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Going to the Movies
— Shall we see a film tonight?
— That would be delightful. I haven't seen any films for many weeks.
— There are several movies in the neighbourhood which show the latest pictures.
— Let's consult the newspapers to see what movies are being shown in town.
— A splendid idea.
— At the nearest cinema house they show a film of the year.
— My wife and I have already seen it. We enjoyed it immensely.
—Here is a good programme. They show two main pictures, a French film and an American. I don't think you have seen them.
—I have seen neither of them. Shall we be able to obtainseats? That movie house is always full.
—Seats are not reserved at that movie house, but I am sure we shall be able to get in. Shall we buy balcony seats, if stall seats are not available?
— Please don't. I hate seeing a film from the balcony. It is too far from the
screen. I wear glasses.
—O.K. The movie starts in ten minutes. There are many comfortable seats in
the foyer. We can wait there and enjoy a cigarette in the meantime.
—In the French film the actors spoke with a slight French accent. The acting was faultless, but the action developed very slowly. Don't you agree with me?
—Yes, I do. I like more the English film. The plot was very interesting. The camera work was excellent.
a film of the year— лучший фильм года; immensely — безмерно, чрезвычайно; to obtain — получать, добывать; to be full — быть заполненным; available — годный, действительный, имеющий силу; meantime — тем временем; до тех пор; to speak with a slight accent— говорить с небольшим акцентом; faultless — без ошибок, без дефектов
EXERCISES
I. Answer the following questions:
1. What can you say about the motion picture art of the beginning of the century?
2.Who was the first to take advantage of all movies' devices to create the
filmic grammar that is present, in some form or another, in every modern film?
3. What role did Griffith play in the creation of the motion picture art industry?
4. Every film-making nation of the world has had its own Golden Ages, hasn't it? Prove your statement with examples.
5. When did British film see its peak?
6. Whom do you consider to be the best film director in Russia (Britain, the USA)?
7. What do you know about a movie-maker, great experimentalist and artist Walt Disney?
8. What kind of cinema do you know?
9. Which films do you prefer?
10. Do you know foreign films dubbed in Russian?
11. What is your favourite film star?
12. Do you often go to the cinema?
13.Which do you prefer: to see a film over TV or on the screen in the regular cinema?
14. How do cinema-goers express their enthusiasm for a film?
15. What advantages has the cinema over other vehicles of culture and means of entertainment?
16. In what way might be cinema used as an aid in teaching schoolchildren (students)?
17. What film have you recently seen?
18. In which row in the cinema do you usually sit?
19. What new picture would you advise us to see? Where is it on?
20. How long does the show of the full-length motion picture last?
21. How long is the newsreel?
22. Do you generally have to line up in the queue to get seats for the show? How long?
23. What is being shown at the cinema just now?
II. Fill in the missing words:
1. There is no denying the fact that the cinema is an excellent_ _________________of culture.
2. Its __________________ are unlimited.
3. More than anything else this___________ quality secured popularity for the film as a new form of instruction and .
4. Besides, the films may be colour or black and white, full-length or______ sound or ______, dubbed in mother tongue, three-dimensional or______________________________ .
5. For this reason I see films on television more_____________.
6. I prefer feature films and_____________ comedies.
7. But at the same time I am fond of_____________ films describing the life of the ordinary people, their and problems.
8. As a rule such films leave a deep and lasting_________ upon me.
9. A modern cinema programme contains a______________ , which shows us pictures of important recent developments.
10. In my opinion__________________ films are popular both with children and adults.
11. Movies are also shown on television and can be rented or___ ___________ as a video recording.
12. Attending movies is a relatively__________ leisure time activity that is very_________.
UNIT 2
AT THE THEATRE
The 20-th century brought great change into the theatre. Television, radio, cinema, video altered the course of the major performing arts and created the new ones. But still there are hundreds of musical comedy theatres, drama theatres, opera houses, puppet theatres, philharmonics and conservatoires where the audience is excited at the prospect of seeing a play and the actors are most encouraged by the warm reception. But first, I'd like to tell you some words about the theatre. It is a building where plays, operas or ballets are performed. Of course, it has a stage for the actors and an auditorium where the audience sits. The curtain usually separates the stage from the auditorium. As a rule, the curtain is dropped or lowered between the scenes or acts of a play. The most expensive seats are in the stalls, boxes and dress-circles. The seats in the balcony, pit and the upper circle are comparatively cheaper. An intricate system of lights illuminates the stage. While the curtain is down, the workers on the stage can change the scenery and prepare the stage for the next part of the performance.
A play lives a long life before it makes its appearance on the stage before the audience. It is a real part of art and its creation calls for inspiration, talent and artistic ingenuity. A playwright conceives an idea and after months of hard work his idea develops into the script of the play. And finally, when everything is ready and the rehearsal goes off without a hitch, a dress rehearsal is called. After some time the curtain rises, the play faces the audience on its first night.
As for me, I am not much of a theatre goer but sometimes I like to go to the theatre with my friends or relatives just to relax. But I'll never forget my last visit to Krasnodar Drama Theatre. My mother bought two tickets at the advance box-office for the performance "№ 13".
There were brilliant actors and actresses in the cast, I should admit. The leading actress was The company gave the truly remarkable play — moving, captivating, provoking laughter and tears by turns. During the interval everybody talked about the brilliant acting of the actors. The concluding scene was exciting enough, the final moment was unforgettable. The actors received a tremendous acclamation from the packed audience. There was no doubt it was warmly received by the audience, many of pieces were encored. I admired everything: the wonderful scenery, marvellous acting, charming music. And it was obvious that the play was a great success.
to alter— изменять(ся); performing arts — исполнительские виды искусства; to create — творить, создавать; puppet theatre — кукольный театр; musical comedy theatre —театр оперетты; philharmonic — филармония; conservatoire — консерватория; audience— публика, аудитория; prospect— надежда; to encourage — воодушевлять; reception— npueм; to perform— исполнять (роль); stage — сцена; actor— актер; actress — актриса; auditorium — зрительский зал, аудитория; curtain— занавес; to separate— разделять; stalls— партер; box— ложа; dress-circle — бельэтаж; balcony — балкон;
pit — амфитеатр; upper-circle — первый ярус; comparatively — сравнительно, относительно; intricate— запутанный, сложный; to illuminate — освещать, проливать свет; scenery — театральные декорации, пейзаж; penormance— представление, исполнение; play— пьеса; to make an appearance— показываться, появляться; inspiration — вдохновение; ingenuity — изобретательность, замысловатость; playwright— драматург; to conceive an idea— замыслить; script — рукопись; rehearsal — репетиция; first night— премьера; to buy tickets — купить билеты; advance box-office— касса предварительной продажи билетов; stage version— инсценировка; cast— состав исполнителей; truly remarkable play— действительно замечательная пьеса; moving— трогательный; captivating— увлекательный; provoking laughter and tears by turns— вызывающая поочередно то смех, то слезы; interval— перерыв, антракт acting— игра актеров на сцене; concluding scene— заключительная сцена; thrilling— волнующий; to receive a tremendous acclamation — получить грандиозную овацию; encore—бис; marvellous — чудесный, изумительный, превосходный; obvious — ясно, очевидно; to be a great success — иметь большой успех, пользоваться большим успехом