Media Watch

Van Roberts ¹, Mark Goodman ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Communication, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS 39701-5800, US
2 Department of Communication, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, US

Abstract

Casablanca is one of the most researched and analyzed films in scholarship. However, an historical analysis reveals that censorship by the federal government influenced how Warner Brothers shot and edited the film. A review of the federal documents from the Office of War Information, Bureau of Motion Pictures, and the Overseas Bureau forced changes in the film involving the depiction of the French. We consider several parts of the film identified by the censors as problematic and consider how Warner Brothers shot those scenes, including the famous conclusion of the film.

Keywords

Casablance, Censorship, WW II, OWI-BMP

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Van Roberts ¹, Mark Goodman ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Communication, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State, US
2 Department of Communication, Mississippi State University, PO Box PF MS 9574, Mississippi State, US

Abstract

Dirty Harry was released 40 years ago. We contend that it was a very influential film because it was one of the first mainstream pornography films. Our analysis shows how the producers of Dirty Harry used the signifiers and ideology of a porn film to reveal the dirty side of society. Today, those porn film signifiers have created a porn film ideology, which is a common element on television and in film.

Keywords

Dirty Harry, Obscenity, Pornography, Semiotics

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