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Post #571488

Author
TheBoost
Parent topic
Nancy Allen on Irvin Kirshner
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/571488/action/topic#571488
Date created
22-Mar-2012, 3:00 PM

captainsolo said:

I was referring to the rise of commercialism in film, which did occur and firmly root itself in the 80's. There were numerous handovers/buyouts/collapses in the late 60's up through and around the mid 70's primarily due to the replacing of the old guard. Of course starting with the massive unheard of box office returns of Jaws, the climate began to change dramatically. By the end of the 80's we already were in the days of independent producers who did nothing but cobble together the most exploitative product for maximized profit. Not that this is a bad thing, but there has to be at least some moderation.

I've never felt that the 80's had as many classic titles as other decades, but maybe it's just me. But the films produced then are unbelievably superior to the amount of schlock we endured for the ten years of 00's.

 I think you're idealizing the distant past a bit.

"Cleopatra" was just an epic spectacle cash-grab by the studios, mixing top stars, huge sets, and a mediocre script.

"Casablanca" was just one more movie being churned out in a workman-like fashion off the backlots. Despite it's greatness, it's original pitch was "It's like the movie Algiers!'

"The Godfather" was based on a best-seller that had been written expressly to be the most commercial crime novel Puzo could write, then handed to a director because his last name was Itallian.

And as for schlock, you do realize that the 70s gave us, "Blackenstein" "Dracula and the Seven Golden Vampire" "Death Race 2000" "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" "Night of the Lepus" "Xanadu" fifteen "Airport" movies, "Zardoz" "I Spit On Your Grave" "Caligula" and  "Shaft goes to Africa"