1960s film question
November 21, 2011 11:27 AM Subscribe
Can anyone suggest some good films made in the 1960s for a high school level film class?
So what I am looking for are films that were made in the 1960s that highlight the trends and genres popular in the 1960s (I.E. New Hollywood). I need a total of four films hopefully from different genres. Also looking for films that would keep your average 16-17 year old interested and last hopefully no longer than 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Currently I'm planning on using:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Any film ideas you have would be appreciated.
So what I am looking for are films that were made in the 1960s that highlight the trends and genres popular in the 1960s (I.E. New Hollywood). I need a total of four films hopefully from different genres. Also looking for films that would keep your average 16-17 year old interested and last hopefully no longer than 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Currently I'm planning on using:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Any film ideas you have would be appreciated.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:31 AM on November 21, 2011
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:31 AM on November 21, 2011
I guess you couldn't show Bonnie and Clyde or The Graduate in a high school class, could you?
posted by yoink at 11:33 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by yoink at 11:33 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yojimbo (remade several times - once as a western, once as a gangster movie). 2001 also came out in the 60s. More good stuff here.
posted by jquinby at 11:34 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by jquinby at 11:34 AM on November 21, 2011
2001: A Spacey Odyssey (1968)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
posted by xingcat at 11:34 AM on November 21, 2011
The Wild Bunch (1969)
posted by xingcat at 11:34 AM on November 21, 2011
Looking at your question, I realize I'm not sure quite what you're looking for. Are you looking for New Hollywood films particularly, or was that just one example of possible 60's trends/genres? I mean, would something like "To Sir With Love" or "Blow Up" be of interest?
posted by yoink at 11:36 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by yoink at 11:36 AM on November 21, 2011
If you're doing Rosemary's Baby, you can do Psycho and/or The Birds.
Kurbick made three of the best films of the decade: Dr. Strangelove, 2001 and Lolita, but I think high schoolers might find them a bit dull, even if they're in a film class.
Think you can pull off Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
posted by griphus at 11:37 AM on November 21, 2011
Kurbick made three of the best films of the decade: Dr. Strangelove, 2001 and Lolita, but I think high schoolers might find them a bit dull, even if they're in a film class.
Think you can pull off Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
posted by griphus at 11:37 AM on November 21, 2011
....and, I forgot: Yojimbo itself was a film version of a Dashiell Hammett gangster novel. Filmception!
posted by jquinby at 11:39 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by jquinby at 11:39 AM on November 21, 2011
The Apartment (1960) is perhaps the original romantic comedy (although unlike modern romantic comedies it's funny). It will strike a nice contrast in tone to the proto-New Holywood/1970s stuff you've already programmed. ( and it will appeal to any of the kids who have seen Mad Men).
posted by caek at 11:46 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by caek at 11:46 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Psycho (1960)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
posted by argonauta at 11:46 AM on November 21, 2011
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
posted by argonauta at 11:46 AM on November 21, 2011
Yes, do you mean just New Hollywood, because that only really takes into acount the late 1960s. It might be fun to show the transition from 'old' Hollywood through films like Virginia Woolf or In the Heat of the Night, or fox them completely with a film like Doctor Doolittle (though I guess roadshow fare would be far too long).
posted by dumdidumdum at 11:47 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by dumdidumdum at 11:47 AM on November 21, 2011
Audrey Hepburn feels very 60s to me:
Breakfast at Tiffany's in the early 60s
and then Wait Until Dark a suspense thriller from the late 60s.
posted by ruevian at 11:49 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Breakfast at Tiffany's in the early 60s
and then Wait Until Dark a suspense thriller from the late 60s.
posted by ruevian at 11:49 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
In addition to Sounder, there are several other notable African American films - A Raisin in the Sun, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with Sidney Poitier along with racy ones like I Passed For White, I Crossed the Color Line.
posted by shoesietart at 11:50 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by shoesietart at 11:50 AM on November 21, 2011
"New Hollywood" is normally understood to have begun with Bonnie and Clyde. So are you really only looking for films from August 1967- December 1969? Or do you mean New Hollywood stuff including the 1970s, up to Jaws/Star Wars? Or do you mean the 1960s and forget "New Hollywood"?
