Re: The "B" Movie Essentials
Posted: July 12th, 2012, 1:28 pm
While I admire his taste I wouldn't be that strict about who is the only great filmmaker. Must be nice to have a brother with a similar interest.
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/
https://www.silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/viewtopic.php?t=5777
Welcome Vienna! It's fun to have someone new to share impressions with here.Vienna wrote:All I seem to be watching lately is B movies. I'm amazed so many have survived and sometimes in very good condition. The B movies generally didn't have the studio's big stars and usually had a running time of about an hour - and with obviously less money spent on them.
But, as we know, a lot of them were so entertaining.. I'm thinking of THE GLASS ALIBI, THE CROOKED WEB, PIER 13, STRANGE IMPERSONATION, THE THREAT, ARMORED CAR ROBBERY, SHED NO TEARS, IDENTITY UNKNOWN, WIFE WANTED, NINE GIRLS, CLUB PARADISE - so many.
Vienna's Classic Hollywood. http://dancinglady39.wordpress.com
I like the way they were made with relatively small resources, yet often were chock full of entertainment value. A lot of bang for the buck, so to speak.moirafinnie wrote:Here's something I've thought about for some time. I know it is apples to oranges in many ways, but could you explain what you like (and dislike) about "B" movies in the studio period?
One of the trademarks and strengths of B-movies was their fast pacing. They wasted as little time as possible, filling as much screen-time with entertainment value as they could.What makes a "B" movie good in the studio era, aside from a smaller budget?
Warner Brothers. Their B-movie section was a well-oiled machine. Each year, they churned out many snappy, fast-paced B-movies with top-rate casts.Which of the major studios (MGM, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Columbia, RKO, Universal) do you think produced the best "B"s?
Republic, which also made many of the best serials.Which of the poverty row studios (Republic, Monogram, PRC, etc.) "B" movies do you think made the most interesting "B" flicks?
I'm not sure. That's a tough question.If there were Academy Awards for Best "B" Picture, which ones would you like to see honored and why?
I agree. A lot of character actors (Alan Jenkins, Glenda Farrell, etc) got more of the spotlight in the B's than they did in the A's.JackFavell wrote:Here's another plus with B movies - better roles for character actors.
I need to watch those.I am enjoying the Nick Carter films right now, speaking of B's, and they are good, snappy paced adventure flicks even though they were made at MGM.