Movie Classics
I am a big fan of movie classics and I mean classics. One of my favorite channels is the Turner Classic Movie Channel offered by our local cable company. I really enjoy watching the older films because they are the foundation for our film experience today.
There are also so many surprises in the movie classics. I had no idea that Dennis Quaid’s film “DOA” was a remake of an earlier film. After seeing the original I was astonished to see how skillfully the more recent producers created a modern version of one of the movie classics that would normally go to the wayside.
Movies are created with the generation that will be viewing them. The producers, actors and directors all try to tap into the collective unconscious in order to create a blockbuster hit of the era. However, they do this with the collection of movie classics in the mix as well. It is important to remember the great, old films in order to create new ones.
Even tough films are created with the current population in mind many of the movie classics touch upon universal plots and themes that appeal to just about everyone. Times change but the general emotions do not.
Human nature doesn’t change, either. We still have the same desires and dreams as our ancestors who sought adventure and excitement through the movie classics. We experience life differently, from one generation to the next but the principal forces of life do not change.
The styles and ideals often do change. I enjoy watching the silent movie classics for inspiration. These old tales serve as great sources for story concepts as well as artistic images. I have written a few tales based on movie classics and I have drawn many renderings of famous stars of the silent film era.
We often take our history for granted. Our society has gone through so many changes. What was risqué in the 1950’s is common place today. However, we also need to embrace our movie classics as a learning source. We have so much to learn about the history of our society through film.
Society has gone through so many changes but people are essentially the same as they were generations and generations ago. This can be learned through movie classics. No matter how many changes we witness, we are still tickled by The Little Tramp.
We are still moved to tears by the gripping final scene in the movie classic “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in which Lon Chaney clings to the gargoyle asking it, “Why was I not made of stone as thee?” This is timeless.
