The most quintessential movies of the 1960's

[Dale_Sams]

The Thomas Crown Affair for the music, cinematography and styles.

[MrDibble]

Masculin Féminin

[Charlie_Wayne]

@Little_Nemo

It’s not an objective thing. You just have to have a feel for what the genre means and be able to identify which movie best exemplifies it.

For a movie to be the most quintessential movie of the 1960’s, it would have to be about the sixties, at least metaphorically. Lawrence of Arabia, for example, is a great movie - arguably the best movie made in the sixties. But it’s not about the sixties.

Good post. Very helpful. I’ve been struggling to come up with some good examples to post in this thread. Your post will help a lot.

Same goes for Boyo Jim. Thank you Boyo!

[BobLibDem]

The Graduate
Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice
Psycho

[Scumpup]

The Wild Bunch

[Soul_Brother_Number_Two]

@Richard_John_Marcej

I disagree with your assessment of The Apartment. The active sexual appetites of those in the post WW2 business world was known, just not acknowledged in mixed company. The actions of a male, specifically one with power to hire and fire, having sexual interludes with female employees was considered almost a given. This film was trying to say that a man with integrity still exists, but just not in the world of business. It’s more an admonishment on businesses than on the sexual mores.

Well stated.

[JKellyMap]

@koeeoaddi

Woodstock (though it was released in early 1970)

Best if paired with Gimme Shelter. Late 60s yin and yang, you might say.

[KarlGauss]

They’ve been said before, and more than once at that, but they bear repeating:

Bonnie and Clyde and
Easy Rider

But, in many ways, A Hard Day’s Night really does embody the 60’s. You could even say it’s the quintessential 60’s movie!

Better link: A Hard Day's Night movie review (1964) | Roger Ebert

[El_Kabong]

I’ll nominate In the Heat of the Night. Certainly for the USA, coming to grips with our endemic racism was one of the central themes of the decade.

[Little_Nemo]

@BobLibDem

Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice

That’s a strange one. When you posted it, my immediate reaction was “That’s a seventies movie.” But I checked and it was released in 1969. Which really surprised me. Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice feels like a movie that was made in the mid-seventies rather than the late-sixties.

[escaped]

Planet of the apes because of the ending…

[nicky]

@OttoDaFe

In the sense of “just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you,” I’d consider The President’s Analyst. Although the demise of TPC deflated its impact. A bit. For now.

Oh yes. Its pure and concentrated 60s ness.
And oddly forgotten.

[Sherrerd]

@nicky

Oh yes. Its pure and concentrated 60s ness.
And oddly forgotten.

Not by me! I love that movie.