COMMENT
Son of Italy and The Italian: which of the two
made the bigger impression on you? And, what made an impression (talking about the movie, remember the score was not part of it. It's a silent movie, so skip references to the music.)
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ReplyDeleteThe one that made a bigger impression on me was The Italian. Reason being is I felt it was way more personal than The Son of Italy. In both stories, the men went to America for a reason. The father in The Son of Italy, went to America so he can support his family, while in The Italian, Beppo went to America to make money and have a home for him and Annette, who eventually got married and had a baby boy. For me, a story is more personal when I read it from the very beginning rather than half way through in a sense. Where it made an impression on me was when Beppo, from The Italian,had to get more money for his baby and then two guys robbed him and beat him for the money. That moment I felt bad and in a way mad because here you have a man who's working to get his son the food he needs and all of a sudden it's taken away from him, the money and then the baby who ends up dying a week later.
ReplyDeleteBut Beppo lived in a mansion compared to Pascal, who also worked as a shoe shiner instead of a digger doing ten to twelve hours a day. Even though Beppo got robbed and it ultimately costed his baby, he had a lover to spend time with and come back home to. Pascal had to look forward to toilet water under his bed and other various bacterial hazards by himself with barely any clothing to keep warm with. Pascal was shown to be in more climates of weather, through the hot and cold, and had moments of idleness looking for work. Beppo always had his corner of shoe shining so he didn't travel far to find work.
DeleteI definitely agree with your take on "The Italian" over "Son of Italy". The book had too many details for me to fully visualize the plot, and although similar in the amount of tragedy and hardships that were gone through, "The Italian" made a bigger impression on me. The way the film ended was also a lot different than the book... Beppo still had lost his child and was not able to please his wife the way he promised his father in law to, while Pascal finally became published and well known for a hidden talent he had to hit rock bottom to reach.
DeleteI absolutely agree that "The Italian" was more personal and that is why you believe it to have a bigger impact on you. I think part of the reason you feel it is more personal because there is a visual component, for you can visually see the struggles that Beppo faced. Whereas, in "Son of Italy" a lot of the struggles were fabricated by a ton of detail and poetic writing which made it difficult to really sympathize with the character.
DeleteI found "Son of Italy" much more personal. While the motives in "The Italian" were much more romantic, the experiences in "The Son of Italy" were described in much more detail than what was depicted on screen in "The Italian." The film felt very goofy, and not nearly as enthralling as the book. I felt much more for Pascal and his family than I did for the family in "The Italian." It was the detail and the poetic writing in "The Son of Italy" that really drove the emotion in the book and that is something the film could never compete with.
DeleteJudging between the two works is difficult. However, I feel as though Son of Italy has made a bigger impact on me personally. Firstly, Pascal's rhetoric appeals to me much more than the film because he writes with immense details. His words are prolific and strike more emotion out of me than any part of the film. The novel is a personal struggle that we are privy to. In The Italian, we know what a character is doing and sometimes the reason why, but in the novel we see more of the inner thoughts of the writer and logic behind his actions, passions and fears. His individual story of trying to be successful in New York City resonates with me and I can identify with Pascal. I cannot identify with a vengeful father.
ReplyDeletel understand your perspective completely. A big part of my enjoyment of Son of ltaly was just in the way Pascal told the story. His use of words and his style of narrative storty-telling are incredibly powerful and greatly attribute to why that book is so good and why we relate to the "Pascal" character. it's something wholly unique to Son of ltaly, you can't quite get that somewhere else as effectively
DeleteI can see how the book is appealing from your perspective. I think that the book or film are favored better than the other depending on what the individual reader or viewer is looking for. For a story that moves more quickly and has more drama, passion, and emotion - the film satisfies this craving. But for the person who seeks something more deep and complex, and wants to peel the layers of the experience of the narrator like an onion, the boom is definitely the winner. For me personally, the film made more of an impression simply because I was shocked at the story moreso than "Son of Italy". We are not generally exposed to films where children die, because filmmakers and storywriters are not so cruel. But that is why "The Italian" was so raw and real to me. The acting may have been over the top, but the plot was more effective.
