Query: Screenplays as literature?--two responses

From: Michael Fitzgerald <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Nov 1, 2013 at 10:11 PM
Subject: RE: screenplays as literature?
To: H-NET List for Scholarly Studies and Uses of Media <[email protected]
>


I would say it is because they are not intended to be read by the public.
Films are considered literature in most English departments.
**********
From: Norman Holland <[email protected]>

I recently downloaded the screenplay for

                    "THE THIRD MAN"

                           by

                     Graham Greene

Here's the opening. I don't think screenplays work as literature for the
simple reason that they don't read very well.

Yours, Norm Holland
Professor Emeritus
Univerisity of Florida

HIGH ANGLE - FULL SHOT - CITY OF VIENNA

The title VIENNA SUPERIMPOSED FADES OUT - commentary commences.

                         COMMENTATOR
            I never knew the old Vienna before
            the war, with its -

MED. SHOT - STATUE OF A VIOLINIST

There is snow on it.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Strauss music, its glamour and easy
            charm...

MED. SHOT - ROW OF STONE STATUES

ornamenting the top of a building.  In the b.g. the top of a
stone archway.  They are snow-sprinkled.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Constantinople suited...

MED. SHOT - SNOW-COVERED STATUE

Trees in b.g.

                         COMMENTATOR
            me better.  I really got to know it
            in the...

CLOSE SHOT - TWO MEN

talking in the street.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - classic period of the black...

CLOSEUP - SUITCASE

opens toward camera, revealing contents consisting of tins
of food, shoes, etc.  The hands of a man come in from f.g.
to take something out.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - market.  We'd run anything...

CLOSEUP - HANDS OF TWO PEOPLE

standing side by side in the street.  The person CL running
hands through a pair of silk stockings.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - if people wanted it enough.

CLOSEUP - HANDS OF TWO PEOPLE

A woman's hands CL wearing a wedding ring - a man's hands CR
holding in RH two small cartons - hands them over to her in
exchange for some notes which she hands him.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - and had the money to pay.

CLOSE SHOT - FIVE WRIST WATCHES

on a man's wrist from which the coat sleeve is turned back.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Of course a situation like that -

LONG SHOT - CAPSIZED SHIP

in shallow water with a drowned body floating on the water
CR of it.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - doesn't tempt amateurs...You
            know, they can't stay the course
            like a professional.

MED. LONG SHOT - THROUGH STONE ARCHWAY

with Church seen in b.g. through it.  A large board in R.
f.g., CS reading:

                  "ENTERING AMERICAN ZONE"

                         COMMENTATOR
            Now the city is divided -

CLOSE SHOT - BOARD

in CR f.g. - gateway CL of it reading:

                       "BRITISH ZONE"

                         COMMENTATOR
            - into four zones, you know -

CLOSE SHOT - A LARGE BOARD TOP

CR of an ornamental double gateway - wrought iron gates.
The inscription is in Russian - corresponding to the two
previous zone boards.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - each occupied by a power.

CLOSE SHOT - A LARGE BOARD

bearing the words:

                    "DEBUT ZONE FRANCAIS"

                         COMMENTATOR
            American, British, Russian and the
            French.

CLOSE SHOT - FOUR SHIELDS

resting on a ledge at the top of a building.  From CL
American, British, French and Russian Provost Marshals shields.

                         COMMENTATOR
            But the center of the city, that's -

MED. CLOSE SHOT

An American officer CL and Russian officer CR.  They are
facing each other in profile.  They exchange salutes.
CAMERA PANS RL with the American as they turn away from each
other - losing the Russian.  The former is on the move RL as
we:

                         COMMENTATOR
            - international, policed by an
            international patrol, one member of
            each of the four powers...

LONG SHOT

of a parked row of American-type patrol wagons.  M.P.'s of
the four occupying powers lined up in front of them, waiting
for orders.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Wonderful!  What a hope they had.
            All strangers to the place...

MED. LONG SHOT - PATROL WAGON

nearest camera drives away from the parked line toward
camera, LR M.P.'s dispersed round the remaining wagons.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - and none of them could speak the
            same language...

CLOSE SHOT - THE FOUR REPRESENTATIVE M.P.'S

of the International patrol seated in patrol wagon (open).
Driving LR through streets of Vienna.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Except of course a smattering of
            German.  Good fellows on the whole.
            Did their best, you know.

LONG SHOT - SQUARE IN VIENNA

Bomb damaged buildings in R of picture.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Vienna doesn't really look...

LONG SHOT - CITY OF VIENNA

Tower of a church scaffolded in repair in b.g.  Woman
crosses f.g. RL.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - any worse than...

MED. SHOT - MONUMENT

with buildings of the city in b.g. and bomb damaged roof in
R of picture.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - a lot of other European cities.

LONG SHOT - MAN

walking over the rubble of a bombed building.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Bombed about a bit...

CLOSE SHOT

Front rank of uniformed American soldiers on parade rifles
and bayonets at "present arms" position.  They are at
attention in R profile.

                         COMMENTATOR
            Oh, I was going to tell you...

LONG SHOT - A GROUP OF AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN OFFICERS

standing at attention at the salute on the steps of a large
building.  At the top of the steps, in b.g. behind them,
other Russian soldiers seen.

                         COMMENTATOR
            I was going to tell you about Holly
            Martins.

CLOSE SHOT

Front rank of a parade of Russian soldiers, rifles at the
"present arms" in front of them.  They are in L profile.
CAMERA PANS RL slightly to reveal the roadway in front of them.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - an American came all the way here
            to visit a friend of his - the name...

MED. SHOT - COMPANY OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS

with rifles and fixed bayonets marching LR.

                         COMMENTATOR
            - was Lime.  Harry Lime.  Now -

CLOSE SHOT - STEAM ENGINE

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-- 
Ken Nolley
Professor of English and Film Studies
Willamette University
Salem, OR 97301
Phone:  503-370-6280
Fax:  503-370-6944

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