B movie  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Revision as of 10:40, 14 July 2007
WikiSysop (Talk | contribs)
(Genre film moved to B movie)
← Previous diff
Revision as of 23:43, 4 April 2009
Jahsonic (Talk | contribs)

Next diff →
Line 1: Line 1:
 +[[Image:The Raven.jpg|thumb|right|200px|In 1963, [[Roger Corman]] directed ''[[The Raven (1963 film)|The Raven]]'', a [[horror-comedy]] written by [[Richard Matheson]] very loosely based on the poem, "[[The Raven]]" by [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. It stars [[Vincent Price]], [[Peter Lorre]], and [[Boris Karloff]] as a trio of rival [[Magic (paranormal)|sorcerers]].]]
{{Template}} {{Template}}
 +:''[[B]][[-]][[movie]]''
 +
 +A [[low-budget]] [[motion picture]], especially one with poor [[production values]].
 +
The term '''B movie''' originally referred to a [[film]] made on a [[low budget|low or modest budget]] and intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a [[double feature]] during the so-called [[Cinema of the United States#Golden Age of Hollywood|Golden Age of Hollywood]]. Although the U.S. production of movies intended as second features largely ceased by the end of the 1950s, the term ''B movie'' continues to be used in a broader sense, referring to any low-budget, commercial motion picture meant neither as an [[art film|arthouse film]] nor as [[pornography]]. In its post–Golden Age usage, there is ambiguity on both sides: on the one hand, many B movies display a high degree of craft and aesthetic ingenuity; on the other, the primary interest of many inexpensive [[exploitation film]]s is prurient. In some cases, both are true. The term '''B movie''' originally referred to a [[film]] made on a [[low budget|low or modest budget]] and intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a [[double feature]] during the so-called [[Cinema of the United States#Golden Age of Hollywood|Golden Age of Hollywood]]. Although the U.S. production of movies intended as second features largely ceased by the end of the 1950s, the term ''B movie'' continues to be used in a broader sense, referring to any low-budget, commercial motion picture meant neither as an [[art film|arthouse film]] nor as [[pornography]]. In its post–Golden Age usage, there is ambiguity on both sides: on the one hand, many B movies display a high degree of craft and aesthetic ingenuity; on the other, the primary interest of many inexpensive [[exploitation film]]s is prurient. In some cases, both are true.
In either usage, most B movies represent a particular [[Film genre|genre]]—the [[Western (genre)|Western]] was a Golden Age B movie staple, while low-budget [[science-fiction film|science-fiction]] and [[horror film|horror]] films became more popular in the 1950s. Early B movies were often part of series in which the star repeatedly played the same character. Almost always shorter than the top-billed films they were paired with, many had running times of 70 minutes or less. The term connoted a general perception that B movies were inferior to the more handsomely budgeted headliners; individual B films were often ignored by critics. Latter-day B movies still sometimes inspire multiple [[sequel]]s, but series are less common. As the average running time of top-of-the-line films increased, so did that of B pictures. In its current usage, the term has two primary and somewhat contradictory connotations: it may signal an opinion that a certain movie is (a) a genre film with minimal artistic ambitions or (b) a lively, energetic film uninhibited by the constraints imposed on more expensive projects and unburdened by the conventions of putatively "serious" [[independent film]]. In either usage, most B movies represent a particular [[Film genre|genre]]—the [[Western (genre)|Western]] was a Golden Age B movie staple, while low-budget [[science-fiction film|science-fiction]] and [[horror film|horror]] films became more popular in the 1950s. Early B movies were often part of series in which the star repeatedly played the same character. Almost always shorter than the top-billed films they were paired with, many had running times of 70 minutes or less. The term connoted a general perception that B movies were inferior to the more handsomely budgeted headliners; individual B films were often ignored by critics. Latter-day B movies still sometimes inspire multiple [[sequel]]s, but series are less common. As the average running time of top-of-the-line films increased, so did that of B pictures. In its current usage, the term has two primary and somewhat contradictory connotations: it may signal an opinion that a certain movie is (a) a genre film with minimal artistic ambitions or (b) a lively, energetic film uninhibited by the constraints imposed on more expensive projects and unburdened by the conventions of putatively "serious" [[independent film]].
-From their beginnings to the present day, B movies have provided opportunities both for those coming up in the profession and others whose careers are waning. Celebrated filmmakers such as [[Anthony Mann]] and [[Jonathan Demme]] learned their craft in B movies. B movies are where actors such as [[John Wayne]] and [[Jack Nicholson]] became established, and the Bs have also provided work for former A movie actors, such as [[Vincent Price]] and [[Karen Black]]. Some actors, such as [[Béla Lugosi]] and [[Pam Grier]], worked in B movies for most of their careers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007]+From their beginnings to the present day, B movies have provided opportunities both for those coming up in the profession and others whose careers are waning. Celebrated filmmakers such as [[Anthony Mann]] and [[Jonathan Demme]] learned their craft in B movies. B movies are where actors such as [[John Wayne]] and [[Jack Nicholson]] became established, and the Bs have also provided work for former A movie actors, such as [[Vincent Price]] and [[Karen Black]]. Some actors, such as [[Béla Lugosi]] and [[Pam Grier]], worked in B movies for most of their careers. {{GFDL}}

Revision as of 23:43, 4 April 2009

In 1963, Roger Corman directed The Raven, a horror-comedy written by Richard Matheson very loosely based on the poem, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. It stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff as a trio of rival sorcerers.
Enlarge
In 1963, Roger Corman directed The Raven, a horror-comedy written by Richard Matheson very loosely based on the poem, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. It stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff as a trio of rival sorcerers.

Related e

Wikipedia
Wiktionary
Shop


Featured:

B-movie

A low-budget motion picture, especially one with poor production values.

The term B movie originally referred to a film made on a low or modest budget and intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature during the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood. Although the U.S. production of movies intended as second features largely ceased by the end of the 1950s, the term B movie continues to be used in a broader sense, referring to any low-budget, commercial motion picture meant neither as an arthouse film nor as pornography. In its post–Golden Age usage, there is ambiguity on both sides: on the one hand, many B movies display a high degree of craft and aesthetic ingenuity; on the other, the primary interest of many inexpensive exploitation films is prurient. In some cases, both are true.

In either usage, most B movies represent a particular genre—the Western was a Golden Age B movie staple, while low-budget science-fiction and horror films became more popular in the 1950s. Early B movies were often part of series in which the star repeatedly played the same character. Almost always shorter than the top-billed films they were paired with, many had running times of 70 minutes or less. The term connoted a general perception that B movies were inferior to the more handsomely budgeted headliners; individual B films were often ignored by critics. Latter-day B movies still sometimes inspire multiple sequels, but series are less common. As the average running time of top-of-the-line films increased, so did that of B pictures. In its current usage, the term has two primary and somewhat contradictory connotations: it may signal an opinion that a certain movie is (a) a genre film with minimal artistic ambitions or (b) a lively, energetic film uninhibited by the constraints imposed on more expensive projects and unburdened by the conventions of putatively "serious" independent film.

From their beginnings to the present day, B movies have provided opportunities both for those coming up in the profession and others whose careers are waning. Celebrated filmmakers such as Anthony Mann and Jonathan Demme learned their craft in B movies. B movies are where actors such as John Wayne and Jack Nicholson became established, and the Bs have also provided work for former A movie actors, such as Vincent Price and Karen Black. Some actors, such as Béla Lugosi and Pam Grier, worked in B movies for most of their careers.



Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "B movie" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

Personal tools