How Drama Films Have Developed

From the early 1950s filming...

Films were pretty much silent until the 1950s. Drama themed films were acted as tools to teach it's audience, take the film 'The Grapes of Wrath' released in 1940. It showed the effects of the depression going on at the time. Also 'Citizen Kane' 1941, was said to be not a biography of William Hearst himself, but a combination of many people's lives from that era. In the 1950s many actors became associated with the drama themed genre of film, examples including James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. Dramatic Films focused on character relationships and development. The film 'All About Eve' focused on women, and their relationship with men. Whereas 'Rebel Without a Cause' displayed teenage angst.

... to the 1960s...

The 1960s brought politically driven dramas focusing on issues like war - 'Flashback'. Sports dramas also became an inspiration at this time - 'Downhill Racer.

...to the 1970s...

At the time of the 1970s, modern dramatic directors made some of their first films. eg; Francis Ford Coppola directed 'The Godfather'. Musical drama 'New York, New York' became a huge hit in the 1970s. It's also the time when Sylvester Stallone created one of the most successful sports drama franchises 'Rocky' and also directed the sequel 'Rocky II'. In addition, sports drama took a new light were the films focused on the struggle of athletes such as 'The Longest Yard'.

...to the 1980s...

Dramatic film put emphasis on highly emotional themes. 'The Colour Purple' was full of character studies of African American culture and history. War dramas again played a big part when the film 'Platoon' showed the horrors of Vietnam. In the 1980s drama became enrolled with a science fiction theme when Steven Spielberg directed 'E.T' in 1982.

...to the 1990s...

During the 1990s, 'The Shawshank Redemption', a film which was set inside a prison, had strong themes of hope, as did the Holocaust-themed 'Schindler's List'. Dramas also took a turn with existentialist thrillers too. Coming of age was dealt with in 'Good Will Hunting', race relationships were a theme in 'American History X', and the AIDs epidemic and discrimination were the focus of 'Philadelphia'. Comedy-drama was featured with films like 'Forrest Gump'. From about the mid 1990s, child-oriented dramas also became more popular with titles such as 'Lion King' and 'Toy Story'.

...to the present day...

From the 2000s, biopics such as 'Ali' have become popular amongst filmmakers. Despite the drop on popularity of the romantic dramas, some of them have enjoyed big box office success. The controversial, ground breaking 'Brokeback Mountain' for example. And 'Slumdog Millionaire' was a critically-acclaimed romatic drama film.