The Friday Link for 3/31/23

This week we look at old films and why some of them are well worth watching.

First, did you know there is a missing Best Picture winner?  In the first year of the Oscars, they handed out two Best Picture Academy Awards.  One was for Outstanding Picture and the other was for Most Unique and Artistic Picture.  The Outstanding Picture winner was 'Wings.'  The Second was technically also the Best Picture winner, 'Sunrise, A Song of Two Humans.'  

Both films are silent films and both actually hold up somewhat well today.  'Wings' was actually lost for many years before a copy was found in 1992.  The movies feature fairly imaginative technology and artistic advancements for their time.  The second Academy Awards had reverted to only one Best Picture Winner, and before too long, the Academy only recognized 'Wings' as the sole winner for 1929.  

For a breakdown of the two films and the war between 'popular versus artistic' films over history, Too Much Film School has a nice feature.

I think old horror films are FAR scarier than anything that's released today.  There is something about how those early directors used realism to convey horror and in turn making it very believable.  Realism made them terrifying, even if they weren't trying to be.  Think of Jaws.  I think it's one of the best horror films ever because it's realistic, not some reanimated long-dead serial killer who goes after high school kids. 

Two more videos tonight feature films I encourage you to watch.  1928's 'The Man Who Laughs' is actually far more known as the inspiration for the Batman villain The Joker.  Also, it technically wasn't a horror film but it is as crepey AF.  Another terrifying movie is 'M' from 1931, which is considered to be the first popular movie about a serial killer.  The first one is a silent film, and the second had sound and came from the great early German cinema.  Both of these clips are from Dark Corners Reviews. 

Enjoy these old films if you can find them. By the way, I would also HIGHLY recommend finding 1920's 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, mentioned in 'The Man Who Laughs' feature.  That movie still seems to be a primary inspiration for many actors, directors, and producers today.

Have a great, safe weekend and make sure to stay up to date on vaccines.