By: Kate Gruetter

Editor-in-Chief

While Zeman is correct in arguing that classic movies are not necessarily the “best” movies, they still deserve recognition and admiration in the film industry because of their innovation and inspiration for later works. 

Although the talents of most actors and actresses in classic movies sometimes appear less impressive compared to modern day actors, it’s important to note the lack of resources these moviemakers were working with. In Psycho, a well known classic, Janet Leigh had to suffer through 26 takes of the scene where the killer stabs her character, Marion, and kills her in the shower. Leigh had to control her breathing and her eye movement to capture this shot, which meant nearly wearing contact lenses that could have permanently damaged her eyes. While Leigh may not be comparable to modern day actresses, her tenacity and commitment to her role surpasses that of modern day actresses, who rely mainly on stunt doubles and CGI, proving she deserves praise and recognition. Leigh’s performance shows how despite a lack of resources, classic movies deserve their esteem and grand titles because they took risks for their time period and achieved looks with effort and creativity, rather than only special effects. 

This idea also supports another argument, that classic movies deserve praise because they set precedent and inspire later films, not because they are necessarily the best productions. For example, the Avengers franchise never would have existed without the iconic superhero films of earlier decades like The Terminator. Classic movies like Casablanca were the first to show specific themes like forbidden love or angst-filled romance, and although they may have had low production value or quality, it’s their originality that sets them apart from modern movies. 

Finally, classic movies are classics because of their cultural significance and nostalgia. These movies are deemed “classic” because they are society’s first impressions of film and the possibilities of movie-making. Therefore, re-watching classic movies rekindles the feelings of surprise and interest one originally felt when watching. Additionally, movies often reflect the culture of the time period in which they were made, so streaming an old movie means re-experiencing the culture and history of past time periods. 

So, while Zeman may be correct in stipulating that classic movies are not the best, they still deserve grand recognition and appreciative titles because they demonstrate the effort, innovation, and history of their time period. While Psycho or Casablanca may lack the production quality of Avengers: Infinity War, these movies make up for lacking special effects with creative and focused acting, precedent-setting plotlines, and nostalgic feels. 

(Sources: StackExchange)