Where do you draw the line between classic and modern movies?

[Lord Garth]

When I think of modern movies I think "1975 or later". I draw the line for the beginning of modern movies at the middle of the '70s. Between The Godfather, Part II (1974) and Jaws (1975).

Mainly I do this because I get the sense that The Godfather is considered a classic but not necessarily a modern classic and The Godfather, Part II followed in close proximity. 1975 introduced the first Blockbuster in Jaws which was then followed by a series of blockbusters such as Rocky and Star Wars, all of which had numbered sequels, which was started, ironically by The Godfather, Part II.

I consider 1967-1974 to be an intermediate buffer zone between modern and classic movies, starting with 1967's Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate. These movies were more experimental because the traditional movies of the Hayes' era had fallen to the wayside and a new formulaic approach had yet to be established before the rise of blockbusters.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Hollywood's so-called "Second Golden Age" (the aforementioned 1967-1974 period and probably also extending to the start of the blockbuster era) would probably be considered "classic" today.

Personally, I'd go for anything that might be shown on TCM (this has included "2001: A Space Odyssey" at one point).

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Generally mid-60's on are modern in my book. When the Haye's standard stopped being enforced.

 

[Rii]

I wouldn't use the term 'classic' at all. When others use it, I usually translate it as 'black and white'. 1990 is roughly where I'd draw the line for 'modern' cinema.

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

Since I first started hearing about movies that I saw in my early teens called "classic" I knew I was getting old.

Here I am, 40yrs old, and a first time viewer of classics.

I'm almost dead.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Personally I divide it into pre- and post- Star Wars...

 

[Miss Chicken]

I regard aything more than 40 years old as classic. So in 2010 that would mean movies before 1970.

The oldest movie I own a copy of it M (Fritz Lang, 1931), followed by King Kong (1933).

 

[Deckerd]

Have you never heard of a modern classic?

 

[Warped9]

Have you never heard of a modern classic?

I'm inclined to think that term is mere hyperbole.

I think over time the definition can change. But for myself I tend to think of about 1980 as a point where the modern era starts. For me I sense/see a distinct shift in how films were made after that point.

Last night I watched Casablanca (1942), a genuine classic and one where you can clearly see a sort of stylized realism. The story is dealing with real world ideas in a stylized way yet rarely did I feel it was over-the-top. The day before I watched Dirty Harry (1971), which was also stylized yet in a more familiar gritty realism, but again (especially compared to today) generally not over-the-top. And I think Dirty Harry also illustrates, just like Casablanca, where many familiar popular references and ideas got started.

After around 1980 I sense films straying into things getting more exaggerated. That said I appreciate films from the ;90s to today that resist forms of exaggeration and being too over-the-top.

 

[Shaytan]

The French New Wave

 

[Admiral Shran]

Personally I divide it into pre- and post- Star Wars...

This.

 

[Kelso]

I was born in 1980. Anything pre-Kelso is considered a classic film.

 

[Lord Garth]

Have you never heard of a modern classic?

I have.

I'm talking about a time-wise distinction not a quality distinction.

 

[Jadzia]

~1970. But its more about the feel than the date. If I see people in flares or skin tight shirts, or polo necks, or hear percussive incidental music, then it's modern.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

I'm going to repeat myself and say the division should be the Hays Code. When the code was abandoned in 1968 it allowed movies to begin representing reality.

For those unfamiliar with the code, it was the system The motion picture industry's censorship guidelines which governed the production of the movies released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. It was named after its creator, Will H. Hays.

The code was dropped in 1968 and the film ratings we are familier with came began (G, PG, R, X). The Hay's Code spelled out what was acceptable and what was unacceptable content for movies in the USA.

From Wiki, here are the specific rules:
1) Nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited.
2) The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or villains.
3) The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization".
4) Methods of crime (e.g. safe-cracking, arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented.
5) References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and STD's were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth.

further:
- The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered to be offensive (and it went beyond Carlin's infamous seven words)
- Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. (the difference between "The Longest Day" and "Saving Private Ryan" )
- The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing". Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive option.
- Portrayals of miscegenation (inter-racial marriage and procreation) were forbidden.
- "Scenes of Passion" were not to be introduced when not essential to the plot. - "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser element".
- The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be presented "fairly".



