Cinema in the 1960s Part I

Landmark Films of the 1960s

60's Cinema

Cleopatra (1963)



Dr. Strangelove (1964)



Planet of the Apes (1968)



Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)



Yojimbo (1961)




The Graduate (1967)



Little Shop of Horrors (1960)



Barbarella (1968)

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Extra Credit Flashback

We didn't havetime in class to get to this post while we were watching the movie, but I think it is still a valid problem. Feel free to view the clips and reflect on the quesitons I have at the end for exra credit.

Here are a few trailers to modern 'romantic comedies.' (They're jumbo size, so if they don't fit on your screen, just double click on each individually and the original Youtube page will pop up.)





In my opinion, these films are pretty disposable. Sure, they are made competently (for the most part) and the deliver a few laughs (sometimes) and they end with the guy and the girl getting together to live happily forever after (usually) - but still, I can't imagine anyone claiming any of them to be 'classics.'

So, here's the question: Is Breakfast at Tiffany's a classic, and if so, what makes it stand apart from these modern examples of 'romantic comedies'?

Also, are you glad we as a class watched Breakfast at Tiffany's? What did you get out of it, if anything? Be honest...

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Day 2

One line in patricular struck me during today's viewing. O.J. Berman asks Paul if Holly is "a phony."

First question: What does he mean by "phony"?

Second question, yes or no, is Holly a phony?

NOTE: The entry from here on is just for fun.

Real quick, anyone notice this from yesterday?

(1) Holly keeps a bottle of perfume and a mirror in her mailbox. Brilliant. (2) For better or worse, here's what George Peppard is most famous for:

(3) And here are some Buddy Ebsen treats:

Buddy was supposed to play the Tin Woodsman in The Wizard of Oz, but he had an alergic reaction to the silver paint.

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Extra Credit

Check out these two video clips. The first is a trailer for a documentary about the stereotyping of Asian actors entitled The Slanted Screen.



The next is a short montage of Asian characters who have been played by non-Asian actors. (The practice is often referred to as 'Yellowface'. This term comes from the term 'blackface' - the practice of black characters played by caucasian actors.)



Now check out this clip from Breakfast at Tiffany's:

Question: How racist is Mickey Rooney's portrayal...

of Mr. Yunioshi?

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Day 1

I know we're only a few minutes into it, but for me, this shot says it all. Holly Golightly's world is elegant, lonely, lovely, haunting, full, empty, sophisticated, charming, enviable, tragic.

For today, let's examine how we as audience members are supposed to react to three characters...

...Holly...

...Paul/"Fred"...

and, of course, Mr. Yunioshi...

What are we supposed to think about each of them? How much are we supposed to like them? Are they funny? Sad? Tragic? Happy? Fulfilled? What do they seem to want from life? Any thoughts?

(Remember, one thoughtful, thorough comment is required for a grade. Any additional comments will be counted as extra credit. So feel free to comment on your peers' entries.)

Classics to Choose from

The Hustler