People say anything goes these days, but did you ever notice how dirty films were anyways, even in the 1950's? I'm in favor of anything that involves consenting adults, so it doesn't bother me anyways. But still. I'm thinking especially of some of those Marilyn Monroe movies. Did you ever see Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953). She talks about employers having extramarital affairs with their female employees. And at one point, she seems to advise the other girls, it's then that those louses go back to their spouses. And an older man having an affair with a young female secretary or employee. When is that ever appropriate? And "The Seven Year Itch" (1955). A man's wife and kids are in upstate New York. So all the men start chasing the young women (look at the airport scene). And Tom Ewell starts chasing the blonde bimbo, who just moved into the apartment. Again doesn't bother me, but still seems somehow more raunchy than anything you'd see today. And that piano scene? Really. Movies were much more dirty in the past by far. Today the plots are much more clean. They show much more nudity. But who cares?
I don't think those movies you mentioned were "dirty" at all. That's not the right word. Movies reflect the prevailing morals of the time by either supporting them or ignoring them. Today you might say movie plots and other forms of entertainment before the "me too" movement were immoral or politically incorrect. But that's all relative. Now I consider "dirty" movies to be like Deep Throat, Behind the Green Door, In the Realm of the Senses, etc. These are movies that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable at the time. They caused the rating system for movies to be created to warn people. These movies got an X rating for adults only. The movies you mentioned are probably PG at worst.
How many theaters actually forbid those under 18 admittance to R rated showings? Since the invention of the motion picture there has been movies depicting many of the things that get todays R and X rating. That is due to the violence, explicit nudity, vulgar language, or sexual situations being presented. As long as the film curbs the display of these things the most it will receive is a PG. Before a bare breast was shown on the big screen prompting outrage and the M rating sexual innuendo was abound in movies without them being censored, er rated. The African Queen and Casablanca, two of Bogarts best, are filled with innuendo and could have had nudity and sex in them. I'm positive a remake of either would include love scenes. Imagine Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund having a fling in his office to reminisce what they felt for each other in Paris. it would also be a ploy to get Rick to release the letters of transit he holds. In the African Queen remake Rose Sayer warms up to the drunken Charlie Allnut and at one point, after a narrow avoidance of disaster the two hug and kiss. That opens the door for the two becoming sexually involved in a remake as the Queen continues on her journey. The beach scene in From Here To Eternity reeks with sexual innuendo. In fact the film with its portrayal of sex, prostitution, adultery, and corruption in the military was a the massive hit. A remake would have the scene at the beach where Sgt Milton Warden and Karen Holmes engaging in an adulterous kiss while being covered by an incoming wave continue to show them removing clothes and having sex in the sand. Many of these movies like the ones mentioned by Jimbree and others reeked with all things that would, if remade, garner R or maybe worse ratings by MPAA. It's just that, at the time, permissiveness was a lot less than it is today. But these films, Oscar winners, displayed many taboo acts that are looked down upon in real life but enjoyed on the silver screen. I do not consider there movies to be "dirty" but they are very suggestive in their presentation.
I do not think the movies in that era were worse. I think it was just different in how they depicted it. A little off topic but I am completely disgusted with Primetime Networks depiction of sexual intercourse. And bad language. I am sad that FCC is allowing it to progress. Examples are this year's halftime show was absolutely disgusting! and foul language was allowed during the January 6th presentations. (Regardless of sides or politics)
I think the 50s is too far to go back to for the comparison. I think 70s and 80s films though had just as much nudity and sex. Same is true for music. There’s so really explicit lyrics from that timeframe that are just as explicit as contemporary music
I think the reason that older movies might seem that way to you, isn't so much the fact the the same things aren't portrayed in modern film but the feelings those movies were able to invoke in you. Often times innuendo and subtleties can be more arousing than outright nudity because it's not just your bodily response at play but it also your imagination. Add to that, the ideal of what was morally acceptable for the time and it seems all the more riské. Have you ever seen Fifty Shades of Gray or Eyes Wide Shut? I would say they were both far "dirtier" than most movies and while there was a lot of nudity it wasn't gratuitous, it helped tell the story. Even The Bridges Of Madison County, which had much less nudity, was still all about an adulterous affair.
I disagree with your original post but I will say there was some wild shit getting put out in the 70s that wouldn't fly today, like all the stuff that was trying to match the risque feel of those porn movies that were briefly mainstream-ish. Stuff like Last Tango in Paris where Brando anally rapes his gf with a stick of butter. And some of those other ones where they may have just been filming the actors actually fucking without showing the penetration like Caligula. Movies like that wouldn't get so much press now or at least not have big name actors in them. There's still definitely filmmakers today trying to push that envelope of filming real sex without it being pornographic, but that's all like super indie/artsie Cannes type films. Can you tell I just got done writing a paper on film censorship and the MPAA rating system for a COM class? And full admittance, I was born in '02 so my perspective of how mainstream the porno chic thing got is nowhere near a first hand experience
I think it's more diverse than that, or maybe a bad sample size. Drama, Westerns, Noir, Adventure, Thriller, some without any love interests.. Also a "New Wave" kicked off by John Cassavetes (adopted by the French and other Europeans) with his movie "Shadows", movies about class-consciousness, including the mainstream, "All That Heaven Allows" with the leading stars. There's a lot of independent movies, low-budget, and when sex is mentioned, it's done without beating the point over the head, milking the viewer's time. "High Sierra". It's done in a clever way. Bogart genuinely wants to help this young woman's club foot. The 'doctor' says, "You better stop thinking about her............ foot" and little things like that. And then on to the next scene. Today, shit like "Blue is the Warmest Colour" is too cynical for me. Feels condescending... Show me big boobs for half the movie. Well, I'm sure many felt satisfied, but like being in a movie theater alone, you don't know who jerked you off! But I could have watched a 5 minute porno and gone on with my day.. There's a TON of diverse movies. Hell, I'm picking these just from one channel. There's a ton more that are unique, stand on there own, and probably not exactly as the OP. Literally realistic.. The revolutionary played his actual role in the Algerian Revolution Unique realistic domestic horror The first thing one usually thinks of when they hear "Neo-Realism" The spirit of the 1930s FDR liberal populism Blacklisted movie
I remember the movie Traffic, had an interracial scene white woman black man. don't know if actual penetration or not. This was later than 50s. Don't remember the movie, but John Holmes did a softcore, showed glimpse of his man hood. and rumors was he actually penetrated his female co-star.