So the majority of movies before 1968 had to fit those principles. That meant modern classics like the Godfather could not have been made. Any movie with a nude scene would not have had it. Slasher films? not a chance... Animal house - nope.

So because of those restrictions and the changes made under the rating system, I argue the line was 1968.

 

[Smiley]

I say that anything older than 10 years is classic cinema. Generally, movies that are set in the present when they are made look like period pieces after about a decade. Also, the reputation of a movie among audiences and critics alike is mostly cemented by that time.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I'm going to repeat myself and say the division should be the Hays Code. When the code was abandoned in 1968 it allowed movies to begin representing reality.

For those unfamiliar with the code, it was the system The motion picture industry's censorship guidelines which governed the production of the movies released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. It was named after its creator, Will H. Hays.

The code was dropped in 1968 and the film ratings we are familier with came began (G, PG, R, X). The Hay's Code spelled out what was acceptable and what was unacceptable content for movies in the USA.

From Wiki, here are the specific rules:
1) Nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited.
2) The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or villains.
3) The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization".
4) Methods of crime (e.g. safe-cracking, arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented.
5) References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and STD's were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth.

further:
- The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered to be offensive (and it went beyond Carlin's infamous seven words)
- Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. (the difference between "The Longest Day" and "Saving Private Ryan" )
- The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing". Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive option.
- Portrayals of miscegenation (inter-racial marriage and procreation) were forbidden.
- "Scenes of Passion" were not to be introduced when not essential to the plot. - "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser element".
- The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be presented "fairly".

So the majority of movies before 1968 had to fit those principles. That meant modern classics like the Godfather could not have been made. Any movie with a nude scene would not have had it. Slasher films? not a chance... Animal house - nope.

So because of those restrictions and the changes made under the rating system, I argue the line was 1968.

But this can only be applied to movies viewed in the USA. How would you determine what non-USA movies are classics?

 

[Lt. Brannigan]

Well for me I draw the distinction right at 1959 for deciding what is Classic.

 

[Lord Garth]

I'm going to repeat myself and say the division should be the Hays Code. When the code was abandoned in 1968 it allowed movies to begin representing reality.

For those unfamiliar with the code, it was the system The motion picture industry's censorship guidelines which governed the production of the movies released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. It was named after its creator, Will H. Hays.

The code was dropped in 1968 and the film ratings we are familier with came began (G, PG, R, X). The Hay's Code spelled out what was acceptable and what was unacceptable content for movies in the USA.

From Wiki, here are the specific rules:
1) Nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited.
2) The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or villains.
3) The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization".
4) Methods of crime (e.g. safe-cracking, arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented.
5) References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and STD's were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth.

further:
- The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered to be offensive (and it went beyond Carlin's infamous seven words)
- Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. (the difference between "The Longest Day" and "Saving Private Ryan" )
- The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing". Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive option.
- Portrayals of miscegenation (inter-racial marriage and procreation) were forbidden.
- "Scenes of Passion" were not to be introduced when not essential to the plot. - "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser element".
- The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be presented "fairly".



So the majority of movies before 1968 had to fit those principles. That meant modern classics like the Godfather could not have been made. Any movie with a nude scene would not have had it. Slasher films? not a chance... Animal house - nope.

So because of those restrictions and the changes made under the rating system, I argue the line was 1968.

An effective argument too.

I'm thinking about it... and, at least for the USA, you have me convinced.

 

[Cicero]

I'd organize the periods as follows. My two favorite periods are in bold.

Pre-Classic: Until 1929
The Golden Age (Classic): 1929-1948
The Late Code Period (Post-Classic): 1949-1968
The Dark Age (Post-Classic): 1969-1988
The Hollywood Renaissance: 1989-2008
Modern: 2009-Present