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  #1  
Old 01-28-2007, 12:59 AM
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Movies that could never be made today

There are a number of movies that are absolute classics that could never be made today. There are obvious examples of this: the Cecil B Demille epics come to mind, due to the expense of such productions in today's dollars.

Less obvious examples would be those where today's Hollywood would be less willing to take chances on. I was watching Inherit the Wind last night, and couldn't help but enjoy it once again, but also couldn't help wondering whether a movie like it would ever make it into production today. The actors/actresses are actually required to act, the film moves along on the power of their individual skills. They are, of course, supported by an excellent screenplay, which touches on a number of themes to draw their viewer in. I'm not sure how the theme of religious tolerance would be treated today, either.

What classic films do you believe wouldn't stand a chance in today's Hollywood?
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Old 01-28-2007, 07:20 AM
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I watched a piece of that myself the other night and thought some similar thoughts, but most about what an innocent age it was made in and how some/much of the material might not fly with today's audiences.
I think the film COULD be made as there is talent out there to do it, but financially it would be very demanding because the old school talent required would be megabucks.

I think a big part of the problem is that today's "stars" lack charm or charisma, certainly the younger ones. I mean where are our modern day Spencer Tracys, Cary Grants, Jimmy Stewarts, Humphery Bogarts, Gregory Pecks, Robert Mitchums, Jimmy Cagneys, Paul Newmans, Katherine Hepburns etc, etc, etc. Maybe I'm still half asleep, but I can't think of any big names since DeNiro, Hoffman, Pacino, Connery, and Nicholson and they actually play themselves, or their most common screen personas, quite a bit. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are pretty good too; I just remember The Shawshank Redemption
Ben Affleck, Jude Law, Leonardo DeCaprio, Matt Damon; I don't think so, but I haven't seen "The Departed" yet either, so maybe I'm selling the last two short.

Films, maybe "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Hustler", "Key Largo", "The African Queen", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "The Philadelphia Story", or any film based upon a play, which seem to demand real acting skills and not just a pretty face going through the motions. I probably should include "The Godfather" too, but who would even TRY on that one???

Then again, maybe some Hollywood douchebag would try it with an all black cast and include Wesley Snipes, Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and some rappers......
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Old 01-29-2007, 08:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andyman
Leonardo DeCaprio, Matt Damon; I don't think so, but I haven't seen "The Departed" yet either, so maybe I'm selling the last two short.
I saw departed and it changed my opinion of DeCaprio - I believe he can act. Also, you didn't mention Tom Hanks, the one current actor who I think could hold his own against the old timers.
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Old 01-29-2007, 09:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old_tv_nut
I saw departed and it changed my opinion of DeCaprio - I believe he can act. Also, you didn't mention Tom Hanks, the one current actor who I think could hold his own against the old timers.
Yep Hanks is good, but he's over 50 now, which I guess makes him almost as old school as Jack and the gang.

I think we may have strayed a bit here from the original post which may have been more concerned with the quality of the acting and script than the topics presented or scope of production.
FWIW, I think Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy was as fine a set of movies as any made. The acting and character development may not have been the stuff of legend, but the result certainly was outstanding. While much of the pap that oozes out of Hollywood isn't worthy of a trailer on Jerry Springer, there still are fine films being made.
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Old 01-31-2007, 05:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old_tv_nut
I saw departed and it changed my opinion of DeCaprio - I believe he can act. .

Apparently you missed Gilbert Grape.
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Old 02-01-2007, 08:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old_tv_nut
Also, you didn't mention Tom Hanks, the one current actor who I think could hold his own against the old timers.
I'll agree on Hanks.

No one has mentioned Naked Lunch, doubt that one could find a backer these days.

Also Once Upon A Time In The West comes to mind - You probably couldn't afford to cast it these days, everybody who was anybody at the time was in that one.

And while we're on westerns - Paint Your Wagon!! (Of course, the other question here is WHY would anyone want to remake the film, much less WOULD anyone remake the film.)
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Old 02-10-2007, 10:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ozmoid

No one has mentioned Naked Lunch, doubt that one could find a backer these days.
Whoa - that was a weird one. Peter Weller typing into a talking beetle/typewriter, shooting his wife in the head, and breaking up an international "Mugwam Jizm" ring. What a head trip! Almost made me read beat writings...
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Old 02-10-2007, 10:42 PM
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In todays atmospher Gone With The Wind would never have been made, sad that.
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Old 02-01-2007, 06:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andyman
I watched a piece of that myself the other night and thought some similar thoughts, but most about what an innocent age it was made in and how some/much of the material might not fly with today's audiences.
I think the film COULD be made as there is talent out there to do it, but financially it would be very demanding because the old school talent required would be megabucks.

I think a big part of the problem is that today's "stars" lack charm or charisma, certainly the younger ones. I mean where are our modern day Spencer Tracys, Cary Grants, Jimmy Stewarts, Humphery Bogarts, Gregory Pecks, Robert Mitchums, Jimmy Cagneys, Paul Newmans, Katherine Hepburns etc, etc, etc.
I'd have to say, Johnny Depp comes pretty darn close to being able to be the "universal actor", as in being able to handle most any role like Cary Grant, Jimmy Cagney and such.

Another one that (when given a good role) really shows up his craft, is Billy Bob Thornton. Check out "The Man That Wasn't There", if you think they really don't make film noir anymore. It's the real deal...

Another thumbs-up for Tim Robbins. His performance in "The Hudsucker Proxy" was, IMHO, as good as most any of the classic performances of any of the actors cited above, from earlier days!

Regards,
Gordon.
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Old 02-05-2007, 05:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GordonW
Another thumbs-up for Tim Robbins. His performance in "The Hudsucker Proxy" was, IMHO, as good as most any of the classic performances of any of the actors cited above, from earlier days!

Regards,
Gordon.
Into O/T -

I too am a Robbins fan, my favorite being "The Player". The range of emotions he displays in it is wonderful.
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Old 01-28-2007, 07:59 AM
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My very first thought: all of the movies where people are lighting up cigarettes in nearly every scene. Heaven forbid people enjoy a smoke. "Good Night, and Good Luck" got made, but it was amazing to see people smoking like chimneys.
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Old 01-28-2007, 08:54 AM
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Old 01-28-2007, 09:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OvenMaster
My very first thought: all of the movies where people are lighting up cigarettes in nearly every scene. Heaven forbid people enjoy a smoke. "Good Night, and Good Luck" got made, but it was amazing to see people smoking like chimneys.
Tom
Geez, wouldn't that be darn near every film set in 1920-1967 made before 1970?????
Can you imaging a WWII prison camp film w/o someone hawking smokes, chocolate and nylons???
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Old 01-28-2007, 09:41 AM
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Spartacus, Cleopatra, and Lawrence of Arabia all come to mind. Those movies today would all be done with computer animation because there isn't a studio anywhere that would afford the huge casts and the massive battle scenes as they were done in those movies, not to mention the lavish sets. The final battle scene in Spartacus has to be one of my all time favorite in the movie world.
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Old 01-28-2007, 09:01 AM
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All those wonderful old Sci-Fi films w/that incredibly cheesy "stop-action" animation. Nowadays it would by done by computer, seamless as can be, but the old ways DID have a certain charm...
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