# What movie would you show to somene from the 1950s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373 "2003-01-08T21:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/41 "2003-01-10T10:56:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hometownboy \* > \*\*She also brought back a color TV and VCR, and plays **Star Wars \*\* for them. In the mid-50s, they have never seen color TV, much less higher definition** Regular (non-experimental) color broadcasts on network television in the U.S. began in December 1953. In any case, Hollywood films of the mid-1950s were being shown in color, 70mm widescreen, with six-channel sound. Would a color television really be that amazing? U.S. television had the same number of lines of resolution in 1984, when that _Analog_ story was published, as it did in 1941. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/42 "2003-01-10T13:22:59Z")
**Zebra** , I like your answers. They are deliciously mischievous. > [@](#): > > JFK > Apollo 13 > Platoon One could add The Killing Fields to this list. (and more of course, though I haven’t had my coffee yet this morning so I can’t think of more.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/43 "2003-01-10T15:14:55Z")
How about Woodstock and M_A_S_H_ ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/44 "2003-01-10T15:17:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vibrotronica \* > \*\*I do not mean to insult, demean, or disparage your religion, \*\* Kilt \*\*, or anybody else’s. From all of your posts you seem a perfectly reasonable and intellegent guy, and you are free to believe or practice whatever religion you want without judgement from me. \*\* Well, I hope I didn’t insult you, either - it certainly wasn’t my intention. You don’t seem to have taken offense, so I feel a little better about it. Unfortunately, the Church of Christ seems to have two possible faces - the congregations led by an actual scholar who researches his Sunday services and bases his lessons on historical example and the text of the Bible (the kind I was lucky enough to be raised attending), or the ones led by a Bible-thumping hellfire-and-damnation reactionary who bases his Sunday services on his own personal prejudices and his lessons on ignorance and preconceived notions of what unfamiliar things “must be” because he hasn’t bothered to actually find out. Unfortunately, this sounds a lot like the situation at the church your family attends. Bigotry, including declaring the head of another religion to be the “Antichrist”, is generally frowned upon in the church I’m familiar with… But let’s end the hijack before everyone else gets annoyed with us…thanks, by the way, for the very complimentary things you said about me. Nice to know I’m not coming off as a total prick around here… I’m afraid we’ll just have to disagree about Tarrantino - I still think he got luck with _Pulp Fiction_ and has yet to live up to his hype since then. Maybe a few of the flops he’s had since then will reign his ego in enough for his style to mature…time will tell. Oh, and I came up with a few more movies to melt the minds of our visitors from the Eisenhower era… _American Beauty_ _Hellraiser_ Any movie made within the last 15 years with Marlon Brando…“Yes, gentlement, that’s what happened to the young man from _A Streetcar Named Desire_…frightening, isn’t it?” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/45 "2003-01-10T15:40:35Z")
I think **vibrotronica** said it best when s/he suggest _Pulp Fiction_. I seriously doubt that they have seen anything like that - from drug use to the adrenaline shot to African-Americans in leading roles (and when I mean leading, I mean Marcellus ordering Bruce to toss the fight and Samuel giving up the life for religious reasons) to anal rape and subsequent spearing, to the music to, hell, to anything in the movie. It was revolutionary for 1995, I can’t imagine what it would be considered in 1955! If I had to come up with one not mentioned (or unseen by me), I’ll go with _Taxi Driver_. That oughtta shake them up a little. ---
**Author:** ![HeatMiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecd19e/32.png) [@HeatMiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeatMiser)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/46 "2003-01-10T16:14:48Z")
In the spirit of sheer perversity, I might be tempted to show them _Basic Instinct_, with an introduction along the lines of “this stars Kirk Douglas’s son, I understand he’s a very nice boy”, but probably would chicken out at the last second. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/47 "2003-01-10T16:16:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoggie \* > \*\*I think we’re all having a little too much fun imagining what it would be like for those fifites people to watch our movies. What with the exploding heads and the gasping, and the hey hey it hurts. \*\* Then again he could be a veteran of Omaha beach and might reply: “not very realistic is it?” Yeah, those wacky 1950’s people, they know nothin’ about exploding heads, ha ha. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/48 "2003-01-10T16:33:18Z")
