History of the Genre

Nadia Khatun

A film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of

realistic characters with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as: Alcoholism Drug addiction Moral dilemmas Racial prejudice Sexuality Poverty Class divisions Corruption Violence against women Religious intolerance

Drama

Sub-genres:Crime dramaHistorical dramaDocudramaPsychodramaComedy-dramaMelodramaRomanceTragedy

Arrival of stage actors such as, Marlon Brando slowly

changed drama to a more realistic theme.

From the silent era to the 1950s, dramas were there to teach the audience. The effect of depression is shown through films like The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

There was a rise in well-known dramatic actors in the 1950s. Montgomery Clift, Glenn Ford, James Dean, Bette Davis, and Marilyn Monroe were notable dramatic actors.

Dramatic films focused on character relationships and development. All About Eve (1950) focused on women, and their relationship with men. Teenage anxiety was displayed through Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Films like 12 Angry Men (1957) and Anatomy of a Murder (1959) show the inner workings of a courtroom.

1950s

The 1960s dramas focused on war, such as Judgment at Nuremberg

(1961), Flashback (1969) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962).

Sports dramas such as The Hustler (1961) and Downhill Racer (1969) became inspiration.

During the 1970s, Francis Ford Coppola directed The Godfather (1972). Martin Scorsese directed Taxi Driver (1976), Mean Streets (1973), and musical drama New York, New York (1977).

One of the most successful sports drama was created called Rocky (1976). Sports dramas were films that focused on the struggle of athletes such as Brain’s Sing (1970).

World War II films were produced mostly, as they gave the most realistic adaptation of the war seen in films at that time. For example, Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) (shows the trials and hardships of war).

By the late 1970s, melodrama was nearly finished as an overt genre, as the demand for realism dominated film in movies like Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese's).

1960s – 1970s

In the 1980s, dramatic film put emphasis on highly emotional themes.

Do the Right Thing (1989), and The Color Purple (1985) were full studies of African American culture and history.

War dramas such as Platoon (1986), played a big part again by showing the horrors of Vietnam.

Das Boot (1981), focused on the German viewpoint of World War II.

When E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Blade Runner (1982), and The Accused (1988), came out, drama with a science fiction edge was a theme.

Dramas took a turn with thrillers such as Fight Club (1999).

Coming of age was dealt with in Good Will Hunting (1997), race relationships were a theme in American History X (1998), and the AIDs and discrimination were the focus of Philadelphia (1993).

Comedy-drama was featured with films like Forrest Gump (1994). Child-oriented dramas also became more popular with titles such as The Lion

King (1994).

1980s-1990s

In the 2000s, biographical films such as Ali (2001),

Frida (2002), 8 Mile (2002), Ray (2004), Walk the Line (2005), and Milk (2008) have become popular among filmmakers.

Gladiator (2000) is an epic, dramatic film, along The Last Samurai (2003).

Films, such as The Gulf War were an inspiration for dramatic films in war drama movies like Black Hawk Down (2001) and Jarhead (2005).

There are ground-breaking films with success such as Brokeback Mountain (2005), and Slumdog Millionaire (2008) despite the drop on popularity of the romantic dramas.

2000s