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So I'm putting together a college class this summer on b-movies, trash and exploitation films, and considering what to put on the list. So far, I'm thinking maybe Reefer Madness for sure, something from Ed Wood's ouevre, and maybe one of the chicks in prison films discussed in that thread (which was very helpful!)
If you guys were teaching a class, what films would you pick and why?
My main criteria is that they have to be somehow good examples of the genre, reasonably tolerable to watch and not too over the top sleazy lest I offend the sensibilities of some tender soul with wealthy alumni parents.
Thoughts?
If you guys were teaching a class, what films would you pick and why?
My main criteria is that they have to be somehow good examples of the genre, reasonably tolerable to watch and not too over the top sleazy lest I offend the sensibilities of some tender soul with wealthy alumni parents.
Thoughts?
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Buffalo
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Unsu...
Re: b-movies 101
Wed, November 10, 2004 - 8:30 AMI would consider what I call the schlock sci-fi or the 50's and early 60's. Robo-monster is one of the worse but there are a whole bunch.
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, November 10, 2004 - 8:33 AMYou can't teach trash without Troma. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, November 10, 2004 - 10:50 AMwow not offending someone will be hard while teaching a b-movie class but i would pick some of the films of larry cohen like the stuff or its alive becuase they are great examples of fairly good b movies that should not offend most. If i were teaching it would have to include John waters Mutliple Maniacs and some isla flicks as well as lunio fulci films like Zombie and city of the living dead as well as some flick by doris wishman like her chesty morgan film double45 and some ed wood flicks and some hershal gordon lewis as well prob the gore gore girls but those films would def offend some people so good luck :) -
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, November 10, 2004 - 11:09 AMHmm, that's a point about the nature of b movies. They're fun precisely because they're offensive on some level.
I'm not looking for Disney cheeriness, just trying to avoid egregious hatefulness: prolonged rape scenes in which the victim is clearly not having any fun or other overly-lavish depictions of genuine-seeming human pain and suchlike. Eating guts, lots of drugs and some degree of nekkid-chick flesh is probably just fine. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, November 10, 2004 - 1:51 PMEdgar G. Ulmer. He's the first b auteur and deserves a place in your course. Show 'em DETOUR and BEYOND THE TIME BARRIER.
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Re: b-movies 101
Thu, November 11, 2004 - 4:29 AMI would also include 'Faster Pussycat Kill Kill' and/or 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,' 'Mad Love' and 'X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes.' The latter would be my choice for Corman because the theme of looking, moral transparency, forbidden views, etc reflects the both film medium and the B genre, and implicates the viewer in a perverse way - like a film goer's coming-of-age.
I found it interesting to learn where the term 'b-movie' came from, and to look at how its meaning shifted when the double feature went the way of the dodo.
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Re: b-movies 101
Sun, January 30, 2005 - 7:21 PMwhat about some old ones like kiss me deadly or detour?? Detour would be good. I mean who gets killed by a phone cord through a door? -
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Re: b-movies 101
Tue, February 1, 2005 - 1:11 PMyou could use the omega man and last man on earth to show two different renditions of mathersons book i am legend. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Tue, February 1, 2005 - 4:44 PMThese are all terrific suggestions.
Do you guys want to be guest speakers?
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Unsu...
Re: b-movies 101
Sun, February 27, 2005 - 8:35 AMWell for that motif there's also Dario Argento's DEEP RED, where a woman gets beheaded when her necklace gets caught in a elevator.
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Re: b-movies 101
Fri, February 4, 2005 - 3:28 PMFor the last couple of years (excluding 2004 for some reason) Berkeley has hosted a Trash Film Festival that included lectures and some great movies. The site is still up and may provide you with a good place to get started in thinking about organizing films based on genre or whatever.
www.trashcinema.com/
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Re: b-movies 101
Sun, February 27, 2005 - 9:22 AMAnything from Roger Corman, particularly his 60's stuff. The original Little Shop of Horrors would be a good one. I'll second the Russ Meyer suggestion, although his stuff may prove hard to find. I'd go with Glen or Glenda from Ed Wood. Don't forget the Blacksploitation stuff of the 70's. Coffy with Pam Grier is good. Also things like The Blob, I was a Teenage Werewolf, etc are good examples of the original b-movies of the 50's. Also the biker and teenage insurrgentt films of the late-60's early 70's, like Hells Angels on Wheels, Psych-Out, Wild in the Streets are good examples. And lest we forget, Billy Jack. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Sun, February 27, 2005 - 9:24 AMAnd with that I forgot, for women in prison films, go with Chained Heat and the later Caged Heat as suggestions. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Sun, February 27, 2005 - 4:39 PMhard to choose an ed wood, glen or glenda or plan nine...
how 'bout
Night of the living dead?
Little Shop of Horrors is a B movie? sob..I thought it was great art... -
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Re: b-movies 101
Sun, February 27, 2005 - 4:43 PMUm, I'm not sure what genre these fit into but look into:
Freaks By Tod Browning
Un Chien Andalouse by Bunuel/Dali -
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, March 2, 2005 - 1:56 PMi would put stuff From John Carpenter, specially " Assault on Precinct 13" and " The Thing" cause they are not only B-movies but they are highly acclaimed by critics and became cult films to the point that both films have been a clear inspiration for other filmmakers and films such as Quentin Tarantino or for example "Nid de Guêpes" a french thriller which was an unconfessed remake of the fisrt title. It also shows how you can make a B-movie and still be an auteur and develop a nice little movie when you use your imagination to overcome budget restrictions. -
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Re: b-movies 101
Wed, March 2, 2005 - 2:05 PMI'd lean more towards AP13 then THE THING. THE THING was an A-list movie for its time, and the critics and audience was pretty harsh toward it... it's one of those movies that only gained the respect it deserved after home vid gave it a new lease on life.
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Re: b-movies 101
Fri, April 22, 2005 - 8:45 PMLate to the string but here's a few picks for classic B...
Invasion of the Saucermen...sound script, mild teen angst, classically silly aliens and Frank Gorshin...'nuff said.
The Monster of Piedras Blancas...shot on a dime, mild teen lust, nifty prosthetics and a lighthouse.
I Married a Monster from Outer Space...Tom Tryon, Gloria Talbott, and P A R A N O I A.
These classics are what the "B" movie is all about and worth a watch by anyone who has never had the experience...and they are three of my faves for what they are...NOT for what they're not!
