Category: 1960s

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Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968)

Arriving in the seaside town where he has been hired to be the nearby college’s track coach, Dean Jones is housed in the struggling Blackbeard’s Inn, run by descendants of the infamous pirate. His arrival coincides with the day of a bazaar being held to save the Inn and he spite bids on a piece of Blackbeard lore that manages to summon the pirate’s ghost, played by a delightful Peter Ustinov. This is quite representative of the classic Disney family-friendly live action films of the era. While I probably prefer other frequent Disney actors, such as Fred MacMurray or Hayley Mills, to Jones, it’s still the type of light-hearted film that is perfect for a quiet weekend afternoon.  Comedy  Supernatural

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The Firemen’s Ball (1967)

The firemen of a small Czechoslovakian town are hosting a ball in honor of their chief’s retirement. With the whole town invited, there are many activities planned: dancing, an raffle, and a beauty pageant. Unfortunately, before the event even begins, nothing really goes as planned. It started a bit slow for me, but my appreciation and amusement grew as the ball went on. Some of this progression is do to jokes that require some build up to a rather funny ending.  Comedy

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film

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Period of Adjustment (1962)

On Christmas Eve, newlywed couple Jim Hutton and Jane Fonda, without prior warning, arrive at the home of his Korean War buddy Anthony Franciosa, whose wife has just left him. Already unsure of the commitment they’ve made, the newlyweds get a firsthand look at the future they have in store for themselves. I really went into this thinking it was supposed to be a comedy, but it’s nowhere near. The men are universally awful. Hutton deserts Fonda within minutes of arriving at the home. Franciosa readily admits that his wife was homely when they met and he only married her for her money. He also calls his son a sissy and destroys his favorite toy to teach him how to be a man or something.

Oscar Nomination: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White

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Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

Two chiefs of the Cheyenne nation endeavor to lead three hundred members of their tribe from an Oklahoma reservation back to their traditional Wyoming home. This angers the US government and they seek to prevent the group from accomplishing their mission. Ostensibly a John Ford Western that is sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans, it is nevertheless told from the perspective of a white narrator, Richard Widmark, and the major Native roles are played by Mexican Americans. Typical of Ford, it’s beautifully filmed, but it’s also drawn out and inexplicably throws a bit of comedy relief just at its midpoint.   Western

Oscar Nomination: Best Cinematography, Color

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The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Told in newsreel-style, this film reconstructs events undertaken by Algerian rebels during the Algerian War of Independence, focusing on the experiences of Ali La Pointe during that time period. It doesn’t shirk from presenting a forthright account of the atrocities committed by both sides, from the outright terrorism of the revolutionaries to the war crimes by the French. It’s a up close, bitter and honest portrayal of war, particularly as it rages within a city.   War

Oscar Nominations: Best Director; Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Foreign Language Film

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One Potato, Two Potato (1964)

Abandoned by her adventure-seeking, ex-husband Richard Mulligan, the mother of a young child, Barbara Barrie, meets single man Bernie Hamilton at her new job. They begin a relationship and soon marry despite the obstacles presented to an interracial couple. At some point, her ex-husband hunts her down and sues for custody of their daughter because of his disapproval of their relationship. Reminiscent of Two Mothers for Zachary , it’s another story of a parent at risk of losing their child because someone else simply has objections to the couple being together. Like that other film, this one is based on actual court cases that happened. This film is more infuriating as the home Barrie and Hamilton have established with Hamilton’s parents is obviously loving and wholesome and even Mulligan admits his feelings could be wrong, but he can’t stop himself from objecting regardless.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen

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Psych-Out (1968)

Deaf runaway Susan Strasberg arrives in San Francisco searching for her long-lost brother Bruce Dern and is taken in by a trio of hippie musicians, including Jack Nicholson. They help her search for her brother while also teaching her how to be less square. I have no idea how accurate it actually is to the era, but it is filled with free love, mind-altering drugs, and lots of groovy tunes.

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Children of the Damned (1964)

In this spiritual sequel to Village of the Damned, six children from around the world are discovered to have superior intelligence and special powers. When they are all brought to London for a collective study, it is determined that the world is not ready for the advancements they exhibit. This film is a bit longer and focuses more on the children’s experiences. The general atmosphere of the two films are similar, but overall they come across incredibly different in message and I sincerely can’t say which one I prefer more.  SciFi  Horror

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Village of the Damned (1960)

Two months after the inhabitants of an English village experienced a shared loss of consciousness, all females of child bearing age discover they are pregnant. The pregnancies proceed relatively smoothly, but every child born has similar features and share a supernatural bond. There’s a great eerie atmosphere in this classic film. Children are a great antagonist in such a film. Thought to be innocent, their strange blonde hair and creepy glowy eyes tell a different story.  SciFi  Horror

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Macario (1960)

The title character is a poor Mexican husband and father whose greatest wish is to just once eat a turkey by himself. As he prepares to eat the turkey his kindly wife has stolen for him, he is visited by three visitors (the Devil, God, and Death) who try to tempt him into sharing his meal with them. The deal he makes completely changes the circumstances of his life for better or worse. It’s a simple tale about a simple desire that is much more than that. The film has much to say regarding the interactions between the rich and the poor and the desire to rise from one category to the next while also not shying away from bringing the religion into the conversation.

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film

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