The end of the classic era: 1970?

[Monster Bob]

I think maybe Josh has as good an answer as any. "Night of the Living Dead" in 1968 was probably a "changing of the guard" as they say. Which would put this group's cut-off of 1970 pretty close to that point.
Personally, my tastes are quite old fashioned. So, if I had my way, the end of the classic era would be "House of Dracula" in 1945.
But what do I know. I'm just an old fart who only pretends to have grown up.
-fibbermac-

Totally agree....NOTLD changed alot of things. So did Pink Flamingoes. Not sure what I mean by that.

[Mike Scott]

The whole "1970" thing is just the start of a new decade where the old one is mostly like the classic era and the new one is mostly like the modern era. You could pick any year between 1960 and 1980 and make a case that that is the start of the modern era. It's all arbitrary.

[Mord]

 As time passes, the 1990's could be the cut-off. It's all arbitrary.

[Mike Scott]

As time passes, the 1990's could be the cut-off. It's all arbitrary.

Exactly. In the future, maybe the era of watching movies in a theater will be seen as the classic era?

[Mord]

Exactly. In the future, maybe the era of watching movies in a theater will be seen as the classic era?

Since a chubby N. Korean DICKtator can decide what movies we can see at theaters, that may very well be true.

[horrorhunter]

Exactly. In the future, maybe the era of watching movies in a theater will be seen as the classic era?

That's practically the way it is for me now. I don't care for much of the new product that's being cranked out, and the new stuff I do want to see I usually just wait for the DVD. I know flicks are better on the big screen, but crowds, screaming kids, rude theater goers, and high ticket prices factor into it as well. Now if someone showed classic monster movies at a theater in my neck of the woods I would be all over that. Unfortunately we aren't that progressive around here...or is that regressive...anyhow, it's cool. 

[zombiehorror]

I would say it depends on what your criteria is; just a random date/decade?  is it based on horror stars?  is it based on b/w vs. color?  is it directing/cinematography style?  is it the reflection of what was going on in the world around us at the time?

One could consider the atomic age of monsters being the end of a classic era and the beginning of a new one.  Though somewhere in the 70's could be considered the end of a classic era but then again Herschell Gordon Lewis was making films in the 60's that may or may not fall under ones "classic" parameters.  Hammer as well wasn't really following a "classic" mold when they started adding blood, boobs and body parts into their pictures.  Then of course there are films made from 70's-to now that don't follow modern convictions but take on a more classic sensibility.

As others have stated it is a very arbitrary subject.

[Hepcat]

Hammer as well wasn't really following a "classic" mold when they started adding blood, boobs and body parts into their pictures.

Well I'd argue that the addition of boobs improves any movie.

[Mord]

Well I'd argue that the addition of boobs improves any movie.

You'll get no argument here.

[horrorhunter]

Well I'd argue that the addition of boobs improves any movie.

Yay BIG 'UNS! 


Aaaand...YUTTE, YUTTE, YUTTE! 

[Mord]

 I had a feeling that was coming. What a Christmas (double) treat. Thanks, pal.

[LaettnersLegacy]

For me it's not really a year but black and white to color. I grew up watching the classic Universal and King Kong and Godzilla movies. Hard to think of anything color as "classic" when also talking about them

[Kevin]

  I watched "The Innocents" last night with Deborah Kerr. I've never seen it before. And for me being a diehard horror fan for the past 20 years, I've never heard of it before. For anyone who hasn't seen it, I recommend renting or downloading it now. It's very freaky.

[Mike Scott]

I watched "The Innocents" last night with Deborah Kerr.

Classic movie based on the gothic ghost story "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James. Directed by Jack Clayton (Something Wicked This Way Comes) with Martin Stephens. the lead child from Village of the Damned. I need to pick up the DVD.