KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
12 Angry Men
Questions
1. In the play 12 Angry Men, the main character was highly successful in
changing the opinions of the other eleven jurors in the room. Describe how
he used the principles of rational leadership by providing five examples of
its effectiveness.
2. What two lessons did you learn from the main character or any other
character in the play?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
All My Sons
Questions
1. What would you do if you were faced with Joe Keller’s situation? Why?
2. Did Mrs. Keller play a part in her husband’s crime? Answer in depth.
3. Describe the moral values of each of the major characters.
examples to support your answer.
Provide
4. What other means could Joe Keller’s son, Chris (Burt Lancaster), have
taken to demonstrate his negative reaction to his father’s unethical
business practices?
5. “This play demonstrates the dark side of the American Dream.” What does
this statement mean? Do you agree?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
American Dream
Questions
1. Should businesses be permitted to hire replacement workers when confronted
with a strike? Explain in depth.
2. Would Local P-9 have been more successful if they had never hired Mr. Rogers
and allowed the parent union to handle the strike? Would the outcome have been
the same?
3. Did the behaviors of the local and international unions affect your view of unions
in general? How?
4. Compare and contrast this documentary with Kopple’s Harlan County, USA.
Between whom are the conflicts in each movie? What were the outcomes in each
strike and what, if anything, accounted for the difference?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
An Inconvenient Truth
Questions
1. Describe at least four examples of the impact of industrialization on the global
environment.
2. If you were the U.S. president, what five decisions would you make to reduce
global warming.
3. What four steps could individuals and/or companies take to reduce their negative
impact on the environment.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
A Few Good Men
Questions
1. Describe the elements of the “chain of command” depicted in the film, and how
that concept led to the tragic circumstances revealed in the story.
2. There were many powerful personalities identified in the film. Describe at least
five characters, and how their personalities fostered the developments that
occurred in the film.
3. The business environment utilizes many of the managerial elements and core
concepts used in the Marine Corps. In your view, which ones work and/or don’t
work, based upon viewing this film.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Barbarians at the Gate
Questions
1. Ross Johnson, RJR’s CEO, was awarded a severance package worth $23
million after losing the battle to take over the company. Was this justifiable or was
it a gross mismanagement of shareholder resources? Explain in depth.
2. At one point in the film, RJR Nabisco’s CEO Ross Johnson comments, “After all,
how many sets of golf clubs can you be buried with?” How do you reconcile this
view with the lifestyle that he actually lived?
3. A critic stated “the movie symbolizes the wealth and excesses of powerful
corporate executives in the 1980’s.” Do you agree? Discuss in detail.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Citizen Kane
Questions
1. What does the word “Rosebud” symbolize? What was its significance?
2. In Charles Kane’s early career he was an idealist and champion of the
underprivileged. In his later years, he was driven by the dual goals of greater
power and wealth. What was the cause of this transformation?
3. This movie is considered the greatest American movie produced in the last
century. Why do critics rate it so highly? As part of your answer, compare it to at
least one of the other movies we’ve seen this semester.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
A Civil Action
Questions
1. Do you think that Jan Schlichtmann’s firm should have accepted the case despite
the fact that it couldn’t handle the financial burden? Explain.
2. At one point in the movie, Jerome Facher offered the plaintiffs a $20 million
settlement. Was it a sincere offer or did he have something more devious in
mind?
3. Do you think the legal system operated to reach a fair and just settlement for the
plaintiffs? Provide three examples in support of your answer.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
The Constant Gardener
Questions
1. A pharmaceutical company is using people in a third world country as “human
guinea Pigs.” Explain what the company was doing and discuss the
company’s motivation for doing it. Do you think it is the right thing to do, why
or why not?
2. Justin & Tessa have completely different personalities. Give at least three
examples of their differences and the impact it has on the movies complex
storylines.
3. The Constant Gardener is both a “thriller” and a “love story.” Discuss both
aspects of the movie citing specific examples of each. What side of the story
did you find more appealing? Explain.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Death of a Salesman
Questions
1. What is the primary lesson of this film? What does it say about American
society?
2. Did the principal characters in the film contribute to Willy Loman’s demise? Do
you think this tragedy was inevitable? Why or why not?
