Film Flick: The Third Man

This month we're taking a walk on the seedier side of life, down dark alleys and into the evil that lurked within, with a Film Noir marathon.  

"Has there ever been a film where the music more perfectly suited the action than in Carol Reed's 'The Third Man'?" Roger Ebert asked in his review of this iconic and classic film nior. Indeed, the unique score manages to perfectly convey a sense of place and mood. It is manic yet joyless; it is ethnic yet never gives way to a cartoony stereotype of Austria. Combine this with the film's harsh, expressionistic lighting and the unusual camera angles that serve to keep the viewer feeling off balance and you would be hard pressed to find a more perfectly-suited film where technical aspects are concerned (though some did joke about the extreme titling "Dutch" Angles. Friend and fellow director William Wyler sent Reed a level with the instruction to put it on top of the camera for his next film). Like the previously discussed Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon, this film has the trademarks of a noir beyond just the shadowy lighting. It has seedy characters and locales; an anti-hero protagonist; a femme fatale; and murder too. 

Holly Reeds has recently arrived in Vienna to meet his childhood friend Harry Lime. "I never knew the old Vienna," he tells us in the opening narration. The post-WWII Vienna is portrayed as a bombed out city filled with people trying to keep their heads down- a political mess where corruption can flourish (It should be noted the film was shot entirely on location; the rubble and devastation is real. This maybe partly why the film got only a luke-warm reception by Austrian critics). On arrival though, Reed quickly discovers that Lime has died-reportedly run over by a car-only a few days earlier. In fact, he manages to make it to Lime's funeral. Seeing what he perceives to be indifference on the police's part, Reed starts looking at the possibility of murder. In doing so, he is dragged into a world where nothing is as it seems in his quest to find the third man who was present the night of the hit and run.

Like other Noir films, the people and situations portrayed on screen are dark; however, this film seems all the more chiling in how very realistic and unique those situations are. Told in those first post-war years (just as the paranoria that would characterize much of the Cold War was setting in) by men who had been in the war, and set and filmed in that rubble of a city, it conveys a sense of dichotomies  Holly Reeds' the American and Western writer who envisions the world with morals that would not be out of place in one of his novels. Contrasted against him are the jaded police and wary people he meets. For them, there is no ticket out of Vienna; there is survival and, for a very few lucky, there might be love. Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles act this out brilliantly. Plus, you will not want to miss one of cinema's most famous speeches, supposedly written on the spot by Welles himself. Roger Ebert also wrote that he envied anyone who would be watching this for the first time, and I echo that sentiment. You will need to see it to believe it- find out identity of The Third Man.

Letter-Writing: Letter of Recommendation

Getting mail is a ton of fun, but in an increasingly digital world, writing it can sometimes be hard. This blog post series about Letter Writing aims to make it easier. For more tips on writing letters look at my previous posts on writing Thank You Notes, Personal Correspondence,  Love Letters, Sympathy Letters, Congratulatory Letters, and Letters of Appreciation.


 In the past, this letter-writing series has confined itself to personal correspondance, rather than business letters. However, Letters of Recommendation are a type of writing that almost everyone is asked to author at one point, and  having all been in need of one at some point or another, we know writing good ones are of utmost importance  not just yourself (nor even your letter recipient) who will be effected, but the person you are writing the letter for. 

photo credit: sunside via photopin cc

These letters are generally written for job references, academic references, and character references (usually for things such as child custody or apartment leases). All of these have very important results riding, in part, on your reference letter. So, before you do anything else- make sure  you are the right person to write this letter. Sometimes people ask without realizing you are not a good fit, so ask it of yourself. If it is a work or academic reference letter, is your relationship with the person appropriate to the context (i.e. if a work letter, you work with the person and if an academic letter, you have had the student in class or other, similar student group)? A further note for work references: even if you do work with the person, is the relationship appropriate?  If you are asked to give a reference letter for your boss, that is inappropriate. You would not be able to be objective. Equally important, can you give specific and positive review of the person? If you do not feel you have interacted with the person enough, or do not feel you can honestly give the best review of the person, say so. Also say something if you do not feel you have the time. A so-so letter will do more harm than good! 

Once you have decided to write the letter, ask the person you are writing about for some background information. Ideally, they should be able to provide you with at least a resume, and/or transcript, where appropriate. This will help you in detailing hard facts and remind you of events and accomplishments that might be good to share. Some people also like to discuss before-hand with the person they are recommending whether there are any accomplishments or projects that they would like specifically mentioned. 

Reference letters are business letters and should follow business letter guidelines for how the letter is addressed and structured. They should also be on letterhead if at all possible. You wish to convey professionalism and authority. Since it is often unknown who recommendation letters will go to (and they may go to many different people), simple address your audience in a general way, "Dear Sir or Madam" and you are ready to begin.

Start your letter or recommendation by introducing yourself, and why you are writing (you are writing to recommend so-and-so for such-and-such). Make sure to include your relationship with the person (they are your student, or your subordinate etc.), and how long you have known them. This gives context and authority to your opinions. 

photo credit: L. Marie via photopin cc

In the body of the letter, you will be writing about the person you are recommending; this section will likely be several paragraphs long. Remember, longer does not always equal better. Instead, be specific. There are several ways to in which you want to do this. Use specific adjectives. Telling me someone is "wonderful" or a "delight to know" does not say much. Telling me they are a "hard worker," or "considerate to others." is saying a bit more. This second part though, is where most people unwittingly fail at writing effective reference letters. Far more important than picking adjectives though, is you want to mention specific projects and/or anecdotes about the person. By anecdotes  I do not mean, of course, telling silly stories, but was there a time the person showed remarkable leadership, or whose work ethic took a project to the next level? Also be sure to specifically mention any relevant accreditation, or awards.  Basically, you are backing up your opinion of the person with fact. 

