May 20 2008

When I watch really old movies, I'm often startled by how much social attitudes and popular culture have changed during the past fifty or sixty years. In these old flicks, the cool characters seem to light new cigarettes every ten seconds and they drink booze like tap water without getting drunk. People in these movies often make the most jaw dropping racist or sexist remarks and nobody else bats an eye.

Some films seem so strange today that they stand out from the rest.  I'm not referring to famous howlers such as Plan Nine From Outer Space or Reefer Madness.  I mean Hollywood movies that were mainstream back in the day but look odd now. Here are some examples:

Only Angels Have Wings

This 1939 movie about Americans flying mail routes through dangerous passes in the Andes  was directed by Howard Hawks who was a pilot in real life, so the flying sequences are exciting.  Unfortunately, none of the rest of the story makes any sense. Cary Grant is the leader of the mail squadron and Jean Arthur plays his love interest. Cary wears trousers that have a waistband up around his armpits. It's never explained why the Yanks want to fly the mail, since the pay is low and their planes are dilapidated antiques. It all seems to be about being macho. The script is riddled with dialogue bits that have since become comic cliches.  Pointing to the Ford Trimotors they're flying, one pilot says, "You can't send kids up in crates like this.". Talking about mail flying, somebody actually says, "It's a rotten job, but somebody's gotta do it."  When Jean Arthur becomes hysterical over the death of a pilot, Grant slaps her face and she says, "Thanks. I needed that."  Some night when you can't sleep, watch this film and laugh your head off.

The Wild One

Produced during 1952, the movie is about a biker gang terrorizing a small California town.  Marlon Brando is the gang leader, though he is constantly being upstaged by Lee Marvin as his psycho sidekick.  Because of the 1950s movie code, these bad ass bikers don't rape any women, kill people or even do drugs. Mostly, they drink beer, rev their bikes and break windows. They're a bike gang run by Baptists. Brando falls for one of the virginal local girls and even considers settling down.  The girl's father shows his appreciation by hiring local goons to beat Brando to a pulp.  Do the bikers mete out bloody retaliation for this?  Nahhh!  They just ride out of town.  If this movie had a point, I missed it.

The Thief

Ray Miland stars in this 1951 B movie about a small time crook who is on the run from the law. It might have been an entertaining crime film except for one annoying gimmick.  None of the actors says a word during the entire film.  Phones ring, doors slam and there are other noises galore, but no dialogue. Characters exchange shrugs, frowns and meaningful glances, but nobody says a word. This was probably meant to generate suspense, but the whole idea gets old very quickly.  When I saw the movie in a cinema, people in the audience were shouting out rude dialogue for the actors to say. When viewers laugh at a suspense movie, the producers are in trouble.  This has to be one of the weirdest movies ever made in Hollywood.

What about you?  Have you seen any movies that once were cool but now seem strange or corny?  I'd be interested in your choices.

George

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