Kaitlyn Larson

Film Studies Final Paper

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: An Allegory
On first glance Who Framed Rodger Rabbit is a comedic story about a cartoon rabbit
wrongfully accused of murdering a human. This film uses the violence inherent in cartoons and
film noir as a setting for this dark tale. Beneath the films witty rhyming schemes and expertly
animated veneer, exists an allegory of the Holocaust. The mix of live action and animation gives
a poignant representation between first and second class citizens. Parallels between the main
characters of the film can be drawn to both Hitler and America. Many people miss this aspect of
the film because it is a comedy, and people dont think of the Holocaust when watching cartoons.
The setting of the film is Los Angeles in the 40s, although it is never specifically stated,
the dress, speech, and automobiles give this impression. The jazz music intertwined with the
film helps create the 1940s atmosphere. When Roger Rabbit needs a place to hide from the
cops Eddie takes him to a post-prohibition speakeasy. The cloths are also typical of the 1940s
with small hats and high waisted skirts. The decision to place the movie in this era is to start
making connections to WWII era America. The link is rather overt when during a scene in a
movie theater, they place an American World War II propaganda reel on the screen.
Much like the Holocaust,
violence perpetrated against the
minority group goes without
consequence. In a club strictly
serving human patrons, toons are
put on stage to entertain them.
The most particular scene is
Daffy Duck fighting Donald
Duck. In the scene the two ducks
are playing piano in front of a
faceless audience. The spotlight is on them and the shallow background forces the attention on
the two animated characters. As they play they start to physically assault each other to be known
as the better piano player. Going so far as to smash each other into their pianos. They strive for
recognition from the faceless crowd of people. This amusement at the minority group fighting
each other is also seen in the Holocaust. German citizens would throw bread into cars to watch
prisoners fight to the death over it. This alienation from the privileged majority is a major theme
in the holocaust and film noir. In fact film noir renovates the topic of violence (Borde
&Chaumeton pg.22) by dismiss[ing] the opportunity of a fair fight (Borde &Chaumeton pg.22)
seen in prewar era movies.
Cartoons take on the role of stigmatized minority groups in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
This is seen in the aforementioned club. Cartoons take on the roles of waiters, bouncers, and
entertainers. The entertainment we see is violence and the objectification of Jessica Rabbit.
There is a distinct lack of respect given to cartoons. When Roger messes up having stars appear
around his head when they drop a refrigerator on
him, he pleads for another chance. He tells the
director not to worry about him, the director
replys that he is more worried about the
refrigerator. This thought is supported by R.K
Maroon, the owner of the studio the cartoons
work at. He states that you can drop as many
refrigerators as you want on cartoons and they will shake it off. Again the lack of empathy is
furthered by the consequence free environment afforded to people in power.
This film creates a unique world because of the cross with live action and animation. All
of the animation was done by hand in the movie and special care was taken to make sure they
looked real. Years of work went into giving traditionally 2D characters a 3D presence. These
cartoons react with the live action world as easily as any actor. In particular a scene at the bar
Roger breaks plates, crashes through walls, and drinks alcohol. This realism helps make the
toons seem more real as people. When realism is added to typically fantasy based characters, it
gives greater support to their minority position to the film. They are human in every way but
their physical appearance. Another parable in the film is the fact that toons live in a separate
section of the city called Toon Town. While Toon Town itself is portrayed as a happy and
idealistic place, the first camera shot of Toon Town is of a brick wall separating it from the rest
of the city. This brick wall looks much like the walls that created ghettos. Again the alienation
of a minority group is seen.
Perhaps the most obvious allegorical connection is Judge Doom. A toon who conceals
his true identity while plotting the systematic annihilation of all other toons. Much like Adolf
Hitler himself, who was Jewish and clearly plotted the systematic annihilation of any one who
did not conform to his master race. Hitler endeavored to create a new society with new perfect
citizens. Judge Dooms is also trying to create a perfect society however his society has to do
with a freeway. Complete with hotels, fast food restaurants, car dealerships, and gas stations.
These establishments create a symbolic civilization. In order to build this new society, he must
first get rid of Toon Town and its denizens. Hitler funded his war by plundering the wealth of the
Jewish people, similarly Doom robbed the Acme Bank House in Toon Town in order to
finance his scheme. Even the Judges corporation Cloverleafs logo bears a resemblance to the
swastika Christopher Lloyd is the
actor who portrays Judge Doom. His
pronunciation and demeanor suggest the
German despot. When the Judge first
appears all we see is a cane with a silver
skull on it and a torso dressed all in black.
As the camera pans up there is ominous
music and he is frowning. As the scene continues his demeanor does not get much better. Most
memorable is his black rubber gloved hand slowly lowering an innocent cartoon into Dip. Dip
being the only way to kill a toon. His disregard for life is evident by his smile after he killed the
toon. Dip is clearly made to look like some sort of poisonous acid. It is greenish yellow and
transported around by toxic waste barrels. This could be seen as the gas chamber/crematorium.
The hero of the film is Eddie Valiant, a hardboiled detective with a sad familial past. Like most
film noir heroes he is reluctant to get involved with Roger Rabbit. This just so happens to
correlate with the United States reluctance to get involved with WWII. Another similarity
between pre WWII and Eddie Valiant is the economic motivation to get involved. Eddies lack of
funds is made evident by a scene at The Terminal Station Bar. The first scene that it is
introduced illustrates the financial difficulty for Eddie. The first shot of the bar takes place mid-
day, right after Eddie has been paid fifty dollars. During the establishing shot there is a distinct
Caravaggio esque lighting streaming in from the multitude of windows. However even with all
of that light the bar still feels dark. There are only a few patrons in the bar but we get a medium
close up of two important figures. The first is a medium shot of a man in uniform passed out on
one of the small tables covered in half empty glasses of beer. His face is mushed into peanut
shells and he has clearly been drinking. Eddie sits right down next to another patron and asks
whats with Earl? The significance being Eddie clearly is a regular at this dark rundown bar.
The second person we see in a medium close up is a man who cannot speak, and writes on a pad
of paper hanging around his neck. His appearance is a bit greasy with brown drab clothing.
From him Valiant is told that Earl was laid off. Much like Eddie everybody is dressed in dark
cloths, they dont chat with other people just drink mostly by themselves. This is very similar to
the feeling of the great depression. The disabled and poor group together in this bar that acts on
the edge of society. More serious money problems are shown by the interaction between
Dolores and Eddie. It is made clear that Dolores lent Eddie money from the till and she will be
fired if he doesnt pay her back. He has pawned his camera, which is a clear sign of how
destitute he is. Undoubtedly Eddie is in financial need just like the U.S.A, but it is not just the
financial desperation that marks these two. Eddies real depression can be related to the general
malaise of depression era America.
This economic stress was a major factor in the U.S and Eddie getting involved. The
United States saw the war as an opportunity to create jobs and stimulate the economy. R.K
Maroon offers to pay the gumshoe a lot of money to get involved with Rogers personal affairs.
Both America and the PI are further persuaded by personal attacks on themselves. Pearl Harbor
was the final call to arms that the US needed to get involved. The weasels also attack Eddies
place and threatened him. This personal attack motivates him to hide Roger at the bar in the
hidden speakeasy room. There is a scene set in The Terminal Station Bar where Doom searches
the premises with his platoon of weasels for the Roger. He knocks on the walls to find a hollow
hiding space. This is reminiscent of the Nazi parties search for hidden Jewish people being
harbored by Germans.


