Films tell stories, reveal characters, and, also, explore places. Film locations enhance the emotional resonance of a narrative and make heroes and villains more memorable. This is the podcast of a film expert who explores these extraordinary places that connect our everyday reality with the world of cinema and imagination.

In this episode: New York.

Part one

COMPREHENSION

1. Choose the correct answer to each question.

1. Why is New York considered the centre of the world in many films?
a. Because it’s the birthplace of superheroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers.
b. Because all earth-shattering events have their epicentre in New York.
c. Because aliens choose it as their favourite landing site.

2. Which area of New York is mentioned as the ideal location for stories about big business?
a. Wall Street.
b. Greenwich Village.
c. The Bronx.

3. Which parts of New York are associated with crime stories?
a. Greenwich Village and Wall Street.
b. Little Italy and the Bronx.
c. Wall Street and Washington Square Park.

4. According to the podcast, what makes New York’s cabs the most famous in the world?
a. Their yellow color.
b. Their talkative drivers.
c. Their appearance in numerous films.

5. How long did it take to build the Empire State Building?
a. 14 weeks.
b. 14 months.
c. 14 years.

6. For how many years was the Empire State Building the tallest building in the world?
a. 42 years.
b. 4 years.
c. 24 years.

7. Which floor is the observation deck of the Empire State Building located on?
a. 381^st floor.
b. 100^th floor.
c. 86^th floor.

8. What was the intended purpose of the Art Deco mast on the Empire State Building?
a. To serve as a docking station for airships.
b. To serve as a lightning rod.
c. To house communication equipment.

9. What is the main reason Carl Denham brings Kong back to New York?
a. To study him.
b. To make him into a circus attraction.
c. To use him as a star in a film.

10. Where does the climactic battle between King Kong and the biplanes take place?
a. On the Empire State Building’s observation deck.
b. In the streets of New York.
c. On the Empire State Building’s mast.

2. Find the right name or term for each definition from the options provided.

King Kong * Freedom Tower * Greenwich Village * Big Apple * Spider-Man
Wall Street * Queens * Empire State Building * Carl Denham * yellow cab

1.    It’s New York City’s nickname. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
2.    It’s the ideal place for bohemian life. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
3.    He’s a giant ape. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
4.    He’s a famous superhero. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
5.    It’s the right place to do business. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
6.    It’s a New York taxi. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
7.    It’s 381 metres high. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
8.    It dominates the financial district. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
9.    It’s where you can find New York’s JFK Airport. ….….….….….….….….….….…...
10. He captures a giant ape. ….….….….….….….….….….…...

3. Determine whether the following statements are true or false.

1. In the world of cinema, New York is often depicted as the centre of the world.
a. True b. False

2. In the world of cinema, if giant monsters invade Earth, they will attack New York first.
a. True b. False

3. New York’s cabs are famous because the cab drivers are very talkative.
a. True b. False

4. The Empire State Building is the world’s tallest skyscraper.
a. True b. False

5. The Empire State Building was completed in 1931.
a. True b. False

6. ‘Empire State’ is the nickname of the State of New York.
a. True b. False

7. The Empire State Building has 80 floors.
a. True b. False

8. The Empire State Building’s mast was a docking station for biplanes.
a. True b. False

9. In King Kong, the climatic battle is between a giant ape and Carl Denham.
a. True b. False

10. The film King Kong ends with the death of Kong.
a. True b. False

PRODUCTION

4. Write one of the following essays.

a. Do you have a favorite film set in New York? What story does it tell? Share why you consider it special.

b. Central Park, the Chrysler Building, the Guggenheim Museum, Times Square, the UN Building… Among the many famous landmarks in New York, choose one that captures your interest, do some research and write about it.

Part two

COMPREHENSION

1. Choose the correct answer to each question.

1. Where is Washington Square Park located?
a. Harlem.
b. Greenwich Village.
c. Central Park.

2. What is Greenwich Village?
a. One of the main thoroughfares of the city.
b. The old bohemian heart of New York.
c. A small town outside New York.

3. Who wrote the novel Huckleberry Finn?
a. Mark Twain.
b. Jane Fonda.
c. A writer of the Beat generation.

4. When was the comedy Barefoot in the Park released?
a. In the 1950s.
b. In the 1960s.
c. In the 1970s.

5. Why do Corie and Paul argue in the film Barefoot in the Park?
a. They can’t stand each other.
b. They have been married for too long.
c. They have very different approaches to life.

6. What is the Statue of Liberty a symbol of?
a. Progress and democracy.
b. Wealth and power.
c. Contrasts and contradictions.

7. Where was the Statue of Liberty built?
a. United States.
b. France.
c. Italy.

8. Who financed the construction of the Statue of Liberty?
a. French people.
b. American people.
c. Both French and American people.

9. Why is the Statue of Liberty often destroyed in dystopian films?
a. To create suspense.
b. To symbolize the end of humanity.
c. To symbolize the subversion of freedom and democracy.

10. What do the remains of the Statue of Liberty represent in disaster and dystopian films?
a. A reminder of past glories.
b. A symbol of resilience and hope.
c. A sign of imminent danger.

2. Find the right name or term for each definition from the options provided.

Lady Liberty   * 5th Avenue * Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi * Emma Lazarus
Godzilla * Liberty Island * Washington Square Park
  Liberty Enlightening the World    * Manhattan * Louis Stevenson

1.    He wrote Treasure Island. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
2.    He was a French sculptor. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
3.    He’s a famous cinematic monster. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
4.    She wrote a poem called ‘The New Colossus’. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
5.    It’s the location of the Statue of Liberty. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
6.    It’s a meeting place for students and artists. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
7.    It’s the ‘full name’ of the Statue of Liberty. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
8.    It’s a common nickname for the Statue of Liberty. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
9.    It’s one of New York’s main thoroughfares. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..
10. Freedom Tower is situated in its Lower part. ….….….….….….….….….….….…..

3. Determine whether the following statements are true or false.
1. 5^th Avenue is twenty kilometres long.
a. True b. False

2. Washington Square Park is located in Greenwich Village.
a. True b. False

3. Mark Twain and Louis Stevenson were not popular writers.
a. True b. False

4. The writers of the Beat generation frequented Washington Square Park.
a. True b. False

5. Barefoot in the Park is a dystopian film.
a. True b. False

6. The Statue of Liberty was a present from the French government to New York.
a. True b. False

7.  The Statue of Liberty was a symbol of hope for many immigrants.
a. True b. False

8. The real name of the Statue of Liberty is New Colossus.
a. True b. False

9. The Statue of Liberty is often destroyed in science fiction and dystopian films.
a. True b. False

10. The Statue of Liberty is a nineteenth-century neoclassical statue.
a. True b. False

PRODUCTION

4. Write one of the following essays.

a. Why do you think the Statue of Liberty became such a profound symbol of hope? Can you think of another landmark in your own city that holds a similar level of symbolism?

b. Dystopian films are often cautionary tales, urging us to reflect on where society is going. Have you seen any of the dystopian films mentioned in the podcast? If not, can you think of another one? What cautionary message does it convey?

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