The making of movies...
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (64169)
United States
November 1, 2010 9:50pm CST
Not any particular movie actually....
more of a "kind" of movie...
Those of you who are older than I am (late 50's) and those my age who grew up on the 1930/50 movies on afternoon and late night TV.
What I want to know is did any of you felt like I did that the "formula" movie form, especially for "B" grade movies got really old in a hurry?
You know, you have the smart, handsome "hero" and then you had a bumbling sidekick?
I am a great fan of Sherlock Holmes, and if you ever saw Basil Rathbone's Hound of the Baskervilles and then any of the other movies he and Nigel Bruce did, you would wonder if Bruce's Dr. Watson took some stupid pills.
Or how about those Charlie Chan movies? Or the Mr. Moto ones?
The SF ones seemed to have their own set of problems, but at least you didn't have a semi-retarded acting sidekick along.
They were called "comic relief" but WHY were they considered necessary?
We also saw them in a lot of the "singing cowboy" type westerns, again, why?
I understand that in a lot of ways they still didn't really understand the medium, they were adapting still from vaudeville in a lot of cases, but I never liked them. Just like I never cared for kids in shows, why are they there? Classic Star Trek did great without a "kid" so why did they feel the need to get a kid in the "Next Gen"? And don't start me on "Boxie" on the original Battlestar... grrrr... and the dumb DAGGAT... worse than a cute kid, a cute kid and a cute robot!!!
So, I know of at least one of my friends who might have some idea WHAT they thought of movies at the time with those sidekicks who didn't have 2 brain cells to rub together, and what do/did you think of these tired stereotypes?
So, I know of at least one of my friends who might have some idea WHAT they thought of movies at the time with those sidekicks who didn't have 2 brain cells to rub together, and what do/did you think of these tired stereotypes?7 people like this
13 responses
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Nov 10
Honestly I didn't think much about your question in regard to sidekicks. But you are right there is quite often an Abbot & Costello straight man & second banana senario. I used to watch alot of black and white shows when I was a kid & no I'm not as old as those you were intending this question too. I don't know why they had things done that way other than to break up the script from being so serious and turn it into a comedy. I miss those Charlie Chan movies and I used to love Bob Hope movies, 3 Stooges, Ma & Pa Kettle, and Francis the Talking Mule to name a few that they used to show on the weekends in the 80's.
3 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
31 Jan 11
I loved Bob Hope!!! Still do! Those "Road" flicks are still funny!
Maggiepie
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep & bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 Nov 10
Would you believe as a kid I never watched most of those type of movies? Certainly not any of the western types, perhaps since none in my family were fans of the western/cowboy types (like the Lone Ranger...yuk) I don't recall watching Charlie Chan or Mr. Moto either.
On occasion we did watch Sherlock Holmes though. I do remember watching mainly shows like Lawrence Welk (My great grandmother's favorite) Ed Sullivan, Sherri Lewis, Romper Room, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, but no not too many movies. Believe it or not though, I sometimes now catch the old Twilight Zone episodes...I guess at the time the special effects were considered top notch but to watch them now I can't help laughing at how "primitive" they are. I do remember the very first sci-fi movie I feel in love with though was the original The Day The Earth Stood Still and The Body Snatchers
3 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Nov 10
I must enjoy them as I watch the western channel alot nad get fuzzy the side kick in several of them but I always loved Gaby he was my favorite side kick.
ANd if the movies didnt go like this we might have ogne with out the newer kind.
and think about it if ya watched Boss HOg on DUkes of hazzard he had a colege degree!
Max bear on the hil billys had a degree too so maybe hey were smarter than what ya thought.
2 people like this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
7 Dec 10
Hi Lakota! You mentioned The Dukes Of Hazard. I used to watch that all the time, myself. I especially liked John Schneider
! He's from Atlanta, Georgia, which is about a four hour drive from here, but you probably already know that, lol
. I don't think he's originally from there, though. I used to get so tickled at Boss Hogg, too, lol :))).
! He's from Atlanta, Georgia, which is about a four hour drive from here, but you probably already know that, lol. I don't think he's originally from there, though. I used to get so tickled at Boss Hogg, too, lol :))).1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
2 Nov 10
The Straight Guy and the Funny Guy partnership has been a long running theme in Comedy,where the straight Guy was seen to represent the public,only once removed,and the public could then laugh at the guy not getting the joke,or being set up for a pratfall (Laurel and Hardy.Ollie thought He was the smart one,but events bit him on the A$$)..I dunno how far that act goes back,but it's an enduring one,as I'm pretty sure it goes way back before Shakespeare and "The Fool"..it's our nature..the fish out of water,the guy too slow to get the Joke..It hasn't gone away,the Story just changes around some.."Dumb and Dumber"..there's always a need for the comic relief..I'm thinking of the Governator's "Last Action Hero",with the cynical movie watching kid getting (Literally!) pulled into the on screen story,and trying to figure his place among the character Cliche's while he's there,as He's concerned He may not make it through the Movie..They say in storywriting,there are only a few original ideas..they are therefore constantly filing off the serial numbers and polishing them to make us think we're getting something New..or at least,prepared to pay for it..stereotypes exist because we believe in them,that's why they're still around!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
7 Dec 10
Mike Myers with the "Austin Powers" Franchise sent that idea up with the heavy wink of the "Basil Exposition" Character-the filmmakers seem to feel they need to have someone there to be the sounding board for the Lead Actor,so that everybody watching gets what's going on..There ARE arty Movies out there with convoluted plots that Leave the Audience guessing all the way through exactly who's doing what to get something accomplished,and why.."Mulholland Drive" comes to mind,there are many others..it boils down to "You Pays your Money and Takes your Choice"..All You can do is Just avoid those movies that treat you as though if you had another Brain cell,it'd be lonely...
