Genre: Drama
A genre is a type of movie that is recognizable by narrative and specific character types. Drama is probably the largest film genre with the widest spectrum of films. There are many sub-genres within the overall genre of drama. Some sub-genres within drama include crime films, melodramas, epics, biopics, and romantic films. Drama films are serious presentations of real life conflicts with real life characters in real life situations. Drama films portray characters in conflict with themselves, others or forces of nature (filmsite.org). They have underlying themes about life and teach life lessons. In a good drama film, the audience should be able to identify with a character in the film and they should be able to feel the emotions of many of the characters (filmbug.com).
In the era of the silent film to the 1940's, a drama was used to teach the audience. When the 1950's came around, a drama was mostly used to show the relationship between characters. For example, the film All About Eve (1950) focuses on women and their relationship with men.
In the 1960's, dramas were used to present political messages about war. For instance, in 1961, The Manchurian Candidate came out. This film is about a Korean War POW who is brainwashed by Communists and later becomes a political assassin.
In the 1980's dramatic film put a large emphasis on emotional themes. Films like Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989) explore African American history and culture. This film really brought out the emotion in its audience.
During the 1990's, present day film directors began to make their best movies. Films during the 90's put drama in a great proportion. Films like Schindler's List (1993) and Good Fellas (1990) were true dramas that made its viewers fell like they were in the position of the characters in the film.
According to filmsite.org, Citizen Kane of 1941 was one of the best drama films ever made. The film’s director, producer, and star actor were Orson Welles. This was his debut film when he was 25-years-old. The film has all of the elements of a drama. According to reelviews.net, Citizen Kane is a powerful film that displays the abuses of wealth and power. “It's a classic American tragedy about a man of great passion, vision, and greed, who pushes himself until he brings ruins to himself and all around him” (reelviews.com). The cinematography of Greg Toland is revolutionary and his imagery and angles are ones that no one has ever matched since.
Another one of the best drama films ever made is Frank Darabot’s Shawshank Redemption (1994). The film is about one man named who is named Andy Defrense who is sent to Shawshank prison for life for crimes that he did not commit. In the film the conflict is between man and the system of prison. Andy must learn how to survive prison life and get by. The film sends a message about the redemptive quality of hope.
One of the best drama directors of all time is Martin Scorsesse. His legacy of world- class films includes Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), Aviator (2004), and many more. Martin Scorsesse has some of the most controversial and memorable movies of all time. According to imdb.com, Scorsesse is known for his main characters who want to be accepted in society. He also begins a lot of his movies with events that happened from the middle or end of the film. Another thing that he is known for are his tracking shots. His is often known as the “King of Tracking Shots.”
Great drama films require great acting. One of the best actors in drama films is Al Pacino. Al Pacino has starred in classic dramas like The Godfather Collection, Scarface, The Devil’s Advocte, and other famous films. His intensity and passion for the characters that he played brought the films that he was involved with to a new level. Acting is one of the most important parts of the genre of drama.
Most of the best films ever made have been dramas. Drama is such a significant and complex genre with such a rich history of big names and important films in the history of film. Many drams have revolutionized different aspects of film such as cinematography, acting, lighting, etc. For example Scorsesse revolutionized the track shot. Greg Toland redefined imagery and cinematography in Citizen Kane. Al Pacino redefined acting in drama with his intensity and involvement in his characters. Drama is arguably the most important film genre.
Sub Genre: Road Films
According to filmsite.org, road films have been the cornerstone to American films from the very start of filmmaking in America. They range from genres of western, comedies, crimes, drama, and action-adventure films. The road has been a symbol for many things throughout road films. The road has symbolized journey, escape, mystery, the search of love, freedom, a rediscovering of oneself, a coming of age, and it has also represented a test for main characters Most road films progress in the direction from east to west. The reason for this is because the west has traditionally been the unknown and mysterious part of the country. Also, most road films mention the historic route 66 (filmsite.org).
Road films had their best days in the 1970’s when the western pictures began to decline in popularity (filmsite.org). According to filmsite.org, there have been many subcategories of road films. Some of the sub-categories include, racing or chase films, biker films, trucker films, buddy films, road warrior films, lover films, and outlaw on the run films.