DeleteSon of Italy undoubtedly made a bigger impression on me because of the vivid and graphic hardships he endured. Pascal's journey in America would be something you'd expect from an immigrant, they'd have to constantly find work and receive little to nothing as pay, while living in the worst conditions possible. I knew that before reading the story, as history classes have taught us before, but I never knew to the extent they had to go through like Pascal did. Even though in "The Italian", Beppo goes through hardships of his own, losing his kid while stuck in jail being the most tragic he had to face, but he had his lover with him in America compared to Pascal who only had his gang which later on dispersed and went their own ways. Beppo also lived in an apartment that would be considered good at that time, ultimately being the deciding factor on why "Son of Italy" made a bigger impression.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Beppo did have a few legs up on Pascal when they first come to America. However, Beppo is borrowing money from the Irishman and is working in a job below his level as a shoeshiner. He is still making ends meat to get by even though he has a apartment and a wife. Pascal was alone and didn't have a real place to call home but I it's also not a competition as to who had it "worse". Both had to face trials.
DeleteBoth "Son of Italy" by Pascal D'Angelo and "The Italian" by Reginald Barker have opened my eyes to the hardships Italians have faced when coming to America for a better life. However, the film "The Italian" has impacted me more after initially watching it because the somber ending. Watching Beppo crying over the grave of his dead son symbolizes the pain of immigrating to a new country. It is very important to realize both works have huge impacts on the story of Italian-Americans but the film delves into the struggles of money early on which is relatable. From not being good enough for his wife in the eyes of her father because he is poor to having to beg for money to get his wife over to America and then not having enough money to save his baby. All these instances are relevant to the immigrant experience and have shaped my understanding of what it means to fight for a better life and failing. In my ideas, "The Italian" is more of learning from your mistakes story than "Son of Italy". For that reason it has left a bigger impact on me for early Italian American immigration. "The Italian" fails even more at the end which is such a hard but realistic idea to digest.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, "The Italian" feels like the inverse of "Son of Italy", both in storytelling and thematic imagery. Pascal goes to America with his father while Beppo goes to America to appease the father of another. While in America, Pascal lives a bachelor's life, he steers away from feminine wiles and even goes so far as to completely exclude any romance from his narrative. On the other hand, Beppo goes to America for love, and eventually brings Annette to the "golden land" and they have a child. So in a way, both narratives illustrate two very different hardships that Italian immigrants experienced. Out of these two narratives, I think "Son of Italy" had more of an impact on me due to his illustrative rhetoric that painted an image of a downtrodden laborer. We are inside Pascal's thoughts. We are living his life through his words. His hardships were numerous and escalating yet through all that, he preserved to create art. It is his art that made his story worth telling and hard hitting. There were millions of Beppos and Pascals, abused and oppressed minorities, that either persevered or failed under the penalty of death. Children died, laborers were kept under slave like conditions - neither tragedy outweighs the other. However, Pascal's story resonates due to the uplifting nature of its end. Despite all the trauma and oppression, Pascal achieved something, he achieves the American dream.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Pascal's "illustrative rhetoric" really helped me understand the issues Italians immigrant laborers had to deal with it. I also appreciate the artistic aspirations of Pascal. However, if I look at which person had endured more hardship I would not be able to judge between the two men. I cannot imagine losing a child or a group of friends. Finally, I can say I agree almost whole heartedly with your response.
DeleteI loved that you pointed out the fact that Beppo and Pascal were not the only ones who has issues as an immigrant. It's heart wrenching thinking of the slight possibility that There were more sons and daughters that may have died due to simple situations like Toni's. How many people were falsely persecuted? How many people were robbed? How many people watched helplessly as their son or daughter passed away Because As immigrants they were treated differently that lead to avoidable circumstance?
