Casey at the Bat Analysis
This short film reveals Ernest Thayer's popular poem being read by DeWolf Hopper. This poem, Casey at the Bat, was first recited in 1888, but was made famous afterwards, as it was read numerous times in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include, on stage, radios, and in this particular film. The poem was eventually made into children's book and later, a cartoon in 1946. This storyline is known throughout the United States, as I can remember watching this cartoon when I was younger as well. This particular film is a black and white film, focusing on the one and only character, DeWolf Hopper. Because there is only one character in the film, the audience plays an important role in the film. This actor does a great job of reciting the poem and a variety of using facial expressions to convey the message of the poem. A live audience is used in the background of the film to add to the overall production. This is a single-shot film, and the shot changes in length throughout the short time period, but does not cut to another shot. As the shot varies, as the actor enters at first with a wide shot, and eventually walks closer to camera. The camera finally focuses in on his face and facial expressions as the poem progresses. The camera motion is somewhat unsteady in this film, as there is only one shot throughout the five and half minute clip. There tends to be a lot of fuzziness; however, Casey at the Bat is an older film, created in 1922. The lighting plays an important part in the film, as the shadow of the actor adds to the suspense in the beginning of the film. Because the length of the first shot is long, the audience does not know who the character is for a short time period. As he enters the shot, there are actually two shadows, which have a somewhat strange effect on the film. This makes it clear that the lighting used is from the overhead position. Hopper enters the shot wearing a Mudville baseball uniform, the name of Casey's team. Hopper appears to be somewhat drunk or off-balance as he enters the shot. The audience immediately reacts to his actions, adding some comic relief. He is holding a bat, while reciting the poem, and swings the wooden object around frivolously. The props used in this film include a chain-linked fence for a backstop and white clouds sporadically placed in the background. There is a white baseball diamond on the floor, and Hopper stands on the diamond during the shot. These props convey the idea that the set is a baseball field; however, the audience is aware that the set is not real. The audience is heard in the background, laughing and interjecting emotions, as Hopper recites the poem. This aspect of a live audience adds to the emotion of the film, and incorporates more humor, as the audience laughs at the poet's voice and actions. Throughout the film, the camera zooms in on Hopper, at intense moments. This technique allows the audience to draw closer into the moment with only a camera movement. The focus of the camera is clearly on Hopper, as no other person is in the shot. This film is viewed head-on, without moving from side to side. This is an interesting technique, as it allows the actor to move about rather than the camera shifting. Hopper speaks directly into the camera, another unusual technique. In the short film, Casey at the Bat, the poem made famous by the actor, Hopper, is recited on camera through a short, single clip. The lighting and shot length used in the film carefully creates a mood and allows the actor to perform alone on stage. The props incorporated in the film create an atmosphere and stage of a baseball field, the scene in the poem. A live audience contributes to the humorous aspect of the film, as they laugh and go along with the wild facial expressions used by Hopper in the performance. The camera focuses on Hopper's face, as an up-close shot is revealed 99% of the time. The camera slightly moves in the film, allowing Hopper to walk around while reciting the poem. The techniques used in the short film create a funny, interesting, single-shot, connecting the audience to the storyline of the famous poem Casey at the Bat.
This short film reveals Ernest Thayer's popular poem being read by DeWolf Hopper. This poem, Casey at the Bat, was first recited in 1888, but was made famous afterwards, as it was read numerous times in a variety of ways. Some of these ways include, on stage, radios, and in this particular film. The poem was eventually made into children's book and later, a cartoon in 1946. This storyline is known throughout the United States, as I can remember watching this cartoon when I was younger as well. This particular film is a black and white film, focusing on the one and only character, DeWolf Hopper. Because there is only one character in the film, the audience plays an important role in the film. This actor does a great job of reciting the poem and a variety of using facial expressions to convey the message of the poem. A live audience is used in the background of the film to add to the overall production. This is a single-shot film, and the shot changes in length throughout the short time period, but does not cut to another shot. As the shot varies, as the actor enters at first with a wide shot, and eventually walks closer to camera. The camera finally focuses in on his face and facial expressions as the poem progresses. The camera motion is somewhat unsteady in this film, as there is only one shot throughout the five and half minute clip. There tends to be a lot of fuzziness; however, Casey at the Bat is an older film, created in 1922. The lighting plays an important part in the film, as the shadow of the actor adds to the suspense in the beginning of the film. Because the length of the first shot is long, the audience does not know who the character is for a short time period. As he enters the shot, there are actually two shadows, which have a somewhat strange effect on the film. This makes it clear that the lighting used is from the overhead position. Hopper enters the shot wearing a Mudville baseball uniform, the name of Casey's team. Hopper appears to be somewhat drunk or off-balance as he enters the shot. The audience immediately reacts to his actions, adding some comic relief. He is holding a bat, while reciting the poem, and swings the wooden object around frivolously. The props used in this film include a chain-linked fence for a backstop and white clouds sporadically placed in the background. There is a white baseball diamond on the floor, and Hopper stands on the diamond during the shot. These props convey the idea that the set is a baseball field; however, the audience is aware that the set is not real. The audience is heard in the background, laughing and interjecting emotions, as Hopper recites the poem. This aspect of a live audience adds to the emotion of the film, and incorporates more humor, as the audience laughs at the poet's voice and actions. Throughout the film, the camera zooms in on Hopper, at intense moments. This technique allows the audience to draw closer into the moment with only a camera movement. The focus of the camera is clearly on Hopper, as no other person is in the shot. This film is viewed head-on, without moving from side to side. This is an interesting technique, as it allows the actor to move about rather than the camera shifting. Hopper speaks directly into the camera, another unusual technique. In the short film, Casey at the Bat, the poem made famous by the actor, Hopper, is recited on camera through a short, single clip. The lighting and shot length used in the film carefully creates a mood and allows the actor to perform alone on stage. The props incorporated in the film create an atmosphere and stage of a baseball field, the scene in the poem. A live audience contributes to the humorous aspect of the film, as they laugh and go along with the wild facial expressions used by Hopper in the performance. The camera focuses on Hopper's face, as an up-close shot is revealed 99% of the time. The camera slightly moves in the film, allowing Hopper to walk around while reciting the poem. The techniques used in the short film create a funny, interesting, single-shot, connecting the audience to the storyline of the famous poem Casey at the Bat.
