Some of the more radical critics of The Passion claimed it would cause a new cycle of anti-Semitism and numerous other movies have been decried for their likelihood to make kids turn violent or casualize sex (probably with more justiifcation). What movies have historically had the most impact on American culture/current events (i.e. how people thought or acted, not influence on other films)? What murders or acts of violence can be most validly linked to a motion picture? Has any motion picture ever influenced politics? What would you consider the most politically powerful movie ever made?
Please feel free to answer any, all, none, or pose some of your own. (I have some of my own opinions but not the time to post them at the nonce.)
Henry Brocjon shot Edward Manson three times and killed him on Apr 23, 1916 after watching “Birth of a Nation.” As you might have guessed Brocjon was white and Manson black. It was tough to pin down too many details of the case but the biggest impact of the movie was on the recently formed NAACP. The movie was a real motivation factor for the organization and did have a strong impact on its future.
I don’t know the history of it’s influence, but if Triumph of the Will can in any way be blamed for what happened in Germany under Hitler, then I think it wins the “most influential outside of moviedom” title.
I would argue that it didn’t have much influence. Hitler and the Nazi Party had already consolidated their power into a dictatorship by the time Triumph of the Will was released.
Silence of the Lambs and Basic instinct and the attendant protests from the gay community had an effect on the way LGB people are portrayed in Hollywood films. I leave it to the membership to decide whether that was for good or ill.
I think Longtime Companion also did a lot of work toward the “normalization” for lack of a better term off the top of my head of people with AIDS.
Star Wars is credited with the idea of the “summer blockbuster film” and the way its owners handled its merchandising totally rearranged the way marketing and merchandising are handled today, re: popular fictional figures.
More importantly, * Birth of a Nation * was directly responsible for the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan between the world wars. I understand Klan factions still sometimes use the film as a recruiting tool.
I disagree! Sort of. You’re right about the marketing and merchandising but it is Jaws (1975), not Star Wars (1977), that can claim the title of First Summer Blockbuster. After '75 every studio released their big-hitters in the summer months.