I can't say I find the cinema of the 1960s to be as exciting or fresh as the cinema of the 1970s. Filmmakers weren't making truly personal films. Cinema still felt like a big studio product. Of course some very good films came out of Hollywood studios but the films which truly defined the decade were smaller films. Take for example "Easy Rider" (1969) or "Midnight Cowboy" (1969). The best films of the 60s and the ones which you will see on this list are the films which captured the times. Films which dealt which subject matters which demonstrated to the audiences the mood of the times. The films on this list will deal with sexual repression, alienation and paranoia.
Some people say the 1960s didn't start until the 1970s. What we think the 60s represented; sex, drugs and rock n roll, actually didn't start until the 70s. But through these films which I have chosen we see the seeds being planted. Many of these films challenged the social conventions of the times. Many were controversial upon initial release.
The 1960s, as I said, saw the grip the big studios had come to an end. By the end of the decade filmmakers were engaging in more personal projects. A new rating system was introduced, this would allow filmmakers to deal with the subject matters they wanted and at the same time offer a warning to those who would find the material objectionable. At least that was the idea. By the end of the decade films started to become more political. People were starting to speak differently about films. They were starting to talk about war and social issues. Watch the back room political dramas; "The Best Man" (1964) and Otto Preminger's "Advise & Consent" (1962) and notice the cynical nature presented.
The decade gave way to the debut of Woody Allen, who wrote his first script in 1965 ("What's New Pussycat"?) and directed his first film by the end of the decade, "Take the Money & Run" (1969). Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski was emerging on the world scene after his debut film "Knife in the Water" (1962). Later coming to America and giving us masterpieces such as "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "Chinatown" (1974). And the old pros were still around. Alfred Hitchcock, Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and David Lean. We also saw, what some at the time felt, was the most exciting cinema they had ever seen, come out of France with the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague).
As I did with my top ten list of the 90s and the 80s I'm going to list these titles in alphabetical order. This was a very difficult list for me to come up with. I'm sure if I think about it later other titles will pop into my head which I left off. As I said before in these other entries it is merely too hard to limit an entire decade to only 10 films. Something is bound to get left off. Still, these 10 films are the ones which best show a shift in cinema. Films which are a reflection of the changing times.
1. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968, Dir. Stanley Kubrick; U.K./U.S.) - Many consider this to be Kubrick's best film. A film made in a decade when America was in an arms race with the former Soviet Union. Thought to be one of the most influential and realistic depiction of space travel. Kubrick co-wrote the film with science fiction novelist Arthur C. Clarke, who was writing the novel of this film at the same time. The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Director and won 1 for "Best Visual Effects".
Other important Kubrick films of the 60s include; "Spartacus" (1960), "Lolita" (1962) and "Dr. Strangelove" (1964)
2. BLOW-UP (1967, Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni; U.K.) - The great Anonioni's English language debut. In this film Antonioni is able to show us the swinging 60s in England, which was starting faster there than in America. But he also hits at the paranoia of the times. A photographer, played by newcomers David Hemmings, thinks he has accidentally photographed a murder. Did he really or was it just his imagination? The film co-stars Vanessa Redgrave and won the palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival as well as winning 2 Oscar nominations; "Best Director" and "Best Screenplay".
I felt bad about not including Antonioni's "The Passenger" (1975) on my list of the best films of the 1970s and had to include this masterpiece here.
Other important Antonioni films of the 60s include his alienation trilogy "L' Avventura" (1960), "La Notte" (1961) and "L'Eclisse" (1962)
3. BREATHLESS (1961, Dir. Jean-Luc Godard; France) - While it wasn't the film which started the Nouvelle Vague (Chabrol's "Le Beau Serge" did) it has become the most symbolic film of the movement and Godard's most popular film as well as considered his best.
The film dazzled audiences with its rapid edits introducing the term jump cuts to the language. The films took many elements of Italy's neo-realism movement but weren't so much about the economic issues facing their country.
"Breathless" was a story conceived by another important figure in the Nouvelle Vague, Francois Truffaut. And starred Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg.
Other important Godard films from the 60s are "My Life To Live" (1962) and "Contempt" (1963)
4. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965, Dir. David Lean; U.S.) - I know, know, how dare I make a list of the best films of the 1960s and not put Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) on the list. But how many times do you want to see that movie on a list? I don't want my list to be full of cliches choices. These are suppose to be my personal favorites not a national consensus.
"Doctor Zhivago" is a film which most filmbuffs have seen but it has the reputation of being one of Lean's lesser efforts. I disagree and don't like people who feel that way. "Doctor Zhivago" is one of the all time classic Hollywood epic love stories, probably only behind "Gone with the Wind" (1939).