posted by caek at 11:52 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by caek at 11:52 AM on November 21, 2011
Breakfast at Tiffany's in the early 60s
If you're showing this in a high school, I would be wary of this movie's arch Asian stereotypes.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:56 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're showing this in a high school, I would be wary of this movie's arch Asian stereotypes.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:56 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Wow that was fast. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Just a bit of clarification I'm not exclusively looking for New Hollywood films just anything that highlights any of the major trends in 1960s films. Such as the fall of the studio system, New Hollywood, Rise of Independent film, The European Invasion just to name a few.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Easy Rider is great and a perfect length but I don't think it would hold their attention. 2001: A sapce Oddessy and The Wild Bunch I think are a bit too long probably just just going clips of those. I'm also thinking that Dr. Strangelove might go over ther heads.
Here's what we've done shown before and might give an idea of what we are looking for:
Silent Films:
Birth of a Nation - Didn't go very well, went on for way too long and they were mostly bored.
Sherlock Jr. - They loved it the students gave a standing ovation at the end
1930s
Frankenstein - Mostly good a little slow for them. had some great discussion afterward
Bringing Up Baby - Loved it another standing ovation
1940s
Casablanca - I thought it would go great but for the most part it was over their heads and some were bored
Citizen Kane - Didn't show the whole thing but showed long streches and went over important film techniques as we went along. Mostly Good.
1950s
Singing in the Rain - Went pretty good not great. The Musical Numbers went over well.
Rear Window - They loved it, Standing Ovation, great discussion afterward.
I hadn't though of the Manchurian Cadidate or Psycho (forgot it was the 60s), planning to watch Bonnie and Clyde this week to see if it will work.
Again thanks for all the suggestions
posted by trojanhorse at 11:58 AM on November 21, 2011
Thanks for all the suggestions. Easy Rider is great and a perfect length but I don't think it would hold their attention. 2001: A sapce Oddessy and The Wild Bunch I think are a bit too long probably just just going clips of those. I'm also thinking that Dr. Strangelove might go over ther heads.
Here's what we've done shown before and might give an idea of what we are looking for:
Silent Films:
Birth of a Nation - Didn't go very well, went on for way too long and they were mostly bored.
Sherlock Jr. - They loved it the students gave a standing ovation at the end
1930s
Frankenstein - Mostly good a little slow for them. had some great discussion afterward
Bringing Up Baby - Loved it another standing ovation
1940s
Casablanca - I thought it would go great but for the most part it was over their heads and some were bored
Citizen Kane - Didn't show the whole thing but showed long streches and went over important film techniques as we went along. Mostly Good.
1950s
Singing in the Rain - Went pretty good not great. The Musical Numbers went over well.
Rear Window - They loved it, Standing Ovation, great discussion afterward.
I hadn't though of the Manchurian Cadidate or Psycho (forgot it was the 60s), planning to watch Bonnie and Clyde this week to see if it will work.
Again thanks for all the suggestions
posted by trojanhorse at 11:58 AM on November 21, 2011
Psycho (1960)
Breathless (1960)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Dr. No (1962)
The Pink Panther (1963)
The Graduate (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
posted by dgeiser13 at 12:14 PM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Breathless (1960)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Dr. No (1962)
The Pink Panther (1963)
The Graduate (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
posted by dgeiser13 at 12:14 PM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's from 1959 (released in US in 1960), but if you're looking for an absolutely riveting Resnais to represent European cinema, Hiroshima Mon Amour blew my tiny little mind when I was 15/16.
Bonus: yes, some French and Japanese (and I think one or two German words), but the conversations between the two main characters are in English = no 90 minute subtitle challenge.
posted by likeso at 12:26 PM on November 21, 2011
Bonus: yes, some French and Japanese (and I think one or two German words), but the conversations between the two main characters are in English = no 90 minute subtitle challenge.
posted by likeso at 12:26 PM on November 21, 2011
À bout de souffle (1960)
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:27 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 12:27 PM on November 21, 2011
Spaghetti Westerns get going in the 60's. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly would hold high-schooler's attentions, I'd have thought--or "A Fistful of Dollars."
All the Beatles films are 60s, and "A Hard Day's Night" holds up really well, still. "Yellow Submarine" would give you a good dose of 60's psychedelia (as would "Head")
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is an interest "late" Western. It could be interesting for a discussion about the ways in which it is an "old fashioned" film and the ways in which it is also interestingly critical about the legacy it's drawing on.
