
I cannot tell you why, but it was decided that one day when I was in seventh grade that we would all watch Doctor Zhivago. It was not tied into any kind of unit on the U.S.S.R., though of course in 1990 historic events unfolded in that part of the world and certainly would have justified the movie. It was also the film’s 35th anniversary so perhaps it simply came to someone’s attention that way. I cannot say, and it does not particularly matter why the film was shown to a bunch of seventh graders. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick search of Flickchtart for science-fiction films released in the 1950s shows more than 150 titles. To put that in perspective, Flickchart shows only 130 films in the western genre that were released in the same decade. Though the 1960s are generally regarded as an era of change, one could make the argument that the 1950s were a major cinematic turning point, the point where teen viewers suddenly mattered and studios started looking to the future instead of back to the past. Shining brightly amidst the decade’s plethora of intergalactic flicks is a film that might have been too introspective for the teen crowds – Forbidden Planet.
There are a select few “one of a kind” movies left for viewers to find. Especially in Hollywood, where most successful formulas are quickly copied and watered down by a plethora of posers who hope they can make a quick buck. This is particularly true of the horror and comedy genres, where low budget films can make back their money quickly regardless of quality. Despite the vultures, there are still a few films that have a tone that’s all their own. One such film is An American Werewolf in London.