Philadelphia dilema...which man? imdb
Scott and I really enjoy watching old classic movies. Sometimes they’re hard to get into, but we have found a lot of really great stories among them. For example, we just finished The Philadelphia Story with Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart and Cary Grant; it is probably one of our favorites.
The wit of the character’s dialog, the creativity of the plot unfolding, maybe the complexity of a mystery, and the dynamic interaction between the characters carry the film more than a lot of movies today. Movies today are much more complex in set, filming, number of characters, scenery, and of course special effects, etc. But many are not written as well as some of these somewhat simply filmed, small cast movies. It’s really amazing. I think the actors had to be much better, too, to pull off the movie, because their interaction and dialog carries the film more than flashy things of today’s movies.
Also, I love that many of the movies were either literary pieces and or stage productions before they went to film. I believe that this brings much more depth and profundity to the dialog and story of these movies. It seems like when something is written for the screen, it may fall more flat, one-dimensional.
These aren’t surprises to many film buffs and classic-lovers. And I won’t go on and on about comparing to modern film. There are of course many modern films that are wonderfully orchestrated. I just feel like my brain is challenged watching older movies; like I increase my IQ some, and enjoy subtle, smart humor that requires at times intelligence to even be able to laugh at.
But one thing that really stood out to me in the past couple of movies we watched was how old movies (classic, black and white films) seem to have no issue with casting old people, how older people are a normal integral part of their portrayal of society. Not to mention many of the people in these films look very NORMAL; not completely plasticy and made up beyond recognition.
I can think of a handful of films that include men and women in their 60s plus that are integrated into the story. But it’s rarely done now in the same subtle way that it is done in the classic movies. Also, if they are older, they don’t have to look gorgeous and like they’re 20 years younger than they are. It’s fine for them to just look like people
You Can't Take it With you. imdb
For example. in “You Can’t Take it With You,” the main character is an older, not all that attractive gentleman, but excellently cast for his role and carries the characters in the and really the whole plot. He goes into an office of this guy who’s kind of a big wig tycoon. Among the people working in the administrative area are a mix of women and men of various ages. One main guy that the main character stops and interacts with would be now considered “retirement” age and never have the job he did, probably. I don’t necessarily understand age in America, but it’s interesting to see this as most movies that would have an office scene would have mostly good-looking 30 somethings or younger working.
I would say the average age in these movies of the actors is probably much older than movies now; or at least the age actors would like people to think they are. It speaks I believe to our obsession with youthfulness and perfection in body image.
There are several recent movies that have older people in them. But it’s either a movie about older people — like “Calendar Girls,” or maybe the recent movie “UP!” with the one Einstein-looking older man who’s a fairly main character. There’s “Cocoon” from the 80s. One movie I loved recently partially for it’s involvement of retirees into the story was “In Her Shoes.” A wonderful redemptive
Cameron Diaz & Shirley MacLaine. from imdb
story, the two main characters end up spending time with their grandma at this “old folks home” and there are many older men and women who are very integral and fun additions to the film’s cast. In the extras of this movie, there is a great special feature showing the real people at the retirement home in South Florida where they filmed it. Many of the real residents actually got to be “extras” and the feature shows how excited they were to be involved with the film, and get to see these famous actors walking around their grounds.
But maybe that is the problem — the older people in our society are all off at retirement homes, set apart from our communities. Is that it?
Anyway, it’s refreshing to see films that have people who look normal. They look like people you’d actually see on the street.
I loved “In Her Shoes” also. Another movie I recently enjoyed was a recent remake of the play “The Importance of Being Earnest”.
It was hilarious and nicely done, i thought.
Yes, we rarely see older people looking their age on screen (especially women). We’re so obsessed with the youth culture, staying young and living forever. Age is almost a taboo subject. How many billions of dollars are spent each year (particularly in the western world) on looking young and beautiful that could be put to better use helping others? Of course I admit to being guilty as well.
I know…after writing this post, I realize I am just as caught up into it, mostly in expecting people to look a certain way on screen.
You are right about the “dollars” being spent on these fleeting things. It’s kind of ironic — I kind of giggle thinking about the tourist site near St Augustine, FL, the “Fountain of Youth” spot of Ponce de Leon; but I guess people have been on this quest a long time! it’s not much different from the quest now…
[...] out from watching Philadelphia Story and never got back to posting them. My original post was on Agesim in Hollywood. My second article here is about character of the [...]