3. Compare and contrast the personalities of Willy Loman’s sons, Biff and Happy.
In what ways did their father influence them? Describe fully by providing
examples.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Disclosure
Questions
1. Discuss management’s role in handling the sexual harassment allegations
Tom Sanders (Michael Douglas) made against his boss, Meredith
Johnson (Demi Moore). Why did they choose to believe her version over
his? What procedures should a company establish to prevent this from
ever happening again?
2. If you were Tom what would you have done? Describe a particular action
he took that could have been handled differently. Describe in depth.
3. Meredith used every device at her disposal to achieve her ultimate goal of
corporate domination. Discuss the role of sex and power in the corporate
working environment.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
e-Dreams
Questions
1. What elements of Joe Park’s personality led to his initial success and
eventual failure? Describe fully and give examples.
2. Why did Wall Street initially endorse Park’s venture as a valuable
investment opportunity. Why did they later reject it?
3. What accounted for the rise and fall of kozmo.com?
4. Describe the personal and professional characteristic that accounted for
his successes and subsequent failure.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room
Questions
1. Enron : The Smartest Guys in the Room, is truly a tale for our time.
There's only one word that means anything to the heads of major
companies, and it's not "ethics, " it’s "greed.” In a well developed essay
discuss what role“greed” played in the collapse of Enron. Site at least 3
examples.
2. When Enron went bankrupt there were winners and losers. Some people
lined their pockets with gold, while others were totally ruined. Identify the
losers and winners (no specific names are necessary) and discuss, in
depth, how it affected their futures.
3. Enron has been called one of history's greatest business scandals. Do
you agree with this assessment? Explain why or why not. Use specific
examples from the movie to support your opinions.
4. Enron used “Mark-to-market” accounting which allowed estimated profits
for deals to be recorded as such before they’re ever actually made.
Discuss the benefits and risks of this type of accounting. Do you think it
was an ethical practice? Support your answer with specific examples
from the movie.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Executive Suite
Questions
1. Compare and contrast Loren Shaw’s (Fredric March) and McDonald
Walling’s (William Holden) views about the proper role of corporate
management. Is Walling too idealistic, or is Shaw just a greedy
businessman? Whose view do you endorse?
2. How accurate does the film portray the inner workings of big corporations?
Does the moral of the movie still have relevance today? Explain in depth.
3. Compare and contrast the leadership and team-building styles of at least
two of the firm’s executives.
4. The movie exhibits several negative behaviors of corporate executives.
Could these have been avoided? What vital lessons could be learned
from this?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Glengarry Glen Rose
Questions
1. Do you believe that the environment created by the real-estate firm
depicted in the film led to the theft of the sales leads and the film’s
dramatic conclusion? Is the film an accurate reflection of how
companies transact business in contemporary America?
2. As you watched the film, the personalities of several characters
emerged. Based on your understanding, would you have predicted
which characters committed the theft? Why?
3. What does the film teach you about the advantages and pitfalls of life
in a high-pressure sales environment?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Harlan County, USA
Questions
1. How did the film impact your view of the relationship between labor and
management in America? Support your answer by providing three
examples.
2. Was it ethical for the government to authorize the state troopers to assist
Duke Power in disbanding the strike by the workers? Why?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Hoffa
Questions
1. Describe the scenes in this movie that you found most believable. Which
sequences seemed to be the most realistic? Why?
2. After viewing this film, what is your opinion of Hoffa? Does the movie
portray him in a favorable light?
3. Based upon the film, what would be the ideal personal and professional
characteristics of a big labor boss?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
The Insider
Questions
1. Why did Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) jeopardize his lifestyle by acting
as a whistle blower? Would you have reacted the same way?
2. Should the government prohibit the production and sale of tobacco
products? The government attempted to accomplish this with alcohol
during prohibition. What was the result?
3. Do you agree that tobacco companies are responsible for the deaths of
millions of people? Describe some of the crimes committed by tobacco
companies and their executives.
4. Do you think that companies influence the media?
providing at least three examples.
