Dialogue 2

Mrs Black: You know, Roger there is a good film at the Regal Cinema this week.

Mr Black: What's the film about?

Mrs Black: Murder. A really good murder film. One of Hollywood's best pictures this year, I'm told.

Roger: What do you think about murder films, Father?

Mr Black: You know, I don't like films of any sort, Roger. How often do I go to the cinema? Twice a year, perhaps. Most films are very foolish. I don't understand why people want to go to the cinema every week.

Roger: There are millions of people who go to the films every week. They want to wear clothes like those worn by film stars. They want to look like film stars. They want to live in the way film stars live.

Mr Black: Yes, as I said, most films are very foolish and most of the people who go to the films are very foolish.

Mrs Black: And is that true of me, James?

Mr Black: No, of course not, my dear. I was not thinking of you.

(A. S. Hornby. Oxford Progressive English for Adult Learners).

Exercises

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions.

1. Do you often go to the cinema? Do you prefer the cinema to the theatre? Are tickets to the cinema cheaper than to the theatre? 2. What does a cinema programme consist of? What events do they show in a newsreel? How long does it usually run? What is it followed by? How long does a feature film ran? 3. What are travelogues about? Are you fond of them? 4. Are popular science films to your taste? Do you find them interesting or dull? 5. Animated cartoons are very amusing, aren't they? Who was the father of the animated cartoon films? Have you seen any of them? What were they? 6. What was the last film you saw? Is it still on? Where is it on? Is it very popular with the public? Did you enjoy it? Who was in the cast? 7. Who is you favourite actor (actress, film director, camera-man)? 8. Do you know any Russian films which won International Prizes? Where and when? Whose productions were they?

Exercise 2. Say what words refer only: a) to the cinema; b) to the theatre; c) to both.

Stage; performance; show; box-office; animated cartoon film; act; to star; cast; producer; director; matinee; stalls; balcony; newsreel; actor; to dramatize a novel; to make a book into a film; opera-glasses; foyer; feature film; travelogue; leading role; to be on; to dub a film; scenery; screened version; scene; to make up; camera-man; subtitles.

Exercise 3. Consult a dictionary and explain in English the following words.

Animated cartoons; to dub a film; screened version of a book; travelogue; film-star; newsreel; camera-man; director; western; horror film; musical; science-fiction film.

Exercise 4. Ask your fellow students and let them answer:

... if she (he) is a cinema-fan

... how often she (he) goes to the cinema

... if she (he) reads film reviews before going to see a film

... what films have been a great success with the public lately

... where she (he) usually sits

... what film she (he) thinks to be one of the best releases of late

... if cinema performances are continuous in our country

... who her (his) favourite film star is

... in what films she (he) saw him (her)

... if she (he) prefers films in technicolour to black and white ones

... if she (he) has seen any C.Chaplin films

... if she (he) prefers video films to those shown at the cinema

... if she (he) thinks that TV will replace the cinema in the long run

Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences.

1. The film has won the First International Prize. No wonder .... 2. I should have enjoyed the film much better if .... 3. The film is having a successful ran because .... 4. This young actress is very popular with the public .... 5. I'm looking forward to seeing this film. They say ... . 6. Before the feature film we were shown ... . 7. If the film had been dubbed .... 8. Let's buy tickets for ... . 9. I like animated cartoons better ... . 10. I don't see why N. has been praised so much in the film ... . In my opinion ....

Exercise 6. Use the following questions and sentences in a natural context of your own.

1. When does the last show begin? 2. I'm sure the film will have a long run. 3. Is the film .... still on? 4.They say the film ... is worth seeing. 5. I should have enjoyed the film ... much more if it were dubbed. 6. The cameraman's work contributed very much to the success of the film. 7. I can't understand why many people are fond of murder and horror films. 8. If we fail to get tickets at the box-office, let's try to pick them up at the entrance.

Exercise 7. Say a few sentences about some film(s) using the words and expressions given below.

Witty comedy; excellent musical; bitter satire on; to be full of humour; I couldn't help laughing (crying); a touching melodrama; to be carried away; a striking adventure; a thrilling film; dragged out; dull.

Exercise 8. Ask questions so that sentences given below could serve as answers.

1. The film is on at our local cinema-house. 2. Many famous film stars were in the cast. 3. The feature film ran for an hour and a half. 4. I like musicals best of all. 5. The public took this film to heart because the problems it touches upon are interesting to everybody. 6. Our seats are in the tenth row. 7. Animated cartoons are very popular because they are funny and amusing. 8. The newsreel showed the latest events in our country and abroad.

Exercise 9. Give English equivalents of the Russian words in brackets.

1. (Экранизация) of the novel "War and Peace" was a great success with (зрителей). 2. It takes a lot of time (дублировать фильм). 3. The work of the (оператора) was excellent. 4. Many (звезды) were in the cast. 5. The film (идет) at the Aurora. 6. Very much depends on the (постановщика) of the film. 7. It's a very old film, it's not dubbed, it's (с титрами). 8. Where can I check up the time of the (сеанса)? 9. (Научно-популярные) films can be very interesting.

Exercise 10. Imagine that you are a reporter. Interview a famous film star.

Ask her in what films she has starred; what her favourite role is and why; how her cinema career began; what role she'd like to play; what plans she has for the future; with whom of the producers (directors) she likes to work best of all, etc.

Exercise 11. Imagine that you are an actress. What would you tell about your life and work?

Exercise 12. Speak on the following topics.

1. The early days of the cinema. 2. The cinema or TV? 3. One of the best films you've seen. 4. Your favourite film actor (actress). 5. How the cinema influences our life. 6. Video or cinema?

Exercise 13. Translate into English.

1. Первый большой театр для показа фильмов был открыт в Нью-Йорке в 1914 году. Такие имена, как Чарли Чаплин, Мэри Пикфорд, Дуглас Фэрбенкс, скоро стали известны зрителям. Кино пришлось публике по душе, и кинопромышленность (cinema industry) стала расти. 2. "Голливуд" очень популярен во всем мире. Каждый год там выпускаются десятки новых фильмов. Многие фильмы завоевали призы на международных фестивалях. 3. Ты уже видела новую комедию Леонида Гайдая? - Нет еще. А где она идет? - Во всех больших кинотеатрах. - Давай сходим после занятий. - Отлично.