Set during the Bolshevik Revolution Omar Sharif stars as Doctor Zhivago and his search for Lara (Julie Christie). The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won five including "Best Screenplay", "Best Cinematography" and "Musical Score", and how can someone not love the song "Somewhere My Love"?
"Doctor Zhivago" doesn't deserve the mixed reaction it receives from audience. This is a masterpiece. Sometimes I like it more than "Lawrence of Arabia". Take that!
5. THE LION IN WINTER (1968, Dir. Anthony Harvey; U.K.) - Peter O' Toole stars as King Henry II who must decide which one of his three sons (one is played by Anthony Hopkins) will inherit the throne. The film works on a Shakespearean level. If I were a film critic around in 1968 this would have been my choice for the best film of the year. The acting in this film, headed by O' Toole and Katherine Hepburn as his wife, is standout!
Originally based on a play by James Goldman, who adapted his own work for the film, "The Lion in Winter" was nominated for 7 Oscars including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" and won 3, giving Hepburn yet another Oscar as "Best Actresses" and Goldman winning for his adapted screenplay.
6. MY NAME IS IVAN (1962, Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky; Russia) - The great Russian filmmaker's debut feature length film. I reviewed his "The Steamroller & the Violin" already and repeated mention how "My Name Is Ivan" was his masterpiece. The film shows us 12 year old Ivan who works as a spy for the Russians as he crosses over to German territory. Few films made by Tarkovsky are as poignant as he offers commentary not only on war but childhood as well. It is amazing such a deep, thought provoking and mature film would come from such a young director.
7. PERSONA (1967, Dir. Ingmar Bergman; Sweden) - By the time Bergman made "Persona" many pretentious critics and audience members were referring to the great master as "old hat". His best years were behind him. How could Bergman complete with the new cinema coming out from around the world? Bergman's style of story telling was too old-fashion. With "Persona" he shut them all up! With one film Bergman showed them he still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
The film stars Bibi Andersson as a nurse taking care of an actress (Liv Ullmann), who has given up speaking. The film has caused debate ever since its release as to what it is all about. My own feelings was Bergman was discussing a woman's guilt. Bergman doesn't hide the fact these two women are really one. But is it all make believe?
Other important Bergman films from the 60s are "Hour of the Wolf" (1968), "Shame" (also 68) and the beginning of his faith trilogy "Through A Glass Darkly" (1961) my favorite of the trilogy.
8. PSYCHO (1960, Dir. Alfred Hitchcock; U.S.) - It has been said with "Psycho" Hitchcock changed our movie going habits. After a surprise twist in the first half hour of the film audiences were told they could not attend the film after it had begun (a standard practice at the time). It also gave us one of the most famous movie villains, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
The film was not part of the Hollywood studio and because of that Hitchcock got in a lot of strange taboos. Is it his best film? I wouldn't say that, my favorite is "Rear Window" (1954). But as Hitchcock was coming near the end of his career "Psycho" is the work of a master filmmaker.
Other important Hitchcock films from the 60s are; "The Birds" (1963) and "Marnie" (1964), not seen as one of Hitchcock's great films it deserves a second chance.
9. (TIE) THE RED & THE WHITE/THE ROUND-UP (1968/1966 Dir. Miklos Jancso; Hungary)- Two of legendary Hungarian filmmaker Miklos Jancso best films. "The Red & The White" (Csillagosok, katonak) was made 11 years after the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 in the Soviet Union and deals with a revolt as the Hungarian Communist joined sides with the Bolsheviks as the fight the Czarists.
Those not familiar with Hungarian culture probably won't understand the significance of this. But this makes this one of the most important films in Hungarian cinema as Jancso shows us the absurd nature of war.
"The Round-Up" (Szegenylegnyek) is a bit different from most of Jancso's other films in that it actually has more character development than usual. This film deals with the 1848 revolution as the Hungarians tried to fight for independence against Austria. The freedom fighter Kossuth has disappeared while in a prison camp the Austria's make the Hungarian fight each other as they try to find out the new leaders of the movement.
Both films are excellent example of Jancso's style of filmmaking with their long camera shots, little movement and extreme long shots as we never see actions from a character's point of view but instead the larger picture.
10. REPULSION (1965, Dir. Roman Polanski; U.K.) - Here is a film which shows us the sexual repression of the times starring Catherine Deneuve who would go on to star in Luis Bunuel's "Belle de jour" (1967) about a sexual repressed housewife. The two films are not identical. Polanski's is a much darker film. But in some ways I prefer it. This is one of Deneuve's great performances.
Other important Polanski films from the 60s are "Rosemary's Baby" (1968)
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