The 60's is, of course, the time of all the classic Bond movies. The kids will find them all pretty hilarious, but you could have an interesting discussion about that.
"The President's Analyst" is one of the great "60's paranoia" films--much better, in my opinion, than "The Manchurian Candidate."
There's also all the Gidget/Funicello beach blanket bingo style films--if you want the kids to approach the 60's in the spirit of archeologists digging up an entirely alien culture. Although you could have a really interesting discussion about the ways in which the birth of 60s youth culture does and doesn't extend down to the present.
With Natalie Wood back in the news "Splendor in the Grass" might be interesting: could lead to some interesting discussions about teen sexuality and how it's dealt with in the media (could also lead to some difficult discussions, I guess). Kids will find it quaint, but again, the issue of why it's quaint would be interesting.
"What's New, Pussycat" would be a really interesting pairing with something like the Austin Powers movies (which you could, I imagine, rely on the kids all knowing already). It's incredibly "60's sexual revolution."
"A bout de Souffle" is obviously the classic Nouvelle Vague film, although it might try their patience a bit. Truffaut's "Stolen Kisses" might be an easier sell.
"8 1/2" if they're a strong class--fascinating film-about-film-making. Probably a bit too ambitious for high school, though.
"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" gives you a musical (still a hugely important genre in the 60s) and if they watch Mad Men at all (I can dream, can't I?) an interesting point of dialogue with that world. Actually there's quite a few of the Doris Day musicals set in the world of business/advertising in the 60s--"Lover Come Back" for example.
Some thoughts to be going with, anyway.
posted by yoink at 12:30 PM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
All the Beatles films are 60s, and "A Hard Day's Night" holds up really well, still. "Yellow Submarine" would give you a good dose of 60's psychedelia (as would "Head")
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is an interest "late" Western. It could be interesting for a discussion about the ways in which it is an "old fashioned" film and the ways in which it is also interestingly critical about the legacy it's drawing on.
The 60's is, of course, the time of all the classic Bond movies. The kids will find them all pretty hilarious, but you could have an interesting discussion about that.
"The President's Analyst" is one of the great "60's paranoia" films--much better, in my opinion, than "The Manchurian Candidate."
There's also all the Gidget/Funicello beach blanket bingo style films--if you want the kids to approach the 60's in the spirit of archeologists digging up an entirely alien culture. Although you could have a really interesting discussion about the ways in which the birth of 60s youth culture does and doesn't extend down to the present.
With Natalie Wood back in the news "Splendor in the Grass" might be interesting: could lead to some interesting discussions about teen sexuality and how it's dealt with in the media (could also lead to some difficult discussions, I guess). Kids will find it quaint, but again, the issue of why it's quaint would be interesting.
"What's New, Pussycat" would be a really interesting pairing with something like the Austin Powers movies (which you could, I imagine, rely on the kids all knowing already). It's incredibly "60's sexual revolution."
"A bout de Souffle" is obviously the classic Nouvelle Vague film, although it might try their patience a bit. Truffaut's "Stolen Kisses" might be an easier sell.
"8 1/2" if they're a strong class--fascinating film-about-film-making. Probably a bit too ambitious for high school, though.
"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" gives you a musical (still a hugely important genre in the 60s) and if they watch Mad Men at all (I can dream, can't I?) an interesting point of dialogue with that world. Actually there's quite a few of the Doris Day musicals set in the world of business/advertising in the 60s--"Lover Come Back" for example.
Some thoughts to be going with, anyway.
posted by yoink at 12:30 PM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Excellent suggestions and approaches, yoink! Off to locate "The President's Analyst"...
posted by likeso at 12:33 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by likeso at 12:33 PM on November 21, 2011
Cape Fear maybe, or The Producers?, and seconding Cool Hand Luke and In The Heat of the Night and The Apartment. Five Easy Pieces came out in mid 1970, but I think you could argue it was still made in and a product of the 1960's.
posted by gudrun at 12:40 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by gudrun at 12:40 PM on November 21, 2011
The original Nutty Professor is a good slice weird early 60's tropes. The cool version of the professor is a beat hep cat and the kids at the club are pure 60's California beach culture. And it's a surprisingly good movie.
posted by doctor_negative at 1:13 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by doctor_negative at 1:13 PM on November 21, 2011
If documentaries count, Wiseman's High School would be fun.
posted by activitystory at 1:20 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by activitystory at 1:20 PM on November 21, 2011
"The President's Analyst" is one of the great "60's paranoia" films--much better, in my opinion, than "The Manchurian Candidate."
