Movies for Extra Credit

Movies for Extra Credit

The Big Secret: Many teachers won't tell you this, but if it's a classic play, then the movie producers make no changes at all. No adapting, no changing details, no cleaning up the language. Since plays are meant to be seen live, watching the movie version is just fine. (Note: if this was once a novel, don't do it. Only plays.) There's a complete list of classic plays at http://www.empirecontact.com/plays/ Any of them are just fine, live or on film. Some of the best movies you can watch and then use as classic examples include the following works:

(Also, if you'd like the easy way to learn more classics, things like Greek myths and short stories are quick easy sources. Fun too. Click here to try some.)

Cyrano de Bergerac--Edmond Rostand France, 1640: Cyrano, the charismatic swordsman-poet with the absurd nose, hopelessly loves the beauteous Roxane; she, in turn, confesses to Cyrano her love for the handsome but tongue-tied Christian. The chivalrous Cyrano sets up with Christian an innocent deception, with tragic results.

Richard III Richard wants the throne, and he'll murder his family one by one for it.

Much Ado About Nothing A delightful mixed up comedy with a modern feel.

Twelfth Night The most popular of the mixed up comedies.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Elves, fairies, lies, magic potions, and everyone in love with the wrong person. Plus an uncomfortable donkey's head.

Henry V A young man has to put aside his childhood and lead England to war, while courting the Princess Katherine in order to make peace. A phenomenal movie.

Romeo and Juliet I like the authentic, teenage version, but some prefer the modern version with Leonardo de Caprio.

The Importance of Being Ernest Two men who are trying to get away with pulling a fast one on their girlfriends and two women who think they know what's going on. Throw in a misplaced bag with a baby inside, an overbearing British matriarch, and a Governess with a past and you have a laugh out loud comedy. Who knew the British could be so funny...when written about anyway. This one reads like a Seinfeld episode: all fluff and comedy.

Hamlet The greatest play ever written. Hamlet's uncle killed Hamlet's father and married his mother. Can Hamlet find it in himself to seek revenge?

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard Silly adaptation of Hamlet from another point of view. Two minor characters from the play, "Hamlet" stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.

The Crucible Betrayal, hysteria, and the Salem Witch Trials.

The Miracle Worker by William Gibson Tale of Annie Sullivan, who taught blind-deaf Helen Keller to communicate. A warm and touching modern American story.

A Streetcar Named Desire--Tennessee Williams Blanche is in real need of a protector at this stage in her life when circumstances lead her into paying a visit to her younger sister Stella in New Orleans. She doesn't understand how Stella, who is expecting her first child, could have picked a husband so lacking in refinement. Stanley Kowalski's buddies come over to the house to play cards and one of them, Mitch, finds Blanche attractive until Stanley tells him about what kind of a woman Blanche really is. What will happen when Stella goes to the hospital to have her baby and just Blanche and her brother-in-law are in the house?

Dr. Faustus --Christopher Marlowe The legend of Doctor Faustus is the immortal tale of a German conjurer who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for a life of adventure and excitement. Richard Burton stars as the aging scholar who makes a deal with the devil for youth, knowledge, and a dazzling mistress. Taylor plays the spellbinding seductress who seals Faustus’ fate.

Inherit the Wind It's all about the monkey trial that rocked America. Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.

A Doll's House Nora Helmer has years earlier committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald. Now she is being blackmailed lives in fear of her husband's finding out and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career. But when the truth comes out, Nora is shocked to learn where she really stands in her husband's esteem.

A Long Day's Journey into Night--Eugene O'Neill Author Eugene O'Neill gives an autobiographical account of his explosive homelife, fused by a drug-addicted mother, a father who wallows in drink after realizing he is no longer a famous actor and an older brother who is emotionally unstable and a misfit. The family is reflected by the youngest son, who is a sensitive and aspiring writer.

Oedipus Rex --Sophocles Unknowingly, Oedipus kills his own father, King Laius of Thebes, and marries his mother, Jocasta. Uh oh!

Antigone --Sophocles Creon, the king of Thebes, forbids the burial of those who rebelled against his rule. Antigone, soon to marry Creon's son, disobeys this edict to bury her brother Polyneices.

Medea –Seneca Jason, of Jason and the Argonauts has accomplished his quest, with the help of Princess Medea. Now he wants to put her aside for a sweet younger woman. Watch Medea's spectacular revenge!

Elektra Her mother killed her father and her brother's avenging him. Another Greek Tragedy.

The Trojan Women -- Seneca The aftermath of the Trojan War, from the women's point of view.

The Barber of Seville --Beaumarchais

The Marriage of Figaro --Beaumarchais

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?

The Romancers--Edmond Rostand

L'Aiglon Chantecler --Edmond Rostand

The Iceman Cometh --Eugene O'Neill

Death of a Salesman --Arthur Miller

Our Town --Thornton Wilder

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof--Tennessee Williams

The Glass Menagerie--Tennessee Williams