Sirkian melodramas thrived in the 1950s but went away. How did Titanic make them briefly relevant again? I have to admit, I hold a soft spot for a great melodrama in my heart. Movies like Magnificent Obsession, Rebel Without a Cause, and Imitation of Life have always given me great insight into the human condition, and are enough of a reason to let out a good cry. But melodramas are tricky. It's easy to pick out the best ones, but over time, the word "melodramatic" sort of began to give off a peculiar patina. It was a way to describe movies and TV shows in a negative way. Melodramas were criticized for a lack of subtlety and fell by the wayside. They were written off as we got deeper into cinema and began to favor stories that were more grounded and closer to reality. Big emotions and stage acting gave way to method performances and more naturalistic dialogue. Read More...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 28 May, 2021