Properly quoting a movie in an MLA essay is crucial for academic integrity and demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the film’s impact on your argument. In short, quote dialogue and descriptive elements precisely, enclose them in quotation marks, and provide an in-text citation pointing to a Works Cited entry that details the film’s title, director, year, and distributor. This article delves into the intricacies of MLA movie citation, equipping you with the tools to cite cinematic sources confidently and accurately.
The Core Principles of Citing Movies in MLA
MLA citation prioritizes clarity and conciseness, allowing readers to quickly locate your sources. When quoting a movie, the goal is to attribute the words or observations to their rightful source – the film itself. The in-text citation serves as a bridge between your analysis and the complete filmographic information found in your Works Cited list.
In-Text Citation: The Quick Reference
The in-text citation for a movie typically includes the film title in parentheses, followed by a specific time stamp indicating when the quote or scene occurs. If the film is commonly known by an abbreviated title (e.g., Star Wars for Star Wars: A New Hope), you can use that abbreviation after introducing the full title. For example:
- “May the Force be with you” (Star Wars 02:03:15).
- “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” (Gone with the Wind 02:57:42).
Note the precise format: parentheses, title, space, timestamp, period. Time stamps are vital because movies lack page numbers.
Works Cited: The Complete Filmography
The Works Cited entry provides a comprehensive overview of the film, allowing readers to easily locate it. The basic format is as follows:
Director, Director’s Last Name, director. Title of the Film. Distributor, Year of Release.
For example:
Spielberg, Steven, director. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Universal Pictures, 1982.
Crucially, use the director’s name, not the actor’s. While actors deliver lines, the director is considered the primary creative force behind the film.
Handling Dialogue and Descriptive Elements
Whether you’re quoting a line of dialogue or describing a visual element, the principles remain the same: accuracy and attribution.
Quoting Dialogue: Direct and Indirect
-
Direct quotes: Enclose the exact words spoken in quotation marks. Maintain the original wording, punctuation, and capitalization. If the quote is longer than four lines, use a block quote (indented one inch from the left margin). The in-text citation follows the final punctuation of the block quote.
-
Indirect quotes (paraphrasing): Restate the information in your own words. While quotation marks are not needed, an in-text citation is still required to acknowledge the source. Even paraphrasing requires attribution.
Describing Visuals: Painting a Picture with Words
When describing a specific scene or visual detail, accuracy is paramount. While you’re not quoting dialogue, you are still drawing upon the film’s content. Therefore, an in-text citation is necessary.
For example:
The final scene depicts Rick standing in the fog, watching Ilsa and Victor board the plane (Casablanca 01:42:55).
FAQs: Deep Dive into MLA Movie Citation
Here are twelve frequently asked questions about citing movies in MLA format, designed to address common challenges and provide nuanced guidance:
H3 FAQ 1: What if the director is not explicitly credited?
In rare cases where the director is unknown or uncredited, you can substitute “dir.” for “director” in the Works Cited entry and use the studio or production company as the main entry point. If even that information is unavailable, cite the film by its title.
H3 FAQ 2: How do I cite a movie clip found online (e.g., YouTube)?
First, determine if the clip is officially uploaded by the distributor. If so, cite the full film. If not, cite the YouTube video using the uploader’s name, the video title, the website name (YouTube), the date of posting, and the URL. You can still provide a timestamp within the in-text citation referencing content within the film itself, not the YouTube clip.
H3 FAQ 3: What if a film has multiple directors?
List all the directors in the Works Cited entry, separated by commas and the word “and.” If there are more than three directors, you can list the first director followed by “et al.” (and others).
H3 FAQ 4: How do I cite a foreign film with translated subtitles?
Cite the original film title, not the translated title. If the translation significantly impacts your analysis, you can note the translator in your Works Cited entry after the year of release.
H3 FAQ 5: Should I include the format of the film (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, streaming) in the Works Cited entry?
MLA 9th edition generally recommends not including the format of the film unless it’s directly relevant to your argument. Focus on the distributor and release year.
H3 FAQ 6: What if I’m quoting a line of dialogue that’s also a well-known phrase?
Even if a line is widely recognized, if you are quoting it from a specific film, you still need to cite the film. Omission implies you’re not drawing the line from a specific source, which is misleading.
H3 FAQ 7: Can I use a range of timestamps if the scene I’m referencing is long?
Yes, you can use a timestamp range to indicate the beginning and end of a scene. For example: (The Godfather 00:30:15-00:32:48).
H3 FAQ 8: What if I’m analyzing the cinematography? Do I still use timestamps?
Yes, use timestamps to pinpoint the specific moments you are analyzing. Your description of the cinematography becomes your “quote,” and the timestamp anchors it to the film.
H3 FAQ 9: How do I cite a movie I saw in a theater?
The citation remains the same as if you watched it on DVD or streaming. The focus is on the film’s information, not your viewing experience.
H3 FAQ 10: What if I’m citing a special feature or commentary track on a DVD?
Cite the special feature or commentary track separately, using the same principles for citing any other element of a movie. Include the speaker(s) in the Works Cited entry and the timestamp of their comments in the in-text citation.
H3 FAQ 11: Is it necessary to italicize the movie title in the in-text citation as well as the Works Cited entry?
Yes, movie titles are italicized both in the in-text citation and the Works Cited entry. This consistent formatting helps distinguish the film title from other elements of your writing.
H3 FAQ 12: If the movie is based on a book, do I need to cite both the movie and the book?
Yes, if you are drawing information from both the movie and the book, you need to cite both separately. Each is a distinct source with its own author(s) and publication details. In your analysis, be clear about which source you are referencing.
Conclusion: Mastering Cinematic Citations
Citing movies in MLA format may seem daunting at first, but by understanding the core principles and addressing common questions, you can confidently and accurately integrate cinematic sources into your academic work. Remember that accuracy and clear attribution are paramount. By mastering these techniques, you elevate your analysis, demonstrate scholarly rigor, and give due credit to the creative forces behind the films you analyze. Now, go forth and cite with confidence!