Film noir was a wonderful genre for this allegory because it was created by the cultural
stresses and instabilities following WWII.(Corrigan and White 320) This genre reflects the
psyche of the people after such a traumatic war. The old fashioned adventure films with their
clear cut heroes and demure heroines were no longer reflective of the world. The theme of
vagueness inherent in all film noir is a mark of the uncertainty felt by the culture. The mostly
ignored violence of the cartoon world is also put to good use in this film. The lack of empathy
for cartoon characters being harmed is already intertwined with our cultural views. So using the
cartoon characters as a discriminated minority group really shows the parallel of societys own
disregard for the pleas of minority groups.
There is a clear connection between the Holocaust and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This
allegory was shown through the historical setting of the 1940s seen through the mise-en-scne.
As well as the similarities between Adolf Hitler and Judge Doom, in collaboration with the
likenesses of Eddie Valiant and America. There is no debate that Who Framed Roger Rabbit is
primarily a childrens film. Its main purpose being to entertain people. However the film uses
comedy as a poignant reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. A reminder that will help keep
such atrocities from happening again.
Bibliography
Borde, Raymond, and Etienne Chaumeton. "Towards A Definition of Film Noir." (1955): n. pag.
Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
Corrigan, Timothy, and Patricia White. "1948-1970: Postwar Film Genre." The Film Experience:
An Introduction. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004. 320. Print.
Wiesel, Elie, and Marion Wiesel. Night. New York, NY: Hill and Wang, a Division of Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print.









Kaitlyn Larson
Self-Evaluation
I want to be part of the film industry and understanding why people want to watch a
specific type of movie or anticipating the likes of the public is crucial to being successful. Im
always curious as why people do what they do. The most important things I have learned in this
class is how the historical and cultural significance of film is created through the use of formal
elements. My final film analysis is a prime example of how all of the bits and pieces come
together to create a larger meaning.
Film is such a complex medium because it is so closely tied to our own psyche. A film
draws you into a different world and takes you on an adventure. We empathies and relate to
these fictional characters, metaphorically inviting them into our homes. These images can
actually have physical effects on us or change the way we think. Film can ensnare the senses
and force feelings on people. However its not a one way street. People in turn affect the way
films are made. Films do not exist in a vacuum. Modernism is a great example of how the
changing times can be reflected in movies. Metropolis in particular demonstrates the fear of
human dependence on technology and the cost of civilization advancement. These fears are so
clearly illustrated on the screen that it creates an understanding of how people thought back then.
The reaction to the film gives feedback on how people think today. Film is one big cycle where
culture and film continually change each other.