You've also got The Conversation, in that vein.
posted by griphus at 1:28 PM on November 21, 2011
You've also got The Conversation, in that vein.
posted by griphus at 1:28 PM on November 21, 2011
Oh, and Blazing Saddles is pretty much the Platonic form of a film that could only be made in the 1970s.
posted by griphus at 1:29 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by griphus at 1:29 PM on November 21, 2011
"The Conversation" is a great film, but it's '74.
For no very good reason that makes me think of another truly great film, Bertolucci's "The Conformist"--it's 1970, so fits in some definitions of "the 60's." If your conversations are running at all towards filming technique, it's one of the most beautiful films ever shot. The politics of fascism in 30s/40s Germany might go a bit over their heads though. Still, one of the really essential films in my book.
posted by yoink at 1:33 PM on November 21, 2011
For no very good reason that makes me think of another truly great film, Bertolucci's "The Conformist"--it's 1970, so fits in some definitions of "the 60's." If your conversations are running at all towards filming technique, it's one of the most beautiful films ever shot. The politics of fascism in 30s/40s Germany might go a bit over their heads though. Still, one of the really essential films in my book.
posted by yoink at 1:33 PM on November 21, 2011
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and either "Breathless" or "Repulsion."
"The Apartment" is Billy Wilder and is really more of a last relic than anything 60s-specific at all.
posted by rhizome at 1:37 PM on November 21, 2011
"The Apartment" is Billy Wilder and is really more of a last relic than anything 60s-specific at all.
posted by rhizome at 1:37 PM on November 21, 2011
What the hell I thought the question was about the 70s for a second. Scratch my last two suggestions.
posted by griphus at 1:45 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by griphus at 1:45 PM on November 21, 2011
Some great suggestions above. I think A Bout De Souffle/Breathless would be great, provided it was accompanied by some strong commentary about the important techniques that it covered.
To Kill A Mockingbird should be on there, but I'd worry it might come across as a bit too preachy.
If you hadn't already shown Rear Window, then Psycho would be compulsory.
If you want to show them a musical, try The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. It's cute and it's French.
Blow Up is definitely worth considering.
Bonnie & Clyde is historically important, and should probably hold their interest. While Midnight Cowboy and The Graduate are also both very good, I think they might a bit more niche.
Five Easy Pieces is brilliant, but technically disqualified.
Lastly,
trojanhorse: Sherlock Jr. - They loved it the students gave a standing ovation at the end
This makes me so happy.
posted by Magnakai at 4:14 PM on November 21, 2011
To Kill A Mockingbird should be on there, but I'd worry it might come across as a bit too preachy.
If you hadn't already shown Rear Window, then Psycho would be compulsory.
If you want to show them a musical, try The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. It's cute and it's French.
Blow Up is definitely worth considering.
Bonnie & Clyde is historically important, and should probably hold their interest. While Midnight Cowboy and The Graduate are also both very good, I think they might a bit more niche.
Five Easy Pieces is brilliant, but technically disqualified.
Lastly,
trojanhorse: Sherlock Jr. - They loved it the students gave a standing ovation at the end
This makes me so happy.
posted by Magnakai at 4:14 PM on November 21, 2011
Godard's Band of Outsiders! While it has subtitles which may turn some off, there is a compelling story, humour, excellent characterization, a love interest, crime... I love this movie!
posted by to recite so charmingly at 5:14 PM on November 21, 2011
posted by to recite so charmingly at 5:14 PM on November 21, 2011
How about the crazy music movies? Yellow Submarine (Beatles) or if you're really feeling adventurous, the Monkees' Head.
(Bonus link: MeFi discussion on Head)
I was going to say Tommy, but google says it came out in 1975.
posted by wenat at 6:55 PM on November 21, 2011
(Bonus link: MeFi discussion on Head)
I was going to say Tommy, but google says it came out in 1975.
posted by wenat at 6:55 PM on November 21, 2011
It sounds like you have a great class, based on their ovations!
