Problem 1: Compare and contrast Casablanca (1942) to The Bicycle Thief (1948) and The Flying Ace (1926) in terms of style, time period and story. How does the Classical Style differ from these two alternative styles, Italian Neorealism or late Silent era film? Use quotes from the articles to back up your readings of the films.
Problem 2: The Flying Ace (1926) by Richard Norman is set in a time and place when African Americans did not have the opportunity to be aviators for the United States. How does The Red Tails (2012) based in historical fact, and directed by Anthony Hemingway, both fulfill the dream of Flying Ace. Underscore the difficulties faced by African American pilots less than twenty years later in World War II? What elements of the form, key scenes, or narrative choices did you like most in these films, and why? How does watching these films help us to understand the past?