In my final film analysis I speak about an allegory between the film Who Framed Roger
Rabbit and the Holocaust. WWII has become such a big part of American culture that it is easy
to see its effects on filmmakers. I talk about how the formal elements of the film create this
implication. The 1940s backdrop, film noir tropes, and character interaction all create
contribute to the allegory. Spielberg went on to do Schindlers List and other Holocaust movies,
which gives further proof that it is something that he draws inspiration from. In my shot analysis
I feel as though I missed an opportunity to speak about the cultural implications of Pulp Fiction.
In fact I feel as though my writing has continued to get stronger throughout the quarter.

Writing about film is difficult because you are not arguing a position you are arguing a
theory. Most of my academic career has been position papers. Specifically one side of the
argument or the other. For example in women studies I wrote a paper on sex trafficking.
However in film analysis its not so cut and dry. I had difficulties in the beginning learning what
you wanted out of a paper. Eventually I came to understand that the argument of my paper is
more to do with how the formal elements of film create a certain effect.
My main goal with this portfolio is to show how I have grown to understand the concepts
of film analysis are more about the affect and why then the how. My shot analysis is very much
a play by play of the shot. I dont feel that I give it larger context in the meaning of the film if I
were to go back to it I would probably talk about the taboos in the larger world culture versus
the taboos of the local culture. An example might be male rape versus theft.
In conclusion The most important thing I learned is how to use the formal features of film
to reflect cultural norms. I have also learned more about film analysis and a new way to write an
academic paper. I Look forward to continuing to learn about historical concepts of films next
quarter in Political Films.



Kaitlyn Larson
Scene Analysis
The scene I chose is from The Great Gatsby, when Nick Carraway invites Daisy
Buchanan over for tea so that she may be reunited with Jay Gatsby. The scene is a romantic
reunion and the start of a renewed romance between Jay and Daisy. Nick Carraway is shown to
be the third wheel as well as the protagonist of the story. The scene is important because it is the
reunion of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.
The setting for this scene takes place in Nicks small little house. Gatsby fills it with flowers
excessively. Nicks house is small and the flowers create an even more intimate setting. In the
first shot Nick is escorting Daisy into the house. There is an establishing shot of Gatsby
nervously waiting in the tea room for Daisy. The next shot is of Nick waiting in the hall of what
is presumed to be the reunion between the two lovers. The sound of Daisy being pleasantly
surprised is heard while the camera zooms in on Nicks reaction. This is a strange shot because
the reaction shot of what is presumed to be the reunion of Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby is not
of either lover but of Nicks face. It is a shallow close up shot directing the audiences attention
to his nervous but happy expression. This is cut short when he realizes that Gatsby has
disappeared from the tea room before Daisy has entered. The next shot is of Daisy framed by
flowers as she believes that Nick loves her. When in reality it is Gatsby who loves her.
However this shot dose remind the audience that the flowers are an act of love. The editing in
this scene is also use to create a deeper meaning. When Nick jokes about loving Daisy being the
secret of caraway castle the shot is of Gatsby waiting nervously for Daisy. Gatsby could be said
to be the secret Nick was referring too.
Nick walks into the room and looks for Gatsby. The camera looks around from his
perspective. The shot shows wherever he looks and then the camera cuts to what Nick would be
seeing if the audience was standing where he was. Reinforcing the audiences connection with
Nick as we are again placed in his shoes. As the camera flits to an open door, thunder booms as
the sound of rain is returned. The Sound is brought back to show that Gatsby ran out into the
rain in his fear of seeing daisy again. This heightens the audiences nervousness at the meeting as
well. Daisy unaware of any of this hands Nick her hat. There is an odd exchange between Daisy
and Nick where he remarks that its funny. Whether it is the fact that the great Gatsby ran away
or that she has no idea that he is here is unclear. What is clear is that Nick is once more acting
like the audience instead of a character in the film. He is commenting on the humor of the
situation and looks confused when Daisy asks him why.
The next shot of Gatsby is when he knocks on the door. When Nick opens it, the medium
shot zooms in so that the only thing in the frame is him. This starts to build the tension in the
audience. Gatsby dose not even look at Nick when he enters and goes straight to Daisy. This
scene is interesting because while the plot of the movie is of Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsbys
romance, the protagonist of the story is Nick Caraway. The camera follows him and he is also
the narrator. Carraway is both part of the story and outside of it much like the audience watching
the movie.
When the couple do see each other again across the room there are a couple of shot reverse shots
that steadily move closer to their faces. The music also swells building the intensity and
suspense of their emotional reunion. The shots are shallow and quite simple. This focuses all
the attention on the emotional turmoil. After they both react positively, the scene cuts to an
outside shot of the house. This brings the audience some relief from the building tension. The
beginning of the scene is all about nervous tension and anticipation. The house shot brings the
audience out of the intense scene but still leaves questions to be asked.
In conclusion this scene foreshadows the romance between Gatsby and Daisy through the
color, acting, sound, and clever use of editing. The intensity of the shot is enhanced by the
shallow shots and the quietness of the music. Nick Carraway is the clear protagonist and his
outsider status to the plot is cemented in the way the cinematography is used in this scene.
Keeping him separate in the hallway from the tea room and placing him between the two of
them. This is an important scene because it is the start of the romance that drives the plot
forward but also signifies the doom of their relationship. It is raining and all of the flowers are
white much like a funeral. The nervousness and anticipation of the scene is created through
prolonging the inevitable meaning. The initial meeting of the couple is clearly a major plot point
in the story. Nick Carraway is the clear third wheel and observer.







