Sources used in this document:

Many classic films also make history with their visual techniques or special effects. In The Wizard of Oz," the film opens in black-and-white, and turns to Technicolor when Dorothy opens the door onto a new world. This technique was new and different in 1939, and created a stir with viewers. The special effects in the movie, from the tornado, to the talking trees in the forest that toss their apples at Dorothy and her friends were all groundbreaking for the time. In "Apocalypse Now," the photography of Vietnam and the conditions facing our troops there during the Vietnam War are both spectacular and disquieting. The scene of the helicopters advancing toward the Vietnamese village to the strains of Wagner's "Cry of the Valkyries" is probably one of the most well-known and often remembered scenes in movie history. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" has become a standard quote in American language, and just about everyone immediately knows the film it came from.

Great directors can also make even the most mediocre film classic by their understanding of the themes in the script, and the actors capabilities. Francis Ford Coppola is an excellent example of this. His films all tend to be classics, simply because of his incredible understanding of the film, the historic background, and his actors abilities and strengths. "Apocalypse Now" made stars of many of its actors, and Coppola's directing certainly added strength and purpose to the theme from Conrad's book, which was difficult to understand, especially at the end.

In conclusion, a classic film is made up of many elements. Some of them are as unique as each film is unique, and some of them are common to many classic films. Classic films are enduring, and linger on in the mind of the viewer long after they have seen the film. They usually contain excellent casts, who make their characters come completely alive. The writing of a classic film is usually superior, and helps the film and the characters endure. People often quote lines or passages from classic films, because the writing simply demands repeating. Excellent photography and directing usually accompany classic films. The visual techniques and special effects endure, making the film indelible unforgettable. Great directors can create a classic even when many of these elements are missing, by making a mediocre film memorable with acting or photography.