Hello, People.
This week’s recommendations are inspired by the latest Film Club assignment, Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. These are films with altogether different cinematic worlds, made with human ingenuity and cleverness. No VFX, no sophisticated technology, and for most of these films, not much money.
These are fanciful worlds made with just what you can physically touch.
Director: Victor Fleming, Writers: Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf, based on L. Frank Baum’s book.
The granddaddy of them all. Few films have ever come close to the initial Munchkinland song and dance intro that Dorothy gets. The costumes, the sets, the actors, the Lollipop Guild routine— All lo-fi and magical.
Director and Writer: Jean-Luc Godard.
One of the best low-budget science fiction films. Everyday objects are used in unusual ways, turning them into “futuristic devices.” A must for any filmmaker who thinks they need a big budget to place their film in the future.
Director: George Lucas, Writers: George Lucas and Walter Murch.
Another great sci-fi is George Lucas’ first feature film. By shaving the heads of his entire cast, putting them in basic uniforms, and shooting in stark locations (including the unfinished tunnels of the BART subway system), Lucas uses very simple devices to establish a complete future world. Walter Murch’s inventive sound editing contributes to this as well.
WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)
Director: Mel Stuart, Writer: Roald Dahl (based on his book)
The Chocolate Room. The edible candy plants. The Chocolate River. The tube-suck of Augustus. The inflation of Violet. All lo-fi, inventive, creative displays of imagination that will remain in your memories forever.
Director and Writer: Jean Cocteau (based on the Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont book)
The costumes themselves are so sumptuous that this black and white film almost gives you the impression that it is in fact shot in color. Human arms and faces extend into hallways and surround fireplaces to amplify the magic behind the Beast’s castle. Smoke, moving branches, and black fabric-draped stairs are combined with the actor’s sometimes dramatic movements to complete this fanciful world.
Last week in Film Club, we discussed the fourth film in the “Antoine Doinel Cycle,” BED AND BOARD (1970). It was an interesting exercise to view this director-actor-character progression of films.
This week in FIlm Club is Jean Cocteau’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1946) (above). Watch beforehand and come discuss Monday 10/16, 4pPT on Clubhouse.
Hmmm..."fanciful" films...YES. You're right, BUT some of the films you mention have sort of "creepy" moments and I'd have to say that image of the Lollipop Guild is sort of creepy as are the Flying Monkeys and many of the Wicked Witches moments - the legs shriveling up?!? Willy Wonka has the tunnel sequence and "Slugworth" can be a bit creepy too. I would also backup my judgement of Wonka being creepy by saying that Roald Dahl's books all have a creepiness to them and that the remake with Johnny Depp truly was scary...it's sort of the Wonka brand that also makes this original film so successful, because Charlie is so earnest, the music is so good and Gene Wilder is funny/nutso! Eating the cup he drinks from at the end of World of My Imagination - so funny!
I still need to see Beauty & the Beast for Monday's call, but the photo makes it seems sort of scary. And...to keep with your theme, I'd like to mention the films:
5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T (1955). The movie was written by Dr. Seuss and "the world" very successfully translated. The imprisonments in the film are audacious and scary. (Yes, I have early childhood trauma from stumbling upon this film on TV as a child!) The man in the drum and those odd rubber hands on their heads!!! The kid is truly scared of this predicament - good acting by him.
A more recent film to mention is SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (2004) - a low budget, semi-computer-generated world that was very successful with integrating excellent writing/storytelling, fun acting styles and effects in a very fanciful creation.
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (1964) - Okay...this is really a horror film. I'm including this because it's a low-budget post-apocalyptic scenario and world. It's the based on the Richard Matheson story, filmed in Mexico and stars Vincent Price. The zombies have horrible make-up, but it's so low-budget and relies on spotlights or shadows to disorient the viewer. To be honest, I think it was all because of budget and not because of style or truly planned out. It's the OG of zombie films with a set that's basically a man's home and his memories of his past life. The thing that works pretty good in this one is that the zombies moan his name. I don't think they do in the Omega Man, but they aren't really zombies in that one, yet it's based on the same story. Ummm...I think I'm "geeking out" too much here.
Check'em out!!
Alphaville is such a great experience. Real world settings that feel altogether unreal. Inspiring stuff!