Kaitlyn Larson
1/26/2013
Assignment #3

The shot I chose is from Pulp Fiction. It depicts a prizefighter Butch Coolidge deciding
whether or not to save Marsellus Wallace from rapists. Butch had also been captured with
Marsellus but escaped. This shot portrays Butch Coolidges decision to either leave or save the
man trying to murder him from rapists. There are three main components in the shot; Butch
Coolidge, the door, and a confederate flag with Southern car plates mounted on the wall. The
shot frames him in a way that Bruce Willis is framed between the door and the confederate flag.
Set is pretty shallow with white walls besides the flag making the audience focus on these three
elements. The rapists are clearly represented by the flag because they have southern accents and
other southern paraphernalia in the scene. This places Butch at a decision making point between
freedom and saving someone trying to murder him. On the left is the door and too the right are
the Rapists. The door represents his freedom to leave this situation and run away. It shines
bright sunshine onto his face and creates contrast to the darker part of the scene by the flag. This
helps contributes to the shots meaning of the door signifying the easy better option for Butch and
the dark confederate flag signifying the difficult but moral action of saving Marsellus Wallace.
At first Butch hesitates, listening to the sound of the rapist having sex with Marsellus. The
sound is faint and covered up by music. The music is an upbeat tune and the rapists besides
grunts cat call and revel in Marsellus Wallaces pain. The revelry in such a heinous crime as
rape is unsettling and gross to the audience. He turns away from the sound and makes to leave.
He unlocks and opens the door but hesitates a second time. The fact that he has hesitated twice
shows that this is a difficult decision. Here the camera zooms in on his face but still keeps the
door and flag in range. This focuses the audience on Butches face. Butch looks directly at the
camera and takes some deep breath. This builds suspense because he is clearly making the
audience wait for his decision. As the camera is zooming into his face the sounds of the rape get
louder accordingly. The grunts of the rapist are much clearer then the first time he hesitates. The
fact that the sounds of Marselluss suffering got louder signify that the suffering of Coolidges
could be murderer weighs heavily on his mind. He then shuts the door having made his decision
to help Marsellus. Shutting the door is an act of finality and symbolic of him having made the
decision to help Wallace. Coolidge is breathing hard, bleeding, and sweaty it would be easy for
him to leave and get out of his situation. However he decides to save Marsellus Wallace anyway
because of his sense of honor. I say sense of honor because of previous scenes in the movie that
depict him of generally making the more moral decision.
I chose this shot because it is an important turning point in the relationship between Marsellus
Wallace and Butch Coolidge. Before they were enemies, but Butch Coolidge puts this aside to
help end his suffering. The shot is relatively simple. There are only three big elements and its a
relatively shallow shot with Bruce Willis place right up against the wall. I think the simplicity of
the shot makes it more poignant because the audience is not distracted by anything. It really
helps focus people on the disturbing sounds of the rape which increase in not just sound but
vulgarity. The sounds make the decision more intense because of the yelling and cat calls of the
rapists. Rape in itself is a deeply personal and unsettling crime. It makes people i.e. the
audience uncomfortable which is why there is such great suspense during Butch Coolidges
decision making process. The tension between the left and right side of the screen and the
physical pull on Butch Coolidges movements between the two sides is intense. I also chose this
shot because a lot of bad things happen to people in this movie. A lot of crime, sex, and drugs.
But throughout there is a sense of honor or twisted morality that follows through it. A code of
acceptable crime and heinous crime. This shot is a representation between the struggle of
finding what is right and what is wrong.