They really need to see **Nixon**. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/49 "2003-01-10T16:46:06Z")
We should show them the best movie of this millennium so far: _ **Shallow Hal** _ ! ---
**Author:** ![k61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@k61](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k61)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/50 "2003-01-10T17:01:04Z")
DR STRANGELOVE 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/51 "2003-01-10T17:19:16Z")
Lord of the Rings, for changes in film technology. Pulp Fiction, for changes in film and writing techniques and, uh, cultural mores (i.e. cussing). For changes in pop culture’s depiction of society overall, I wouldn’t show them movies at all. I’d show 'em television. (Maybe The West Wing. Of course, it doesn’t accurately portray society, but then neither did TV in the 50s.) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/52 "2003-01-10T17:20:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnT \* > \*\*I think **vibrotronica** said it best when s/he suggest _Pulp Fiction_. I seriously doubt that they have seen anything like that - from drug use to the adrenaline shot to African-Americans in leading roles (and when I mean leading, I mean Marcellus ordering Bruce to toss the fight and Samuel giving up the life for religious reasons) to anal rape and subsequent spearing, to the music to, hell, to anything in the movie. It was revolutionary for 1995, I can’t imagine what it would be considered in 1955! > \*\* Well . . . 🙂 Peggy Cummins and John Dall were lovers who pull off a series of armed robberies in _Deadly Is the Female_ (1949). Frank Sinatra played a heroin addict in _The Man With a Golden Arm_ (1955). Sidney Poitier had leading roles in several movies of the 1950s, including ordering Tony Curtis around in _The Defiant Ones_ (1958). Sal Mineo was a victim of anal rape in _Exodus_ (1960). And from the _Pulp Fiction_ soundtrack, “Waitin’ in School”, “Lonesome Town”, and “Rumble” are all from the 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/53 "2003-01-10T17:52:02Z")
And Robert Mitchum was a psychopathic, Bible-quoting killer in _Night of the Hunter_ (1955). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/54 "2003-01-10T17:52:25Z")
**2001** was pretty futuristic when it came out in 1968. The “look and feel” of the movie was unique even at the time of its release and its content - “intelligent” computers, moon colonies, videophones, etc. - could never have been depicted in anything approaching the splendor of **2001** in the 50’s. It would have blown people away in the 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/55 "2003-01-10T18:00:41Z")
. . . while Ralph Meeker had a briefcase whose contents glowed menacingly in _Kiss Me Deadly_ (1955). ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/56 "2003-01-14T03:27:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*Regular (non-experimental) color broadcasts on network television in the U.S. began in December 1953. In any case, Hollywood films of the mid-1950s were being shown in color, 70mm widescreen, with six-channel sound. Would a color television really be that amazing? > > U.S. television had the same number of lines of resolution in 1984, when that _Analog_ story was published, as it did in 1941. \*\* Right you are, and thanks for pointing that out. I was projecting backwards from today’s HDTV Just dug out the story again and this is the reaction as the protagonist from 1953 watches the opening to Star Wars: > [@](#): > > The story background being laid out mattered much less to him than the fact that the lettering was glowing gold. There had been talk of color TV for years, but unexpectedly seeing one was something else again. The author also has the protagonist listen, on headphones, to Robin Trower’s “My Love (Burning Love),” to great effect. It’s a really great story. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/57 "2003-01-14T10:44:49Z")
You have it all wrong, If you want to see heads exploding, you should show em “Dude, Wheres my car?” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/58 "2003-01-14T14:47:12Z")
… and tell them it won Best Picture. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/59 "2003-01-14T18:42:38Z")
They could just as easily show you the latest Bowery Boys movie, and you’d be even. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373/60 "2003-01-14T19:31:05Z")
**Requium For A Dream** … then a five-minute trailer for **Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend** as the cartoon … followed by **Dead Alive**. As I haven’t yet determined my attitude toward my 50’s person, I’m trying to decide whether my desired reaction is “repulsed yet intrigued” or “frightened, nauseous and unhappy.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-would-you-show-to-somene-from-the-1950s/147373.md?page=4)