Films from the 50s and 60s

[psycho d]

Why are there so many absolutely awesome and brilliant movies from this era? Is it that this era was inundated with great directors and writers? Or is it that there was just enough technology to make a great film but not enough to rely on special effects, instead using great writing and direction to tell a great story? Or is it something else? Or am i wacked out and on a bender for this era???
d

[Ferox13]

Studio systems seemed to work alot different back then - directors had alot more control over their films...They were also more willing to take a chance too.

There's no way films like Midnight Cowboy would win oscars now (or something like Easy Rider get nominated)..


Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind is a good insight into the late 60's early 70's Amercan cinema.

[neverending]

Starting in the 50s with the Beat movement, jazz, rhythm & blues morphing into rock n roll, there was a great renaissance in the arts in the US & Europe. Lots of experimentation. Lots of political unrest.

One of the manifestations of all this activity was great movies.

Not to mention literature, art, music etc.

[scouse mac]

Originally Posted by neverending

Starting in the 50s with the Beat movement, jazz, rhythm & blues morphing into rock n roll, there was a great renaissance in the arts in the US & Europe. Lots of experimentation. Lots of political unrest.

One of the manifestations of all this activity was great movies.

Not to mention literature, art, music etc.

Renaissance is the word. Everything that was going on was new, fresh ideas and, fortunately, alot of eager and talented people around willing to put these things to film.

For balance, it should be pointed out that there was still a load of shite made back in the day, but the big difference is that even the bad ideas were new ones.

[Elvis_Christ]

Originally Posted by Ferox13

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind is a good insight into the late 60's early 70's Amercan cinema.

Backed. Great read... I caught a documentary on TV too that was pretty good.

[Zero]

Originally Posted by Ferox13

Studio systems seemed to work alot different back then - directors had alot more control over their films...They were also more willing to take a chance too.

There's no way films like Midnight Cowboy would win oscars now (or something like Easy Rider get nominated)..


Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind is a good insight into the late 60's early 70's Amercan cinema.

Ferox is exactly right. In 1948 the Supreme Court struck a major blow against the classical studio system that had dominated hollywood since the 20s. The studio system was, essentially, an illegal monopoly and the Court made them break up. This led to the decline of the studios as the main focus of filmmaking and opened the door for more and more independent productions. add to this the disintegration of the old Production Code 'censorship' system and it means that the 50s and 60s were this wide open period where the inmates ran the asylum. This lasted into the early 80s when Reagan-era conservative values and the 'corporatization' of Hollywood came in and that's what we have today.

[psycho d]

That makes some sense, especially the Renaissance thing, since it helps to explain the presence of incredible foreign films as well. Ashe.
derek

[ProfondoXxRosso]

Best horror from these two decades is for sure Peeping Tom.

What a weird and twisted movie. The guy that played the lead was really frightening to just watch, it was almost like he wasnt acting at all and really was obsessed with what he saw through his camera.