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Nov 10
They're there to entertain the "room temperature IQ" viewers.
2 people like this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
2 Nov 10
Hey Elic! I do know what you mean! But, since I was just a kid
when most of that stuff came out and really didn't know much
better I basically watched whatever my parents let us watch
since we only had one black and white tv which we had to "share".
And me and my brother were "allowed" to watch the "kids' shows
that my mom let us watch, I guess so that she could do whatever
she was doing and we would stay out of her way! Some of the
older movies were ok, some of them were stupid. But, back in
those days like you said things were just getting started. Movies
were kind of "new" and tv was really "experimenting"! Boy, have
we come a long way since those days!
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
7 Nov 10
Well, in order to understand those old movies you have to take into account what society was like. Nowadays we are constantly stimulated by all sorts of media--sights, sounds and idea bombard us in an unending stream and we are used to it.
Back then information was relatively scarce and people led their lives quietly. Too much mental stimulation could overwhelm and comic relief was needed from the tension. Today we would say "what tension?!" but back then it was different. We were like newborns who were quickly overwhelmed, or at least the average person was. Then again, laughter was more treasured than it is now--life was simple and many times rather bleak. Laughter was prized and appreciated, thus the idiotic sidekicks.
I hope I managed to explain my view without wandering!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
8 Nov 10
Elic, remember--media is directed to the lowest common denominator. That's where they make their money. Their target finds these things entertaining and will pay for that entertainment!
1 person likes this
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
3 Nov 10
At least they were movies one could send their kits to without having to previously screen them.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
3 Nov 10
well i love old movies. but got way to bored with the old sherlock holmes movies to keep watching them. have you seen the new sherlock holmes movie on dvd with robert downey jr.? Wonderful. 
now theres a movie. they are remaking some older movies that are really turning out good these days. of course to me the bette davis and james cagney movies can never be made better no matter what. 
now theres a movie. they are remaking some older movies that are really turning out good these days. of course to me the bette davis and james cagney movies can never be made better no matter what. 
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
3 Nov 10
I used to watch Laurel and Hardy as a kid every Sunday while the family had lunch and in the afternoon sometimes Abbot and Costello would be on. The smarter guy and his dumb sidekick is a dated concept and I guess it was funny at the time. These days people seem to be too sophisticated for that kind of concept and, let’s face it a lot ‘have been there, done that’!
1 person likes this
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
27 Jan 11
this is a great disscustion. I grew up watching the same stuff on cable and late nite tv. Yes they were formla plots with dime store effects. However I once heard from the king of the "Bs" that what makes these movies popualar was that they have a charm that is unnique to themselfs. Yes they were full of styertoypes becase that was a part of the formla plot. I do not think that it bother me in anyway. I suposse the styotypes made it campy and that help made this movies and shows entertaing depending on what gene it was and how good the production values.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
2 Nov 10
I didn't watch a whole lot of television back then and I still don't much. I always liked the westerns such as "Happy Trails" and the "Twilight Zone". One mylotter here mentioned "The Lawrence Welk Show". My parents used to watch that all the time. I never did care for it because it wasn't my kind of music. I preferred to watch "Hee Haw" and it was always on the other station, lol. Roy Rogers' sidekick, Gabby Hayes, was always funny, lol
! As far as some of the other sidekicks, some of them were more silly than they were funny. I especially like Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger!
. Roy Rogers' sidekick, Gabby Hayes, was always funny, lol! As far as some of the other sidekicks, some of them were more silly than they were funny. I especially like Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger! 
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
2 Nov 10
I never really liked or watched those kinds of movies. They just seemed so dumb I never could get interested in them. I guess they had a stupid sidekick because it was supposed to be funny. I just thought it was dumb. I don't like the really stupid spuffs (I'm not sure if that is the right spelling) of other movies. Like the Airplane series etc. I find them to stupid to watch. I guess I just don't find stupidity funny.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
31 Jan 11
"Spoofs." 
You're welcome.
Maggiepie (Resident Spelling & Grammar Grundy)
"Life is hard. It's even harder if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne
You're welcome.
Maggiepie (Resident Spelling & Grammar Grundy)
"Life is hard. It's even harder if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne1 person likes this
