American Quote by Roger Ebert
“The buried code of many American films has become: If I kill you, I have won and you have lost. The instinctive ethical code of traditional Hollywood, the code by which characters like James Stewart, John Wayne and Henry Fonda lived, has been lost.”
About This Quote
Source Film Critique: Review of American cinema, 2000s
Traditional Hollywood moral codes that valued self-sacrifice and clear heroism have eroded, replaced by win‑lose narratives.
In simple terms: Old heroism replaced by win‑lose thinking.
Key Takeaway
Recognize nuanced morality in media.
Themes
ethics
media
culture
heroism
narrative
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- film analysis
- media literacy
- ethical discussions
Key Concepts
moral relativism
cinematic tropes
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this shift affect audience empathy?
- Can stories show both sacrifice and victory?
A Different Perspective
The new code can oversimplify complex human motives.
![“Gene [Siskel] often mentioned something François Truffaut once told him: the most beautiful sight in a movie theater is to walk down to the front, turn around, and look at the light from the screen reflected on the upturned faces of the members of the audience.” quote by Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d8/roger-ebert-655_audience_gene-siskel-often-mentioned-something-fr_61356.jpg)
