Let's keep it brief - short feature films
10-26-12, 01:14 PM
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Let's keep it brief - short feature films
I've been watching some of the old classic Universal monster films for the Oct. Horror Challenge, and it struck me how many of these pictures were able to get across a lot of information and action in little time. For instance, The Invisible Man eschews almost everything a modern retelling would include, like the development of the formula, the lab accident, etc; it's just the meat & potatoes, running for only 73 minutes.
What are some of your favorite feature films that have a running time of around 80 minutes or less?
What are some of your favorite feature films that have a running time of around 80 minutes or less?
10-26-12, 02:19 PM
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
Simon of the Desert - barely 40 minutes, but all killer, no filler.
Sherlock Jr. - ditto, short even for a 1920s feature.
Killer's Kiss - sensibly limited to 60+ minutes.
Dementia/Daughter of Horror - ditto (may be less than one hour in fact).
Nightmare before Christmas - perfectly paced at 75 minutes.
Vernon, Florida - a documentary feature, but less than one hour long. "That's a good price for a possum, don't you know."
I believe that every single one of Budd Boetticher's westerns is in the 70+ minute range.
Sherlock Jr. - ditto, short even for a 1920s feature.
Killer's Kiss - sensibly limited to 60+ minutes.
Dementia/Daughter of Horror - ditto (may be less than one hour in fact).
Nightmare before Christmas - perfectly paced at 75 minutes.
Vernon, Florida - a documentary feature, but less than one hour long. "That's a good price for a possum, don't you know."
I believe that every single one of Budd Boetticher's westerns is in the 70+ minute range.
10-26-12, 03:40 PM
#3
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1933) with Charles Laughton is one of the best horror films ever made and it's 70 minutes long.
MAD LOVE (1935) with Peter Lorre is 70 min.
SON OF KONG (1933), sequel to one of the greatest movies ever made, is 70 min.
THE MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932) with Boris Karloff is 68 min.
Edgar G. Ulmer's classic low-budget film noir, DETOUR (1945) is only 69 min.
More film noir:
SAN QUENTIN (1946) with Lawrence Tierney and Raymond Burr is 66 min.
THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE (1947) with Lawrence Tierney is 62 min.
BODYGUARD (1948) with Tierney is 62 min.
All are quite good.
Most B-westerns in the 1930s and '40s were about an hour in length. Many of them were very good, including RENEGADE RANGER (1938, 59 min.) with Rita Hayworth, and OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS (1938, 55 min.) which starred John Wayne and was Louise Brooks' last film.
MAD LOVE (1935) with Peter Lorre is 70 min.
SON OF KONG (1933), sequel to one of the greatest movies ever made, is 70 min.
THE MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932) with Boris Karloff is 68 min.
Edgar G. Ulmer's classic low-budget film noir, DETOUR (1945) is only 69 min.
More film noir:
SAN QUENTIN (1946) with Lawrence Tierney and Raymond Burr is 66 min.
THE DEVIL THUMBS A RIDE (1947) with Lawrence Tierney is 62 min.
BODYGUARD (1948) with Tierney is 62 min.
All are quite good.
Most B-westerns in the 1930s and '40s were about an hour in length. Many of them were very good, including RENEGADE RANGER (1938, 59 min.) with Rita Hayworth, and OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS (1938, 55 min.) which starred John Wayne and was Louise Brooks' last film.
10-26-12, 04:26 PM
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Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
10-26-12, 04:58 PM
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Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
Man..that film actually terrifies me a bit. Cuz well...they were real freaks. It's over 60 years old. Not even Universal monsters film can retain that horror. They're great..but they're not horrifying anymore...while maybe Chaney's Phantom...just a bit.
10-26-12, 07:17 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
The Emperor's New Groove - 78 minutes
Heck, a lot of the old Disney features were short.
Heck, a lot of the old Disney features were short.
10-26-12, 07:32 PM
#9
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
Yup. Dumbo and Alice come to mind.
Even Criterions?
Although I admit that Night and Fog seemed to abruptly end once it got going. At least Patriotism is captivating all the way through.
Although I admit that Night and Fog seemed to abruptly end once it got going. At least Patriotism is captivating all the way through.
10-26-12, 09:47 PM
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10-26-12, 10:11 PM
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DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
Most of Woody Allen's films (particularly the earlier, funnier ones) are less than 95 minutes long, but I only found a couple that were 80 minutes long or less:
What's Up, Tiger Lily? (80 min)
Zelig (79 min)
What's Up, Tiger Lily? (80 min)
Zelig (79 min)
10-27-12, 07:57 AM
#13
10-27-12, 01:49 PM
#14
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Let's keep it brief - short feature films
Short movies were interesting when I was a projectionist. I'd wonder why we were even bothering to put it on a platter, we could've just used a big reel. The flipside was the super-long movies that would take up almost the entire platter.
