Orson Welles vs. Francis Ford Coppola

Orson Welles was definitely one of his own. He had his own traits and styles that made his movies incredibly unique, paving the road for following directors. He not only directed, but played multiple roles in the movie making process. Welles made a revolutionary impact that changed parts of film forever. I chose to compare him to Francis Ford Coppola for similar reasons. He too changed film in ways that revolutionized movie making as a whole. Like Welles, he had many successful films and received numerous nominations, as well as some awards. I also like to think that they each contributed a breakthrough film, with Citizen Kane for Welles and The Godfather for Coppola. Each brought their own style and creativity to the table, making them two incredibly unique individuals, whether working on a film or in their everyday life. Both film makers were some of the biggest influences in Hollywood during their time.

Welles not only made significant strides in storylines, but he also made significant advances in filming, itself. He introduced different techniques of camera angles, close ups, long shots, creating the illusion of small spaces, like we’ve discussed in class. These techniques are used in pretty much every since Orson’s time. Coppola may not have been as significant when it comes to the actual filming, but his work on screenplays was just as influential. His movie The Godfather created a whole new take on the gangster genre of movie making, giving Coppola universal acknowledgement and accreditation, jumpstarting his already promising career.

The influence of Welles has appeared in hundreds of films since his time. His style techniques of filming have become almost second nature in films. The effect of ceilings has basically become standard, and his use of long shots created a foundation for following filmmakers to expand one, having entire scenes done it just one shot. The way he used close ups for a type of dramatic effect has become incredibly prominent in drama films. They captivate the emotion just the way he intended.

I chose The Godfather clip because it captures a few different styles of Coppola. It was also a scene that was a huge part of the movie, showcasing his incredibly screenwriting talent. I also thought it was so cool the way he incorporated the sound of the train right before the gunshot. It added an extra suspense. When watching this clip, I definitely have a sense of the intensity that Orson Welles brought to his movies, which Coppola also had a unique way of doing.