Hello everyone!
I'm at the moment writing an essay about B-Movies for my University here in Sweden, Scandinavia. I've just finished about the history of low-budgetfilms (about how B-pictures always was the second part at the so called "double-features" in the 30's, and later exploitationfilms), but what i really want is your opinion about it. Nothing would help me more!
So, what is a B-movie? How would you describe them?
best regards/Johan, Stockholm, Sweden
What I think a B-Movie is really a couple of simple things. It is a movie that had budget issues with director/actor issues rolled into one problem. The other thing is that the people in the movie seem to be taking it seriously, even though they could not act their way out of a paper bag. The last bit is that this is a movie that people can not take seriously, yet enjoy because you don't need intelligence to understand. One possible last thing, is that the movie becomes a cult classic (Plan 9 From Outer Space or Yellow Beard to name a few).
Just my thoughts.
Take care,
John
every movie has some element of unrealism, the b-movie either due to plot, budget, or acting problems takes the level of unrealism to such heights that it takes an accquired taste to make sense of it.
I dont think a movie has to be low budget to be a B-film. sometimes that IS the case, but not always. Sometimes the CONTENT is what makes it B. Content that is so off the wall, over the top, or unintentionaly funny. Like, THE NUN. Big budget, but cmon! Its a killer NUN! ITs funny! But not all b-movies are unintentialaly funny. Some just make your jaw drop. Like BARE BEHIND BARS or THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE. And then there are those movies that are deemed "B" because they have achived cult status, like ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
And then there are movies that arent "B", but just plain SUCK. Like BATMAN AND ROBIN. (uuhg.....Why rubber nipples? Just....WHY?!)
The term "b-movie" is rendered kind of meaningless these days with overuse. I think to most people the B means "bad". And often times they are, but something to help broaden your definition:
I like to think of b-movies as movies that had less to work with in terms of money, time, talent, etc. Sure, sacrifices to these vital areas can affect the overall quality, but b-movies have an advantage when it comes to subject matter. With less at stake in terms of investments, etc, a b-movie can take bigger risks and tell bolder stories than its a-movie counterparts. A major studio would never cut the check for something like David Lynch's Eraserhead or Alejandro Jodorowsky's El Topo because in all likelihood they'd never recoup the loss. In this respect, the b-movie is almost the pioneer, with the potential of setting a trend to be followed by a-movies in the years to come. The underground films of the 60s helped broaden horizons, paving the way for sex and violence in the Hollywood features of the seventies. And sometimes b-movies are literally remade as a-movies. A recent example that comes to mind is Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi, remade years later as Desperado.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
"B" movies in the old days were typically flops from recent previous years, or new low budget flicks, intended to be the second feature, or "B" movie, in a double bill. The first film, typically new, was the "A" feature, but being on a double bill, might already be on the skids. Unsuccessful films always disappear fast, and used to be resurrected for double features. Sometimes, the "A" feature was a successful film in the past, being re-released. I think now the term " B-Movie" connotes more.
Quote from: Johan on May 14, 2007, 06:42:44 AM
B-pictures always was the second part at the so called "double-features
That's exactly how I define it!