free
market system
–Propoganda
–“il cinema è l’arma più forte”
•Motivated by profit
–Uncertain due to economy
•Neorealism
•Audience: post-World War II Italians
–Emotional state
–Moved West to avoid legal issues with
Thomas Edison’s Motion Picture Patents
Company
•Motivated by profit
•Entertainment
•Audience: worldwide
–Universal and uncomplicated
Roma, città aperta 1945
● Neorealist Elements
● Audience
● Purpose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5MMIMKhJNs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YeYziOQOvI
Ladri di Biciclette 1948
● Neorealist Elements
● Audience
● Purpose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myo2vOIGvL
Q (3:40)
How would the neorealist films
have been different were they
created by a Hollywood
studio?
Let me tell you a thing.
Then we’ll get to ‘Murica
What can you tell me about
Neorealism in Italy?
How does it compare to American
cinema?
What do we know about American
films made about ancient and
Imperial Rome?
Quo Vadis 1951
Quo Vadis 1951
● What types of characters are utilized? How
are these characters created?
● How is the Roman Empire depicted?
Positively or negatively?
Marcus
●
●
●
●
“Good” Roman
Soldier
Christian convert
Represents Americans
Emperor Nero
● Shown as cruel
and illogical
● Represents
opposing forces to
American ideals
and lifestyle
The Red Scare
● Communism
associated with
atheism
● Fear of the rising power
of the Soviet Union
o
The Cold War
● Persecution of artists
Anti-Communist
propaganda of
the ‘50s
Quo Vadis 1951
● What types of characters are utilized? How
are these characters created?
● How is the Roman Empire depicted?
Positively or negatively?
● What is the goal of this film? How is it different
from neorealist goals?