Cinema in the 1960's

                                  Trailer from Alfred Hitchcock's  1960 film
                                                       "Psycho"


The 1960's is often known for being very prominent spy films, historical dramas, sword and sandal also known as biblical films, comedy, spaghetti Westerns and historical dramas. It is also known as a decade of monumental changes cultural events tragedies assassinations deaths and advancements. The cinema reflected the decade of fun, fashion, rock and roll as well as cultural value changes and social changes. Along with that, the 1960s would be the decade almost most socially conscious and stylistically innovative Hollywood history.

When the 1960's began, romantic comedies such as That Touch of Mink, starring Doris Day, The Longest Day, Dr. No, Lawrence of Arabia's and Cleopatra were among the most popular films. While the decade progressed, increasing number of anti-establishment films were made that were laced with social commentary in order to fit the youth market. While the major studios ignored such a large demographic, smaller studios targeted the audience and made films such as cheaply made and campy horror movies, beach movies such as Bikini Beach and Beach Blanket Bingo as well as motorcycle gang pictures such as the 1966 film the Wild Angels.

In 1967 two films came out that made Hollywood aware of the size and influence of the younger audience. Among those films are The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde. The Graduate is of film about a young college graduate student injecting a hypocritical society and its traditional values that his parents held. Bonnie and Clyde told the story of two bank robbers during the depression and was based on a true story.

In 1969, the first of only X-rated film the got nominated for an Oscar was Midnight Cowboy. Highly controversial film at the time, the touched on topics such as  illiteracy, rape, sexual abuse, prostitution and poverty. It told a story of a young man from Texas that left for New York to become a hustler and a male prostitute. While living out on the streets in New York, He befriends a very sickly third rate con man by the name of Ratso Rizzo.