Is this class just focused on American film history? I have a bunch of suggestions, but they're mostly foreign (everyone else is covering the basics very well above me).
The American suggestions:
You could do a class on American experimental filmmakers in the 1960s - that's when the American avant garde really exploded, and a lot of the stuff that was made then was very influential, as much on the mainstream as on other artsy types. And many of the things these guys (mostly guys, unfortunately) were making were on the short side (except when they were on the very long side), so you could do it all in one screening. Stan Brakhage and Andy Warhol are probably good people to start with.
If you want to do a "this director started out in the Golden Age of Hollywood and then the 1960s happened" section, you could show them some Sam Fuller. His best '60s films are The Naked Kiss (1964) and Shock Corridor (1963), and he was admired by some of the French New Wave directors (he has a famous cameo in Godard's Pierrot le fou (1967)), so he might be a good transition point for talking about European films in the 1960s, if your class is going to get into them.
If you ARE going to get into foreign films:
Everyone is right about Godard. He is great, and I loved him in high school (I discovered him because I thought the DVD cover of Masculin, féminin (1966) looked really cool). Definitely show them Godard.
Other good French things: Absolutely show them some Bresson. I almost can't bear to watch Mouchette (1966) or Au hasard Balthazar (1967) because of how much they remind me of being a teenager. They're great. Jacques Tati's Play Time (1967) is spectacular and funny, but might not do very well on the small screen. And everyone loves La jetée (1962) - and it's short.
Good things from other nations: Black Girl (1966, Ousmane Sembène, Senegal), Soy Cuba (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov, USSR/Cuba), Peeping Tom (1960, Michael Powell, England).
posted by bubukaba at 8:53 PM on November 21, 2011
Is this class just focused on American film history? I have a bunch of suggestions, but they're mostly foreign (everyone else is covering the basics very well above me).
The American suggestions:
You could do a class on American experimental filmmakers in the 1960s - that's when the American avant garde really exploded, and a lot of the stuff that was made then was very influential, as much on the mainstream as on other artsy types. And many of the things these guys (mostly guys, unfortunately) were making were on the short side (except when they were on the very long side), so you could do it all in one screening. Stan Brakhage and Andy Warhol are probably good people to start with.
If you want to do a "this director started out in the Golden Age of Hollywood and then the 1960s happened" section, you could show them some Sam Fuller. His best '60s films are The Naked Kiss (1964) and Shock Corridor (1963), and he was admired by some of the French New Wave directors (he has a famous cameo in Godard's Pierrot le fou (1967)), so he might be a good transition point for talking about European films in the 1960s, if your class is going to get into them.
If you ARE going to get into foreign films:
Everyone is right about Godard. He is great, and I loved him in high school (I discovered him because I thought the DVD cover of Masculin, féminin (1966) looked really cool). Definitely show them Godard.
Other good French things: Absolutely show them some Bresson. I almost can't bear to watch Mouchette (1966) or Au hasard Balthazar (1967) because of how much they remind me of being a teenager. They're great. Jacques Tati's Play Time (1967) is spectacular and funny, but might not do very well on the small screen. And everyone loves La jetée (1962) - and it's short.
Good things from other nations: Black Girl (1966, Ousmane Sembène, Senegal), Soy Cuba (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov, USSR/Cuba), Peeping Tom (1960, Michael Powell, England).
posted by bubukaba at 8:53 PM on November 21, 2011
Yeah, I have to be another to recommend Godard. Although Tout Va Bien was released in the 1970's, perhaps it could be a perfect ending to your course? After all, the film is spent reflecting on the idea of revolution within the 1960's.
Also, would it be too much to show Fellini's La Dolce Vita?
These two films pretty much hit the nail on the head if you're looking at exposing students to the most important cinematic trends ever created.
posted by _superconductor at 8:19 AM on November 22, 2011
Also, would it be too much to show Fellini's La Dolce Vita?
These two films pretty much hit the nail on the head if you're looking at exposing students to the most important cinematic trends ever created.
posted by _superconductor at 8:19 AM on November 22, 2011
I don't think Brakhage and Warhol would be good for high-schoolers.
posted by rhizome at 11:46 AM on November 22, 2011
posted by rhizome at 11:46 AM on November 22, 2011
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