One early road film that one might not associate with a road film is The Wizard of Oz (1939). In The Wizard of Oz, Dorthy follows the yellow brick road that is full of mystery and unknown. The yellow brick road brings a sense of adventure and a lot of the characters rediscover themselves by getting for what they asked for at the end of the road. Another classic early road film is The Grapes of Wrath (1940). The Grapes of Wrath contains many aspects of a road film. The film is about a family during the depression that is traveling through the dustbowl out to the promise land of California via the Route 66. In this film the road represents a journey to promise and it represents an escape from the family’s financial troubles.
Thelma and Louise is a great Ridley Scott road film. This film falls into the genre of drama and portrays two women that take a road trip across country to get away from their brutal husbands and mediocre lives. Here again, the road represents a sense of hope and escape for these two women hoping for more opportunities.
According to cinegeek.com, road movies were a major part of cinema in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There were often biker films made in the 1960’s and 1970’s because of the rebel spirit of those times. Old people of that generation thought of bikers as trouble. One biker film of that time period is Easy Rider directed by Denis Hooper. Easy Ride is about two bikers who travel across country and get into all sorts if trouble.
Road films represent grand ideas of freedom, mystery, escape, and coming of age that are important to society and to film.
Minor-Sub Genre: Martial Arts
According to craveonline.com, the first martial arts films came out of Shanghai in the 1920’s. These films remained popular through China in the 1930’s. In the late 1930’s, film producing moved to Hong Kong. One of the first studios to make martial arts films is the Shaw Brothers Studios. As the genre of martial arts began to grow, the Shaw Brothers Studio began to make some of the most iconic and memorable martial arts film ever made. Some of these films include The One Armed Swordsman, Five Element Ninjas, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, and Five Fingers of Death. The great Jackie Chan actually appeared as an extra in some of the Shaw Brother’s later films.
At First the martial arts films were made for the Asian Market. However, a film studio called Golden Harvest began producing martial arts films for the Western market. The Golden Harvest Studio was actually founded by previous Shaw Brothers executives. After a few years, the Golden Harvest Studio signed a contract with Bruce Lee and produced his first film The Big Boss. After producing many of Bruce Lee’s films, Golden Harvest Studios signed contracts with current martial arts stars like Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
According to craveonline.com, the modern martial arts and kung fu films have combined some of the great aspects of martial arts films from the past and combined them with humor special effects, and wires. The martial arts genre has been around for more than 80 years now is still progressing.Minor Sub Genre: Zombie
Zombie comedies have truly taken off in the 21st century. According to about.com, zombie comedies have been around longer than one might think. According to best-horror-movies.com, zombies were thought of in an entirely different way before 1968. In movies, they were portrayed as a product of voodoo. In movies like White Zombie (1932) and Revenge of the Zombies (1943), zombies were portrayed as “lifeless bodies removed from the grave right after burial and turned into living mindless slaves obeying the biddings of a human master” (best-horror-movies.com). The man who gave the zombie the meaning that it has today is a man named George A. Romero. His 1968 movie, Nigh of the Living Dead, had effects on the portrayal of zombies that are still felt today.
In the 1970’s the zombie genre had problems growing. Many film- makers did not know how to use zombies in their films. However, there were a few movies such as Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972) and Garden of the Dead (1972) that were decent zombie films. They were not great but not bad either. The best zombie films of the 70’s were Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972) and Horror Rises From the Tomb (1973).
The 1980’s is the decade that the zombie genre truly took off and zombies were given their identity. “The list of movies adding to the Zombie Movie History from the 80s is long and includes many of the classics if the genre: Dead and Buried (1981), The Evil Dead (1982), Zombie Island Massacre (1984), Day of the Dead (1985), The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Night of the Creeps (1986), Evil Dead II (1987), The Dead Next Door (1988)” (best-horror-movies.com). The basic rules of zombie films were also formed in the 80’s. The rules include: if you don’t die first, you are not a zombie, zombies only feed on living flesh, the only way to stop a zombie is a perfect shot, and zombies are not very smart. As for present times, the zombie genre seems to be moving in a good direction and is growing by the year.
