This document provides summaries of 4 romantic films from different eras: - WAY DOWN EAST (1920) follows a naïve country girl tricked into marriage who must rebuild her life despite bearing a child out of wedlock. It is set in rural New England. - THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955) is a romantic comedy about a man's fantasies of an affair while his family is away for the summer. - THE BLUE LAGOON (1980) tells the story of two shipwrecked children who develop feelings for each other as they grow up alone on a tropical island. - BEDAZZLED (2000) is a romantic comedy where a man makes wishes to

2. WAY DOWN EAST - 1920
This silent film was release in 1920 and is in the romance genre. The
plot of this silent film is about a naïve country girl who is tricked into a
marriage by a wealthy womanizer, then must rebuild her life despite the
taint of having borne a child out of wedlock. The themes of this film is
about love and relationships.
The key signifiers that this film is a romance is because there is a
women show on the film poster and it seems to appeal more to females.
The women show in this film is shown to be a stereotypical women and
is perceived as feminine and vulnerable.
Setting: The setting of the film is in a remote village in New England, at
a wooden landscape on the banks of a river with a few farmhouses,
surrounded by hedges, vines and flowering trees.
This film is a silent film so the only use of sound is non diegetic sound in
the form of music., featuring violins and pianos. The editing is fairly
simple using straight cuts with minimal transitions.

3. THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH -1955
This film is in the romance comedy genre and was released in 1955.
The plot of this film is about a man who's family go away for their annual
summer holiday. Richard Sherman decides he has the opportunity to live a
bachelor's life - to eat and drink what he wants and basically to enjoy life
without wife and son. The beautiful but ditsy blond from the apartment above
his catches his eye and they soon start spending time together. It's all
innocent though there is little doubt that Sherman is attracted to her. Any lust
he may be feeling is played out in his own imagination however. This film is
set in the 1950s in New York.
The key signifiers are this film is a rom-com is because the film poster shows
a man and a women on it. This film follows the typical stereotypes of which
the women is presented as young, feminine and flirty. This is not a
stereotypical romantic film as it does not follow the conventional plot line of,
boy meets girl and fall in love. This is a story about a mans affair with a
younger women while his family and wife are out of town.
The camera work and editing of this film is fairly basic by mainly using
straight cuts and tracking camera movement. The music we hear over the
dialogue is typical 1950’s music consisting of violins and piano.

4. THE BLUE LAGOON - 1980
This is a romantic-adventure film released in 1980.The plot of this story is
about two children who are shipwrecked. They are left with no adults and the
two make a simple life together. As time progresses they become young
adults and their feelings for one other develops. The film is set in the
Victorian period on a tropical island in the South Pacific
The key signifiers that this film is a romance is the male and female
presented in the film poster holding each other as if they care for one
another.
The stereotype of the female in the film being feminine and vulnerable is
carried in this film as the male seems to be holding her as if he has to
protect her. The male is portrayed as being strong and athletic and it follows
the typical stereotypes of men.
The camera and editing elements are fair simple with straight cuts and
tracking camera movement. The music used is tranquil pieces of music
which create and romantic atmosphere to the film.

5. BEDAZZLED - 2000
This film was released in 2000 and is a rom-com. The plot of this film about a
man, Elliot Richardson, a socially awkward IT worker, who is given seven
wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets up with a very seductive
Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot
basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as
could be expected, the Devil must put her own little twist on each his
fantasies. The film is set in America, at a work place.
The key signifiers are this film is a rom-com is because the film there is a
man and a women involved, however there are elements of comedy.
The typical stereotypes of the man being in control and protecting the female
are not followed in this film. The female has control over the male in this
instance which is not very typical of the romantic comedy genre.
The camera and editing elements are fair simple with straight cuts and
tracking camera movement.