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Wednesday, April 01, 2009 10:12 AM Classic movies have no equal By Keith Barnes | Times Photojournalist Each year at this time we get to hear about or, if able to withstand the agony, watch a new group of pseudo-celebrities walk the red carpet at awards ceremonies seeking acclaim while begging to be interviewed and photographed. Apparently a couple of bit parts in a movie or a TV sitcom, or getting arrested for DWI, now qualifies these folks for inclusion into the film superstar category among the likes of Bette Davis, Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Greta Garbo and Marlon Brando, among others. What a joke! As a matter of fact, the whole cinematic process has become a joke as the quality of the product being generated has gradually evolved into the basic garbage we have today. In fairness to everyone, though, what actually may have occurred is that movie-making peaked too early. Barely one decade following the first "talkie" ("Jazz Singer" with Al Jolson in 1927), and with no knowledge of modern camera techniques and cinematography, including digital enhancement or computer-generated images, Hollywood produced in 1939 what was without a doubt the best batch of movies ever made in one year. Search the archives all you want, but you'll find no other year even close. Here are a few, but not all, of the offerings from 1939: "The Wizard of Oz," "Gone With The Wind," "Stagecoach," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Ninotchka," "Wuthering Heights," "Destry Rides Again," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Dark Victory," "Of Mice and Men," "Goodbye Mr. Chips," "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," "Mystery Plane," "Fisherman's Wharf," "Dark Victory," "Gungha Din," "Only Angels Have Wings," "Young Mr. Lincoln" and "Beau Geste." In addition, serials made that year include "Buck Rogers," "Dick Tracy's G.Men," "The Lone Ranger Rides Again" and "The Phantom Creeps." All the above titles may not be household words but most have appeared on Turner Classic Movie channel and some on regular network TV. Many are on various lists for best/funniest/etc. movies of all-time, although youngsters may only have heard of or seen "The Wizard of Oz." The sad part is that if the current trend continues, and there's no reason to think it won't, today's youngsters might never get to see any more really good movies, except of course those that feature "superstars" like Lindsay Lohan. barnes@wilsondaily.com | 265-7855 |
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Steve said...
All the movie producers and writers are into now are special effects and naughty themes. In my opinion the most recent "decent" movie would have to be CARS. Most of the movies for kids today should and a lot of times are rated PG or PG-13...guess its just not cool (even at 5) to see a G rated cartoon movie by good old Disney (guess that's why Pixar had to enter the realm of movie making). Hope things get better before my daughter gets old enough to watch family/kids movies, do we will just have to watch HGTV and DIY networks. Even regular kids TV shows are sorry. What ever happened to Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse or the Smurfs and Fred Flintstone. Guess Barney Rubble needs a government bailout now to afford his home in Bedrock:).
Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 11:10 PM
TheHotCorner said...All the movie producers and writers are into now are special effects and naughty themes. In my opinion the most recent "decent" movie would have to be CARS. Most of the movies for kids today should and a lot of times are rated PG or PG-13...guess its just not cool (even at 5) to see a G rated cartoon movie by good old Disney (guess that's why Pixar had to enter the realm of movie making). Hope things get better before my daughter gets old enough to watch family/kids movies, do we will just have to watch HGTV and DIY networks. Even regular kids TV shows are sorry. What ever happened to Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse or the Smurfs and Fred Flintstone. Guess Barney Rubble needs a government bailout now to afford his home in Bedrock:).
Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 11:10 PM
So right, Keith. I'm mostly disappointed when I leave the movies now. They crank em out so fast now that the quality suffers. The Wizard of Oz is an amazing movie considering the acting & special effects in a movie 70 years old. I especially like the old Universal monster movies.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 at 7:20 PM