There are two schools of thought on whether a recommendation letter should mention weaknesses of the person. In general, in America, steer clear of negative comments, even if they are wholly objective. 


In your last paragraph, reiterate youre recommendation of so-and-so for such-and-such. Then, make sure to leave contact information. Many times you may be contacted for further information, or even just verification of the facts in the letter. 

Once the letter is done, give it to the person you are writing about unless otherwise specifically instructed. It is considered rude to not allow that person to read over the letter (they may ask for changes; you are free to oblige or not as your conscious compels you). More importantly, that person needs to be in ultimate control of his or her image and they need to be the one to choose whether to use the letter once it is a finished product. Following these guidelines though, and they'll be sure to love the letter you write! 

Looking for more tips on writing letters or recommendation? Try these articles:

• Advice on Letters or Recommendation by the Social Psychology Network
• Letter or Recommendation Guide
• How to Write a Letter of Recommendation from blog The Professor Is In
• Writing Letters of Recommendation
• Writing a Reference Letter by Daily Writing Tips

Remix: White Shirt

A good button-up is probably one of the best purchases I've made for my closet. I actually own more than one- in case one of them is in the wash or the hamper you know?

Yeah.

That is how utilized my white button-ups are. But looking at the pictures above, that shouldn't surprise you none. Still, I'm aware they're not everyone's cup of tea. What about you?

Are button-ups fashion do or don'ts for your closet?

What I Wore: Styling for Summer

What I Wore: Shirt (Forever 21), Bracelet (New York and Company), Locket (Etsy), Necklace (borrowed), Belt (vintage), skirt (handmade; gift), mocassins (Minnetonka)

There is certainly a trick to dressing for the summer. That's right; I said it. Summer. It went straight from snow to 80+ in less than a week. This is why Spring is not a favorite season with me; it is a nonexistent season. 

Can we talk about this skirt for a second? It was the one my aunt made for me after seeing how much I loved this skirt of Ashley's. I got it in winter and loved it with a slouchy sweater donned on top, but have been dying to style it for summer. Summer can bring it's own styling challenges. With heat, who wants to put on more than necessary?! My look in these months often tends to the more bohemian as layers of necklaces go on in place of layers of clothes. I love it, but am also looking to mix things up a bit. 

So, tell me, please, what are your tips for looking good in the summer? 

Film Flick: Double Indemnity

This month we're taking a walk on the seedier side of life, down dark alleys and into the evil that lurked within, with a Film Noir marathon.  

Filled with fantasic, moody lighting, ambigious characters, and a murder plot to ( literally) die for, this movie is sometimes cited as one of the best examples of film noir ever made- Double Indemnity. The film's name comes from the insurance term for the unlikely instances when double the normal amount of money would be paid off on a life insurance policy. 


Seeing one of the century's most electric journalistic photos- a woman, Ruth Snyder, in the electric chair for his part in a murder and attempt at insurance fraud- sparked the idea for James M. Cain's novella Double Indemnity. Though this book would eventually be translated onto film by director Billy Wilder, it was a long road getting there.  It began circulating through the different Hollywood studios in 1935, the Hays Office (the powerful group that enforced film codes) described the script as sordid, and claimed it would corrupt audiences. As indeed it sordid it was. Even after 8 years, when the Hays Office finally gave the script a go, casting became an issue; no one wanted to play such seedy, unredeemable characters. Barbara Stanwick,who plays the ultimate femme fatale in the film, later recounted, "I said, "I love the script and I love you, but I am a little afraid after all these years of playing heroines to go into an out-and-out killer." And Mr. Wilder – and rightly so – looked at me and he said, "Well, are you a mouse or an actress?" And I said, "Well, I hope I'm an actress." He said, "Then do the part". And I did and I'm very grateful to him." Likewise, getting a male for the lead was a hard sell. The part was turned down by several actors, including George Raft (who was so illiterate  he had to have the script merely described to him. He turned it down on finding out the male lead was not secretly a good guy FBI agent.), but the part eventually went to Fred MacMurray. Known at the time primarily for playing happy-go-lucky comedy, he had been nervous about a serious role. Both actors shine though in a script that was so well tweaked for stage the novel's author said he wished he thought of some of the dialogue. 

Walter Nuff, played by Red MacMurray, is an insurance sales man who is instantly taken when he sees housewife Phyllis, played by Barabra Stanwyck, in nothing but a towel and anklet (Adjusting the thickness of the towel is what got the film past the Hays Office!) Call it love; call it obsession  whatever it is that draws these two together also draws out a daring. As Walter puts in his classically "hard-boiled" voice over, knowing the insurance bussiness so well is sort of like being a card dealer at a casino. You spend everyday making sure no one plays the house; you know every trick there is. You could play the house and no one would ever know, and that is what this pair attempts to do- the play out he perfect murder and wait around to collect on the insurance money. They play it straight down the line, but human nature gets the better of them in this suspenseful and brillant fim noir. 

I was on the edge of from the moment the movie starts with Walter taping his confession and leaking blood. The characters, though rather nasty peices of works, are compelling in their emotional dependency. You watch for the moments of failure and moments of success in their plan. However, the best part of the movie is not the acting nor the script. It is the lighting- Beautiful, moody and wonderful just to stare at. It underscores the claustrophobic,  hysteric atmosphere that builds.  This film's straight down the line. If you're thinking of a life insurance policy, you'll be thinking twice when you watch Double Indemnity.