Draw Topic & Writing Ideas From This Movie Review On Documentary Film Analysis (Must Be Typed) Film Title: The Most Dangerous Woman In America

1.  Select which category [in parentheses] this documentary fits into and explain why you think it best fits that classification. Awareness/social concerns
The documentary film fits into the ‘awareness/social concerns’ because it encourages the viewer to think about social issues such as the possible outbreak of communicable or infectious diseases. While typhoid outbreaks were a thing in the past in countries such as the United States, there are other infectious diseases that raise public concerns.
2. Discuss at least three major themes within this documentary, using examples from the film to support your choice. Your discussion should consist of a paragraph for each theme and its examples.
1) One of the themes in the documentary is conflict. This theme arises when George Soper tracked Mary Mallon, and told her straight to her face that she is making people sick. In this instance, Mallon was irritated, for how can she make people sick when she was healthy and been taking care of the whole household. Apparently, it was difficult for Sober to convince her to submit herself into testing because she did not show symptoms of being afflicted with typhoid.
2) Another theme in the story is freedom. This was best exemplified when Mallon was quarantined in order to prevent the further spread of the disease. The most difficult part for Mallon was that she was branded as a menace in the society, thus the need for her to be detained.
3) Fear is another theme in the documentary film. People started to fear with the occurrence of the typhoid outbreak, and this was shown when the Soper started to track down the cause of the outbreak.
3.   How is the title relevant to one or all of the theme(s) you mentioned in #2?
The title ‘The Most Dangerous Woman in America’ is most relevant to ‘fear’, and this is because the word ‘dangerous’ is most associated with the feeling of fear. The title is also relevant to ‘freedom’, because a ‘dangerous’ person, should not be wandering in freedom.
4. What kind of response do you think the filmmaker hopes to evoke from his/her viewing audience? Discuss what you believe the filmmaker's purpose is; how does he/she attempt to reach his viewing audience?
The filmmaker hopes to evoke awareness in the viewer. The awareness about the existence of such event and on how the society responded.
5. How would you describe the filmmaker's particular position in the development of this film? Does he/she intentionally take a strong stance ( choose sides) or remain impartial? Why do you think he/she took the stance he/she does? How do you feel about his/her stance?
The filmmaker took an impartial stance in this documentary. While the dangers of the typhoid outbreak were shown, there was also an attempt in showing how Mallon was innocent. Further, the act of detaining her was not condemned, as it depicted that it was in line with protecting the welfare of the society.
6. What impact is the filmmaker trying to achieve with his/her audience through the visuals employed in the film? Describe in detail at least three visuals (images; scenes; segments, etc.) that strongly impacted you as a viewer.
1) In the initial part of the film, the doctor was shown bending over the patient, and as a viewer, this struck me on how helpless people can be when they are sick. 2) In another scene, the scientists were shown busy in their microscopes and this reflects how these people are working hard. 3) Further, when Mallon got angry when she was accused of making people sick, the viewer felt that there must have been some way to convince her.
7. Offer at least three kinds of audio devices the filmmaker utilizes in the film (ex: voice, music, narration, background sounds). How do you think such devices impact the viewing audience?
1) The narration is one of the audio devices that impacts the viewer, because it was one of the main element that is noticeable in the film. 2) There was also the background sound that was unnoticed initially, but still has an impact in making the film more engaging. 3) Also, the voice of the narrator keeps the viewer interested, because it motivates the viewer to listen more to what he’s going to say next.
8. Describe at least three expert testimonies or primary sources (eye witnesses/archival footage and documents such as diaries/journals/maps/charts) that the filmmaker employs. How do such sources lend credibility to the documentary and convince the audience of the its authenticity?
1) The expert testimony of George Soper was one of the testimony that convinces the audience of the authenticity of the documentary, this is because he offers a first hand account in dealing with Mallon. 2) Another testimony was that of Judith Leavitt, who was the author of the Typhoid Mary: Captive to the Public’s Health. 3) Also the testimony of David Rosner from Columbia University lends credibility to the film.
9. Discuss the historical significance (importance) of this film for the time period it covers in U.S. history.
In the documentary, it was narrated that typhoid was a common disease and doctors during that time were only able to treat the symptoms but not the underlying cause. The documentary tells the viewer that the medical system of the United States has tremendously improved since then.
10. Discuss whether the film's key messages (themes) are portrayed realistically and/or accurately? Does the filmmaker get his/her message(s) across well? If not, what do you feel needs to be changed?
The film’s key messages are portrayed realistically, and the filmmaker was able to get his message across well. This was because the filmmaker made use of dramatization and narratives in between, making the message easily understood.