DeleteSon of ltaly had more impact on me, probably because l respond better to the medium of books versus film. l was able to relate to Pascal's story easier, l think because we got a clearer picture of his life and who he was. l understood Pascal's motivations and influences, the values he held. Whereas l didn't feel that same connection and understanding of Beppo, it just felt like l was being given a protagonist and told to relate to him. That could also be a product of having a protagonist that is telling their own story. Son of ltaly felt incredibly personal partly because we were hearing these stories straight from the source, which is a very powerful thing.
ReplyDelete"The Italian" had more of an impact on me than "Son of Italy". When watching the film, I experienced more catharsis and pathos for the character and more shock for his actions, especially in the end when he was seeking revenge. "Son of Italy" had a calmer sequence of events, whereas "The Italian" was more dramatic. While watching the silent film, I actually took pictures of some of the dialogue that came across the screen. It astounded me how little of it was needed to tell a whole story. Perhaps it is the fact that throughout the entire film, I was reading the expressions and experiencing the emotions, whereas while reading the book, there may or may not be a chance of truly understanding what the author has to say between the lines. "Son of Italy" was also a sad story about the hardships of being an Italian immigrant in early 1900s New York, but "The Italian" tugs more at the heart with the visible tears and the death of a baby.
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised by the movie and the fact that I enjoyed it so much. I expected a silent film to be very boring, but the acting, stage movement, gestures, and camera work were very good. One thing that stood out to me the most within the film was the shock when Beppo goes to avenge his son's death by sneaking into Corrigan's house. This was the part where I was truly at the edge of my seat because it is not something that I had seen before in a plot. I'm very impressed with the movie.
Between "Son of Italy" & "The Italian", "The Italian" made a bigger impression on me. As an individual I am moved more by films than books- I have a harder time picturing what occurs in a book over what I view in a film. "The Italian" was the first silent film I've ever watched. Originally I did not feel as if I was going to enjoy it or be affected by it because it was silent, but that was completely false. You could feel the emotions of the characters through their expressions and body movements. The gestures expressed by each character were performed so well that with some slight self-interpretation, you were able to understand the story line perfectly. I think the part that made the biggest impact on me was between these two moments. The first was when Beppo went to meet Annette where her ship dropped her off in NY from Italy and they seemed as if they were not going to find each other. I was seriously on the edge of my seat because I was not sure which way the plot was going to end up (that's the hopeless romantic in me). The part of "The Italian" that moved me the most was when Beppo got robbed, ended up in jail, with his wife having zero idea where he was while she took care of their dying baby. One could not even imagine what Annette was feeling at the time, especially when Antonio was buried only by her while he was still in jail. It hurt so much to see Beppo finally come home from jail to find out that within just a week his first child died. Also, it is so hard to imagine that situations like these truly happened to many Italian's who traveled to America for a better life but had to face obstacles such as these.
ReplyDeleteThe bigger impression left on me “Son of Italy”. In both stories we met the same problem. In “Son of Italy” Pascal’s father leaves to support his family taking his son with him to America. While in “The Italian” Beppo had to leave in order to have home for himself and Annette. Even thought Beppo was living in slums he got married and had a baby boy. Pascal had suffered a lot finding job or getting job from other states, to survive like many immigrants face in their first years. While Beppo had to work hard in order to buy his baby boy food. Pascal in details explain his hardship as an immigrant and struggle that he went trough. It was sad to see how Beppo wanted to get revenge but ends up hurt. I think the book was more realistic than the movie. All of the immigrants who leave their countries struggle and face a lot of obstacles to the new place which they go.
ReplyDeleteI personally was a bigger fan of "The Italian." I think it may have to do with my love for silent films for it is a very different and unique way to tell a story. Beppo moves to the United States to make a better life for himself and Annette, however when he gets to "the new world," he finds that it is not as promising. I believe, this is why "The Italian" made a bigger impression on me. When Beppo goes to America he is living in the slums, and he gets arrested. Not to mention, his son dies after malnutrition. The struggles depicted in this movie were real-life struggles for immigrants at that time. Even though, the severity of Beppo's struggles were overshadowed by the chaos in the silent film which can be seen as humorous, I still sympathized with Beppo and the hardships he dealt with. The struggles Beppo faced, speak to an larger audience of people who faces these struggles creating a life or moving to more foreign places.
