The end of World War II marked a distinct change in world film history. In 1946, when Gilda (Charles Vidor) was released, movie attendance reached its highest level in the United States, with more than 90 million weekly admissions, only to drop off sharply with the coming of television and other challenges to the studio system. In Italy in 1945, the vast movie studio complex Cinecitta was occupied by refugees, and Roberto Rossellini filmed Rome Open City on location.
Discussion Questions
After watching these clips from Gilda and Rome Open City, consider the questions below. Then submit your response.
1. Compare and contrast the depiction of gender in these two films, both in terms of the styling of the female star and in terms of the idea of gendered spaces.
2. Gilda is an example of film noir, which introduced dark themes to studio-era Hollywood, and Rome, Open City is an example of neorealism, which would influence later filmmaking worldwide. Give examples of stylistic differences in the clips. Are there any similarities due to the films being made at the same time?