The History Of Movie Reviews
Variety has been in continuous publication since December 16, 1905. Starting out in New York City as a weekly covering the doings in vaudeville. Looking back, it seems quaint and inevitable, that the trade moved west, to Hollywood in 1933, and launched Daily Variety.
Next year, celebrating its eightieth anniversary beneath the palms, after decades of dominance and faded glory, the venerable trade will face a drastic rebranding as it strives to succeed in the transformed wilderness beyond its fallen pay wall.
In many ways, the history of Variety is the history of movie reviews, as it was the easily accessible, public face of the movie industry (perhaps what iTunes or Comcast Xfinity may be for the next century).
And the history of movie reviews cannot exist independently of the history of films.
But the real history of movie reviews, is really the history of it greatest critics, journalists who were passionate about films and shared that love with the rest of us. People like Pauline Kael, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, John Simon and Gene Shalit. This year has been particularly hard on the legends comprising the true history of movie reviews.
This past August, Judith Christ passed away at the age of 90.
(download her obit on Comcast Xfinity)
In 1963, she was the first woman named film critic of a major American newspaper, The Herald Tribune, which no longer exists. For the next twenty years, she was influential, widely read and pulled no punches. To the Hollywood studios whose product she took down like a cold-eyed ninja, she was the critic Hollywood most loathed.
A badge of honor she wore proudly.
She even savaged a queen, Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra in the underperforming epic that almost took down 20th Century-Fox. Now she’s no longer with us to savage Lindsey Lohan playing Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra.
But that’s low hanging fruit.
And she didn’t hate the movies back, she loved movies and championed great filmmakers, like Spielberg and Kubrick, back when even they needed a hand.
Quoted in Eve’s Magazine, she related that “The greatest day of my life I cut school and went to see ‘Gone With the Wind’ at the Capitol for 25 cents, then across the street to the Rialto to see ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and down to 42nd Street for ‘Grand Illusion’ on Broadway.”
And she still had 75 cents left over for pie.
We lost another legend, Andrew Sarris, who died this past June. Sarris is perhaps best known for championing the Auteur Theory of filmmaking, meaning that the talent, brilliance and stylistic power of a great director is key ingredient to great films. Which may be true, if the director is a decent writer with a knack for dialogue and story.
Right now, James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight Rises”) may be the premier examples of this theory, with apologies to Joss Whedon, who is considered a geek auteur, particularly after “Avengers”.
Most people seem to like those films. But don’t worry if superheroes aren’t your favorite. Wait a few minutes and things may change. Or not. James Bond is about to turn fifty and “Skyfall” is already the best-reviewed James Bond film ever— and it won’t be released till November 9.
Well, now that we know that nothing lasts forever, and entertainment is a constantly shifting kaleidoscope, whether we get our shows on Comcast Xfintiy or another provider, with the landscape of film and film criticism constantly in flux, will movie reviews matter in the future?
No idea.
You should check with Nikki Finke.
Variety has been in continuous publication since December 16, 1905. Starting out in New York City as a weekly covering the doings in vaudeville. Looking back, it seems quaint and inevitable, that the trade moved west, to Hollywood in 1933, and launched Daily Variety.
Next year, celebrating its eightieth anniversary beneath the palms, after decades of dominance and faded glory, the venerable trade will face a drastic rebranding as it strives to succeed in the transformed wilderness beyond its fallen pay wall.
In many ways, the history of Variety is the history of movie reviews, as it was the easily accessible, public face of the movie industry (perhaps what iTunes or Comcast Xfinity may be for the next century).
And the history of movie reviews cannot exist independently of the history of films.
But the real history of movie reviews, is really the history of it greatest critics, journalists who were passionate about films and shared that love with the rest of us. People like Pauline Kael, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, John Simon and Gene Shalit. This year has been particularly hard on the legends comprising the true history of movie reviews.
This past August, Judith Christ passed away at the age of 90.
(download her obit on Comcast Xfinity)
In 1963, she was the first woman named film critic of a major American newspaper, The Herald Tribune, which no longer exists. For the next twenty years, she was influential, widely read and pulled no punches. To the Hollywood studios whose product she took down like a cold-eyed ninja, she was the critic Hollywood most loathed.
A badge of honor she wore proudly.
She even savaged a queen, Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra in the underperforming epic that almost took down 20th Century-Fox. Now she’s no longer with us to savage Lindsey Lohan playing Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra.
But that’s low hanging fruit.
And she didn’t hate the movies back, she loved movies and championed great filmmakers, like Spielberg and Kubrick, back when even they needed a hand.
Quoted in Eve’s Magazine, she related that “The greatest day of my life I cut school and went to see ‘Gone With the Wind’ at the Capitol for 25 cents, then across the street to the Rialto to see ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and down to 42nd Street for ‘Grand Illusion’ on Broadway.”
And she still had 75 cents left over for pie.
We lost another legend, Andrew Sarris, who died this past June. Sarris is perhaps best known for championing the Auteur Theory of filmmaking, meaning that the talent, brilliance and stylistic power of a great director is key ingredient to great films. Which may be true, if the director is a decent writer with a knack for dialogue and story.
Right now, James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight Rises”) may be the premier examples of this theory, with apologies to Joss Whedon, who is considered a geek auteur, particularly after “Avengers”.
Most people seem to like those films. But don’t worry if superheroes aren’t your favorite. Wait a few minutes and things may change. Or not. James Bond is about to turn fifty and “Skyfall” is already the best-reviewed James Bond film ever— and it won’t be released till November 9.
Well, now that we know that nothing lasts forever, and entertainment is a constantly shifting kaleidoscope, whether we get our shows on Comcast Xfintiy or another provider, with the landscape of film and film criticism constantly in flux, will movie reviews matter in the future?
No idea.
You should check with Nikki Finke.
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