Perhaps it’s just me, but I’ve found that old movies tug at the heartstrings in a way that current films just don’t. Maybe it’s the swelling scores, the delicately crafted aesthetics, the almost formulaic good versus evil plot (with good most always succeeding), the dance numbers, the glamorous costumes . . . I could honestly go on forever. But some old films in particular don’t just hold a special place in my heart –they are held in particularly high esteem by society.
Made in 1952, this Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds film documents the change from silent pictures to sound in film during 1926, in an optimistic way through musical numbers, romance and comedy. The movie was led by the ever charming Gene Kelly, is perhaps his most well known picture to this day. The image of him hanging on the street light, umbrella in hand, singing in the movie’s titular number is iconic. You can actually recreate the image at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL, where they have an umbrella attached to a light post. The film could be considered the epitome of the classic Hollywood musical.
Perhaps one of the most famous movies of all time is the 1939 musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book, “The Wizard of Oz”. Not only did it introduce us to Judy Garland, who is considered one of old Hollywood’s most seminal stars, or give us songs such as “Somewhere over the rainbow”, and “We’re off to see the Wizard”, but it was one of the first films to use Technicolor. The process of Technicolor led to the transition of films from black and white to color. Also, the film has created powerful cultural symbols, such as the ruby slippers (silver in the book) and the idea of there being “No Place like Home”.
When one thinks of Marilyn Monroe, they think of three things: blonde hair, diamonds, and red lips. That thought came from this 1953 film starring Monroe and Jane Russell. While the original version of “Gentleman Prefer Blondes” was a 1949 musical starring Carol Burnett, adapted from 1925 novel, the movie is most well known for Marilyn. This movie’s number “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend”, which features Marilyn singing in a hot pink evening gown with matching gloves and diamond jewelry, is ingrained in our culture. It is what we think of when we think of Marilyn Monroe and glamour. The scene has been copied by the likes of Madonna, Ariana Grande, Kylie Minogue, and Beyoncé.
While it’s true that a lot of Alfred Hitchcock’s films are well known, none is more iconic than Psycho. The 1960 film set a new standard for storytelling, graphic images and suspense. Starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, the movie tells of a disturbed motel owner named Norman Bates. The movie’s imagery is iconic within our culture. The shower scene of Janet Leigh getting murdered is perhaps the most well known part of the film. The use of the sharp violin, close ups to create suspense and Leigh’s blood curdling screams are now classic to the horror genre. The movie has also spawned some unfortunate remakes and sequels. Though the series Bates Motel, an origin story of sorts on A&E has been well received .
