Quoting a movie in MLA style involves providing enough information for your reader to locate the film and understand the context of your quotation. This includes clearly identifying the film title, director, year of release, and, in the case of direct dialogue, a precise time stamp indicating the scene’s location. Properly incorporating these details ensures academic integrity and allows your audience to fully grasp the significance of the cinematic moment you’ve chosen to highlight.
Why Quoting Movies Matters
Movies, just like books and academic articles, are powerful sources of information and artistic expression. They can illustrate complex themes, provide compelling character studies, and offer insightful commentary on society. When you incorporate movie quotes into your academic work, you’re not just adding flavor – you’re adding credibility and depth to your arguments. However, doing so correctly is crucial. Failing to cite a movie properly can lead to plagiarism, undermining the integrity of your research.
The Foundation: The Works Cited Entry
Before you even think about in-text citations, you need to create a complete entry for the movie in your Works Cited list. This entry serves as the foundation for all your citations and provides a complete record of the source you used.
Required Elements for a Works Cited Entry
- Director: Begin with the director’s name, last name first, followed by a comma and then their first name. Use “dir.” to indicate their role. For example: Scorsese, Martin, dir.
- Title of the Film: Italicize the title of the movie. Capitalize the main words of the title. For example: Goodfellas.
- Year of Release: Provide the year the film was originally released. For example: 1990.
- Distributor: List the name of the film’s distributor. This information is usually found on the film’s packaging or online. For example: Warner Bros.
- Optional Information: Include additional information, such as the names of significant performers or the medium of viewing (e.g., DVD, streaming service).
Example of a Works Cited Entry
Scorsese, Martin, dir. Goodfellas. 1990. Warner Bros.
The Nitty-Gritty: In-Text Citations
Once you have your Works Cited entry established, you can move on to the in-text citations. These citations provide a quick reference to the source within your writing and allow readers to easily find the full entry in the Works Cited list.
Direct Dialogue: Adding Time Stamps
When quoting direct dialogue from a movie, you must include a time stamp to indicate the exact moment the lines are spoken. This allows readers to easily locate the quote within the film.
Format for In-Text Citations with Time Stamps
The basic format is: (Director’s Last Name, time stamp). For example: (Scorsese, 00:45:12-00:45:15).
This indicates that the quote can be found between 45 minutes, 12 seconds, and 45 minutes, 15 seconds into the film.
Example in Action
Henry Hill reflects on his early life, stating, “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster” (Scorsese, 00:02:35-00:02:40).
General References: Director’s Name Alone
If you’re referring to the movie as a whole or a general scene without quoting direct dialogue, you can simply use the director’s last name in parentheses.
Example of a General Reference
Scorsese’s Goodfellas offers a compelling depiction of the Mafia lifestyle (Scorsese).
Formatting Considerations
- Short Quotes: If the quote is four lines or fewer, incorporate it directly into your text and use quotation marks.
- Long Quotes: If the quote is longer than four lines, set it off in a block quote. Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin and omit quotation marks. The citation follows the last line of the block quote.
- Accuracy is Key: Ensure the accuracy of your quotations. Double-check the dialogue against the film itself.
- Signal Phrases: Use signal phrases to introduce your quotes. This helps to integrate the quote smoothly into your writing. For example, “As Henry Hill states,” or “According to Scorsese…”
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of quoting a movie in MLA style:
1. What if the movie has multiple directors?
If a movie has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear on the film’s credits, separated by “and.” For example: (Coen and Coen, 01:22:00-01:22:05). In the Works Cited entry, list all directors, separating their names with commas, followed by “dirs.”
2. How do I cite a movie I streamed online?
The citation remains largely the same. However, you can add information about the streaming service as optional information in your Works Cited entry. For example: Goodfellas. Dir. Martin Scorsese. 1990. Warner Bros. Netflix.
3. What if the movie has no clear director listed?
In rare cases where a director is not credited, use the abbreviation “N.d.” (no director) in place of the director’s name.
4. How do I handle subtitles in a foreign film?
Cite the film as you would any other movie, including the director, title, year, and distributor. If the subtitles significantly impact your analysis, you can mention the translator or subtitle provider in your discussion, though it’s not required in the citation itself.
5. Can I use a timestamp from a different version of the film?
It’s best to use a timestamp that corresponds to the version of the film you are using. Different versions (e.g., director’s cut, extended edition) may have slight variations in timing. Clearly indicate which version you are using in your Works Cited entry if applicable.
6. What if I’m quoting a scene with multiple characters speaking?
The time stamp refers to the entire scene, not individual lines. Use the time stamp that encompasses the entire exchange you’re analyzing.
7. How do I cite a movie trailer?
Treat a movie trailer similarly to a short film. Include the title of the film followed by “Trailer” in parentheses, the director (if known, otherwise the distributor), the year, and the URL where you found the trailer.
8. What if I’m analyzing the visuals or cinematography instead of dialogue?
Instead of a time stamp, you can describe the scene briefly in parentheses after the director’s name. For example: (Scorsese, scene depicting Henry’s rise in the Mafia).
9. How important is it to be exact with the time stamp?
While being precise is ideal, a few seconds of leeway is acceptable. Focus on capturing the essential part of the dialogue or scene you are referencing.
10. What if the movie is based on a book? Should I cite both?
If you’re primarily analyzing the movie, cite the movie. If you’re analyzing how the movie adapts the book, cite both, and clearly explain your focus in your analysis.
11. How do I cite a deleted scene?
Cite the scene as part of the movie, if it’s included on a specific version (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray). Indicate it’s a deleted scene in your discussion, and provide the time stamp from the point it appears in that specific version.
12. Can I use online citation generators for movies?
While citation generators can be helpful, always double-check their accuracy against the MLA Handbook or a reliable online source like the Purdue OWL. Citation generators can sometimes produce errors.
Final Cut: Ensuring Accuracy and Credibility
Mastering the art of quoting movies in MLA style is essential for academic integrity. By following these guidelines and paying close attention to detail, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, informative, and contribute to the overall credibility of your work. So, grab your popcorn, cue up your favorite film, and get citing! Remember to always consult the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for the most up-to-date guidelines.