Describe how by
6. At one point in The Insider, CBS’s lawyer tell the
Wigand’s charges against the tobacco industry were
would have less of a problem than if the information
point Bergman asks, “ Is this Alice in Wonderland?”
mean?
news media that if
untrue, the network
were true. At which
What did Bergman
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Inside Job
Questions
1. “Inside Job”, a briskly paced film, is a story of a crime without
punishment; of an outrage that has largely escaped legal sanction
and social stigma. Describe, with at least four examples, the betrayal
of public trust depicted in the film.
2. The director, Charles Ferguson, created a meticulous and infuriating
documentary about the causes and consequences of the financial
crisis of 2008. Describe at least four examples of either the causes
and/or consequences of this crisis.
3. Several well-known investors, economists and government officials
were warned that the frenzied speculation of that era was leading to
a financial abyss. Select at least three of these individuals, and
explain their reactions to the information provided to them.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Metropolis
Questions
1. What is the theme of the film? What lessons can be learned from it?
2. Choose one character from the film and describe his/her motives,
strengths and weaknesses. Answer the question by focusing on a
particular scene.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Maxed Out
Questions
1. The film Maxed Out raises important questions about the ethic of credit
card companies. After having watched the film, what is your view about
the business practices of these companies?
2. What steps should local, state, and federal agencies take to resolve
abuses in the credit card industry?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Margin Call
Questions
1. The film “Margin Call” is a tale of greed, vanity, and expediency. The
bankers, and brokers who have been the focus of protests, have
deservedly been demonized by the public. Do you believe this
attitude is fair? Describe your reasons for supporting this point of
view, or explain why you disagree, by providing at least three
examples.
2. The characters in this film go about their business in a state of quiet
panic trying to save themselves from a global catastrophe of their
own making. Watching them going about their business, you don’t
feel the kind of fury inspired by Charles Ferguson’s documentary
“Inside Job”, but rather a mixture of disgust, pity and confusion.
Describe at least four characters in the film, and their response to
the economic crisis they’re facing.
3. Describe the psychological pressure and ethical choices at work
among those who are caught in the economic crisis described in the
film providing at least four examples in support of your answer.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Norma Rae
Questions
1. Describe the scene in the film you found most memorable. Discuss fully.
2. Were the events portrayed in the film realistic? Describe the scenes you
found especially believable. Why?
3. Why did the workers initially oppose the union despite their horrible
working conditions? Describe in depth.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Network
Questions
1. In your view, does the film accurately portray the world of television? Why
or why not? Provide examples in support of your answer.
2. Is the movie simply a portrayal of TV executives and personalities or does
it suggest something deeper about the society in which they operate?
3. The film was considered overly dramatic and extreme at the time of its
release in the 1970’s. Decades later, do you think the movie would still be
viewed the same way today? Why or why not?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
On the Waterfront
Questions
1. In the film, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) acts as an informant. He even
expressed a willingness to testify against Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb)
and his cronies. If you had been faced with the same situation, what would
you have done?
2. Some have claimed Terry Malloy’s speech ("I coulda been a contender”)
to his brother is one of greatest speeches in American cinema. What
makes it so special?
3. Based upon this film, what is your opinion of unions? Do you believe this
was an isolated event, or is it a reflection of what goes on behind the
scenes at unions? Discuss fully.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Quiz Show
Questions
1. If you were offered $25,000 to be dishonest as Herb Stempel was, would
you take the money?
2. Would the quiz shows have been as popular as they were if the public had
known that some of the contestants were provided with the correct
answers in advance? Explain by providing four reasons in support of your
answer.
3. Why was it difficult for the U.S. senators to criticize the network? Explain
in depth.
4. Was the lawyer, Richard Goodwin, too lenient with Charles Van Doren?
Why did Goodwin react the way he did?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Too Big to Fail
Questions
1. Some critics have labeled the financial crisis of 2008, and the
subsequent scandals that were revealed, a problem that was “too
complicated to understand”. The film’s director, Curtis Hanson used
many cinematic tricks, but ultimately succeeded in telling the story
because we now know that the danger was real. Describe the
danger, providing at least four examples.
2. The film portrayed the personalities, and roles played by many
famous executives as the economy violently spiraled downward.
Describe at least four of these personalities, and explain their impact
on the events that occurred.
