University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 12, 1973
11
Social Upheaval Reflected in Film
By DIANE YEAMANS Kansan Staff Reporter
The movie industry has presented the social revolution of recent years on the screen and drawn record audiences—of the youngest generation—that have been produced in the last five years.
Generally, movies have displayed the same kind of critical examination of society that many students have voiced, and revealed rising crime rates, brute violence, perverted and misunderstood sex, persecution and discrimination based on sex and race.
The movies have also revealed uncertainty, confusion and the fear of change felt by many people when their society started changing so quickly, so violently, in reaction to the problems pointed out in the social revolution.
In reflecting society, the movie industry was criticized for its exploitation of sex and violence and for its lack of entertaining movies. The result was the new, stricter rating system and the recent crackdown by the U.S. Supreme Court on pornography.
THE MOVIE INDUSTRY has been plagued with economic problems. The big Hollywood studio died at the same time the big stars disappeared and movie studios lost their control operations to make money. Much of the crisis in the movie industry was caused by the same movies that were the industry's top money-makers. Many movies of recent years are being re-released. The profits these movies made handicapped big studio profit-making.
Local audiences have generally followed the national trends of the last five years. "The Godfather" drew the biggest Oscar winner, Oscar Roberts; "Birch Creek and the Sundance Kid," "Billy Jack," "Reivers," "Bullit" and "Little Big Man." The national favorites such as "Last Picture Show," "Airport" or "Story" also pleased local audiences.
Perhaps the 1986 movie "The Graduate," soon followed by "Rosemary's Baby," is symbolic of the beginning of the change in women's roles in film. In their topics than preceding movies had been. However, most movies of 1986 were lighter and more purely entertaining. Some of them were the *The Thomas Crown Affair* and *The Lost Girl*. You can watch *Your Local Sheriff* and "Funny Girl."
THE ACADEMY of Motion Pictures voted "Oliver" the best picture of 1983. Cliff Robertson received the best actor award for his role in "Charly" and Jack Albertson in "The Princess Bride." The Subject Was Roses." Katharine Hepburn and Barba Streisand tied for an Oscar—the first tie since 1931—for best actress for their respective roles in "The Princess Bride." Robertson also supported actress to Wuth Gordon for her role in "Rosemary's Baby."
The effect of the counter-revolution became apparent in 1989 with such movies as "Easy Rider" and "Alice's Restaurant," they Shoot Horses, Don't They?"
THE HEIGHT OF SEX in movies might also have been reached in 1989 with "I Am Curious Yellow" and "Oh, Calcutta". Neither movie however, is on the list of the 51 top money-making movies. And it wasn't long after the appearance of these two movies that the new movie rating system was initiated.
"MIDNIGHT COWBOY" received the Academy Award for best picture in 1969. John Wayne, named best actor, won his first Oscar for his role in "True Grit." The best actress went to Maggie Smith for her portrayal of Miss Jean Brodie in her prime. Goldie Hawn received best supporting acting for Fiction with GiG Young won the best supporting actor award for his role in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"
The movie industry went wild along with the rest of the world in 1970 at the height of the social revolution. The year was marked with extremes in movies—from "M A S H" to "Patton," from "Filder on the Roof" and "Joe" to "Hair," "Boys in the Band" and "Myra Breckenridge." The biggest money-maker that year and fourth to fifth ranked grossed $50 million, "Woodstock" also proved to be one of the biggest money-making documentaries by grossing $14.5 million.
The Oscar for best picture in 1970 went to "Patton," George C. Scott created a turmoil by refusing his Academy Award for best actor in a Broadway play. Best actress went to Glenda Jackson for her
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role in "Women in Love," best supporting actor to John Mills for "Ryan's Daughter" and best supporting actress to Helen Hayes for "Airport."
SOCIAL COMMENT seemed more relaxed in the movies that appeared in 1971. The best movies still had heavy social comment, although more lighter movies and comedies appeared on the screen. The year was marked by pictures like "Little Big Man," "The Owl and the Pussycat," "XTH 138," "I, a Woman," and "Z"
"The French Connection, in particular known for a fantastic chase scene in New York City, won the Academy Award in 1971 for best picture and best direction. Gene Hackman received an Oscar for his role as Dr. John Johnson and Cloris Leachman received the best supporting actor and actress Oscars for their roles in "The Last Picture Show." Jane
Fonda won the best actress award for her role in "Klute."
Contemporary issues became the major theme for movies in 1972. "The Godfather" examined syndicated crime and the people who run the system, and the military's political campaign system during a campaign year; "Hospital" presented the psychological problems death causes; the medical system was portrayed; the horror of a plane hijacking.
"The GOTFATHER," which beat out "Gone with the Wind" as the biggest money-making movie in history, won the Academy Award for best picture. Briondio was booed during the awards ceremony when he sent a pretty Indian girl to refuse his best actor award because of the actress's strong voice. The Lai Minnelli received the Oscar for best actress and Joel Gray for best supporting actor for their roles in the musical "Cabaret." Best supporting actress went to Eileen Heckart for her role in "Butterflies are Free."
Audiences have witnessed the discovery of, or the return to, the battle for and the defeat of, Nazi Germany.
Social comment has become even more subtle in 1973. Many movies have taken a historical perspective, perhaps to determine the origin of the problems of society, such as the Holocaust and landmark movies have been "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," "Seulth," "Sounder," "Deliverance," "Poseidon Adventure," "Lady Sings the Blues," "Jesus Christ, Supernatural," "The Emmigrants and The Immigrants," and "Extremely violent and depict, perhaps, the hardness of life or in disillusion with the supposed innate goodness of life.
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