Writing Lessons from DVDs
CITY LIGHTS (1931)
Show, don’t tell: scene 4.
WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
A journey for all ages: all scenes, scenes 52, 53, 54.
SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS (1941)
A journey: scene 2.
CITIZEN KANE (1941)
A story circle/beginning and end: opening and closing scenes.
CASABLANCA (1942)
Voice, editing: all scenes.
LAURA (1944)
Pacing, twists and turns: all scenes, scene 13.
STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN (1951)
Tension: scenes 30, 31.
REAR WINDOW (1954)
Plotting: all scenes, scene 11.
ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959)
Character: scene 26.THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962)
Truth and legend: all scenes.A HARD DAYS NIGHT (1964)
Creative nonfiction: scenes 7, 8.ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976)
Nonfiction, dialogue: scenes 4, 5, 6.THE VERDICT (1982)
Character, no dialogue: scenes 30, 28.OUT OF AFRICA (1985)
Emotion: scene 14.WITNESS (1985)
Action: scene 15.A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT (1992)
Setting/place: All scenes, scene 26.THE PLAYER (1992)
Story: all scenes, scene 8.MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1993)
Details, set-up: scene 3.O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (2000)
Plot points, conclusion: scenes 10, 23.THE GHOST WRITER (2010)
Point of view: scene 4.