ReplyDeleteI also love silent films, I find them to be very nostalgic and inspiring. With that said, I didn't find "The Italian" to be that insightful or awe inspiring. It was entertaining at moments but I left the film disappointed. I think Beppo's story was heartfelt and very tragic. But I think it left something to be desired. There was just something missing for me.
DeleteThe Italian had a bigger impression on me mostly because i like movies more than books. But also because you could see the expression of hurt, love, and determination on his face. Also i never watched a silent movie and for this to be a new experience for me made me like it more. I feel both the book and movie shows the struggle of coming America just in a different way and for a difference reason.
ReplyDeleteI found that between "Son of Italy" and "The Italian", "Son of Italy" made a bigger impression. While I enjoyed "The Italian" because of my love for silent films, I liked the realism in the "Son of Italy". Although Beppo faced many tragedies in his story, I felt they were overshadowed by the over acting and campiness of "The Italian". I found the Pascal's descriptions and imagery to be a stronger representation of Italian immigration.
ReplyDeleteThe novel "Son of Italy" made a bigger impression on me, because i found it to be more entertaining. I usually dont like to read and i rather watch movies, but in this case it was the opposite. I could relate to the novel on so many different levels. Which that was the reason that made me interested in continuing to read the novel. When the family finds out that first the father will be leaving them and going to America. I had a flash back of that scene and i thought about the day when my mom found out my dad was coming to America by himself. The only scene i liked in the movie, was when everyone was dancing on the boat which showed they all excited and happy, and the guy was the only sad one because he left family behind at home.
ReplyDeleteThe Italian left a bigger impression on me than Son of Italy. Even though I love reading books, I am a visual learner and I love watching good movies. I am also a sucker for romance. Even though The Italian was a silent film, I enjoyed watching the movie. Beppo was so in love with Annette that he was willing to go to America to give her a better life. I loved that he was brave enough to sail across the ocean and live in another place he has never encountered before. I felt for Annette when she was saying goodbye to Beppo and I empathized with her because I hate goodbyes. What I didn't expect at all was the moment Beppo had with the Corrigan's child at the end of the film. It was kind of bittersweet to see the child do the same thing Tony used to do while he slept. It was almost as if Tony was watching over the child and eventually eliminated the hatred in Beppo's heart. It is a truly heart-warming film to watch and I would watch it again if I had the chance.
ReplyDeleteThe film "The Italian" made a completely different impression on me than "Son of Italy" because I am more prone to focus on something visually than read words on a page where something can be happening or not be happening. The amount of pages it takes to describe a scene in a book could take less than a fraction of a second to reach my eyes and tell me where they are. As the film started, we see a man in a house reading a book titled "The Italian" - It cuts to the countryside and we see what is being represented by the book. The film is the book which is ironic, because we could've continued reading it just like it was shown to us within the first minute. But we virtually see this story moving and we see the interactions because the characters, the scenery, the society, the conflict, etc. The scene that reached out to me the most was Beppo's worst day (in my opinion). Beppo had lost all the money he earned working in the scorching heat by being mugged by two thieves. Then he resorted to begging or else he feared he would lose his son if he could not buy any milk. He got into a fight when he got frustrated because no one seemed to care. His last resort, Mr. Corrigan even turned him down, and he was dragged by the policeman to jail. He was in jail for about a week until he was released, released to find out the worst news of his life -- That his Little Tony had passed away. It stretched for about 5-10 minutes in the film, but we saw every little detail of how concerned it was and how beaten he had gotten. It was really well-done. I felt bad for Beppo, and bad for Annette.