3. The movie makes a compelling case that saving troubled banks
required merging them with healthy ones. This created new
institutions that are even bigger than the ones the government
rescued (because they were too big to be allowed to fail). Do you
believe the government took the right actions in this matter?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
The Rainmaker
Questions
1. What is the main theme of the film? Is it about how the law is practiced,
about the insurance companies, or about Rudy Baylor’s (Matt Damon)
personality?
2. Select and explain an action taken by one of the characters in the film.
What motivated that individual? What did this motivation have to do with
the film’s theme?
3. A critic claimed that the film makes a bold statement about greed and
corruption in the American corporate world. Do you agree? Why?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Silkwood
Questions
1. Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep) became unpopular with her fellow
employees whom she fought for because they were afraid of losing their
jobs. Those people chose their livelihood ahead of safety. Would you have
reacted in the same way? Why do you think the workers made that
decision?
2. Using examples from the film, describe at least five personal
characteristics that you believe resulted in strengthening the union’s
position. (e.g., integrity, determination, etc.)
3. Do you think that Karen Silkwood’s lifestyle, which was considered radical
at that time in conservative Oklahoma, affected her credibility? Explain.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Startup.com
Questions
1. What is the theme of the film? Do you believe the filmmakers were
effective in telling the businessmen’s story? Justify your answer.
2. In your opinion, how did intelligent investors fail to see that this business
venture was not going to succeed in the long-term? Provide three
examples.
3. This film portrays the rise and fall of the American dream. What does this
statement mean?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Super Size Me
Questions
1. Do you think the title of the film Super Size Me fittingly represents the
movie? Provide four reasons in support of your answer.
2. Describe four ways the film “Super Size Me” changed your opinion of the
fast-food industry.
3. Do you believe McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants are
responsible for the national epidemic of obesity? Explain by providing at
least four arguments in support of your conclusion.
4. What changes did the fast food industry make following the critical
analysis presented by the director? Provide four examples.
5. Describe the health hazard created by the fast food industry and how the
director brought them to the viewer’s attention?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Tucker: the Man and His Dream
Questions
1. The Tucker Corp. sold $20,000,000 in stock to the public and produced
only 50 automobiles. Do you think that Tucker was responsible for losing
the investor’s money? Discuss in depth.
2. In your opinion, should Tucker have recognized the forces that were
arrayed against him? To what degree was each of these forces
responsible for the demise of the firm?
3. Do you think that the ultimate destruction of the Tucker Corp. was
captured in the movie? Provide five detailed examples in support of your
answer.
4. Since the film does not offer any real insights into Tucker’s personality,
what do you think accounts for his behavior? Discuss fully and give
examples.
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Wall Street
Questions
1. The movie argues that most small investors are dupes and big market
killings are made by men such as Gekko, who raid companies and erode
the assets of the shareholders. Do you agree? Explain in depth.
2. Is Gekko’s behavior an isolated event, or is it a reflection of the “capitalist
trading mentality,” as some have claimed? Discuss in depth.
3. At one point Bud Fox asks Gordon Gekko, “How much is enough?” What
do you think is enough? Discuss the role of money in business and in
people’s personal lives. Is money by itself corrupt?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps
Questions
1. The film depicts an older and wiser Gordon Gekko. In what ways has he
changed over the years, and in what ways is he still the same?
2. What ethical dilemmas did Gekko and his colleagues face in Wall Street
2? Discuss at least three of them in detail.
3. One often hears the expression that “art imitates life”. In what ways was
the financial crisis of 2008 similar and/or different than the circumstances
depicted in the film?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price
Questions
1. What impact has Walmart had on employees, local businesses, and the
communities within which they operate?
2. Should any steps be taken to reduce the negative impact of the above? If
so, how, what, and by whom?
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OF
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
BA 77: Business Images in the Media
Dr. Fredric L. Mayerson
FILM ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Questions
1. Who do you consider to be the heroes and villains of the film? Explain
your answer in depth.
2. What does this film say about the ethics and social responsibility of the
major players (entities) involved in this issue?
3. What five steps do you believe should be taken regarding automotive
transportation in the future?