ReplyDelete"The Italian". definitely had a bigger impression on me than son of Italy. The film was absolutely brilliant. It started out slow but it definitely picked up and it made me care a lot for beppo. I actually admired the character of Beppo once the film ended. I questioned myself I could have done what he did in the final scene. I really don't know because of the fact I don't know how it feels to feel hopeless in saving my sons life. it was heart retching to know his son died while he was in jail and for events that were just simply outrages. Not to mention how much Beppo is already struggling with his economic issues and the poor environment his family is in. this film did an amazing job painting the struggle that a Italian coming from Italy could have faced during that era
ReplyDeleteI agree with you man, that final scene was pretty tough on me. But I totally understood how he got overwhelmed with those feelings when he looked at the child and saw the same gesture as Little Tony used to make. He saw the innocence in the pure beautiful child, and I think that was stronger for him than getting revenge, just because of how strong his emotions were for his late son.
Delete"Son of Italy" made a much deeper impact on me than "The Italian." It seemed that the film was much more light-hearted and due to the nature of film, could not elaborate on the experiences as much as a written novel, such as "The Son of Italy" could. For instance, the trip to America in "The Son of Italy" was written as a grand, eye-opening experience as Pascal left his home, boarded a locomotive, saw the ocean all for the first time. In "The Italian" the trip was merely "a week later" and didn't touch upon any of the struggles or experiences of being stuck on a crowded ship for days headed for a new and frightening land. Pascal's detailed writings made it much easier to emotionally connect with him and the other characters in the story and even, at least in my mind, better depicted the events than in the silent film. Pascal is able to paint an entire image for you with very carefully chosen words. In the film, you only see what they were able to re-create in sets, which isn't much. Also, without any kind of dialogue, the film loses a major tool for characterization, which made it even harder to connect with the characters on screen.
ReplyDeleteYou stated that "The Italian...didn't touch upon any of the struggles or experiences" but you probably overlooked a few scenes in the film. Out of all the sufferings Beppo went through, he lost a son and was a victim of a robbery. Beppo went through such a drastic personality change; it's impossible to say that he didn't suffer as an Italian immigrant.
DeleteBetween the Son of Italy and The Italian, the Italian had a greater impression on me. He came to America in hopes to find not only himself a home, but to prove to Annette's father that he was worthy of her love. When he came to America he found a home and started his family, and gave birth to a son, "Little Tony". Even though in the end little Tony could not be saved, I really enjoyed the whole family aspect of the film, and Beppo coming to America so he could start this family and marry his true love. His struggles seemed more real to me than in the Son of Italy. He came to America alone origianally, his son passed, and he was even put in jail for some time.
ReplyDeleteBetween Son of Italy and The Italian, I definitely feel as if The Italian definitely had much more of impression on me personally. Ignoring the plot completely I personally am able to get more into movies then books in general so that might be one reason why. Another reason would be that the main character in this film lost his own son, in comparison to the main character from the book that only lost a coworker. In the movie, we actually saw emotion while in the book we just read about the emotion, which was much more impactful. Finally, it was also interesting how the book started off very sad and ended happily, while the movie started off much more happily and ended in tragedy. The fact that it ended so tragically left an impact on me compared to the happy ending from the book.
ReplyDeleteIt Italian made a deeper impact on me rather than son of Italy. What hit me the most was when beppo was about to kill the politicians son but then he made the same gesture beppos son made while he slept. I'm not sure if the politician ended up kidnapping beppos son or if he just happened to make the same gesture.
ReplyDeleteBut when I saw the look on beppos face I saw all of his internal dilemmas in a flash. He considered then reconsidered taking a life which wasn't his to take and mentally tortured himself to come to the conclusion that it wouldn't bring back his own son.
Being a silent film presented it's own challenges but I came to recognize the difficulties that actors had in that time. It was still able to deliver plot and emotion and character development.
Without a doubt, The Italian had a greater impression on me for several reasons. Personally, I'm attracted way more to live motion pictures rather than still words. Long books easily lose my attention. I find myself reading a chapter over and over not because it was a difficult, but because my mind is extremely active that it will take an idea and create stories and ideas of its own, spiraling in a different direction. I feel as if movies work best for Me due to constant motion that keeps my attention. Additionally, The fact that it was a silent movie, allowed my brain to be creative and in checked, filling in the gaps between narration, for example, the scene where Annette and her dad were laughing at the suitor And the scene where the main character was pleading for help from Corrigan. In short its as if it got me to write the script rather than read the script.
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