When I was a teenager (which suddenly seems a very long time ago) there was a show on BBC called Moviedrome. I say show, but really it was more of an introduction to a weekly movie, one which felt hand picked by the host, Alex Cox (even though they weren't). It introduced me to many films and set up my video library for art college. Here's the full listing - brilliantly eclectic, some utter gems on there (the Alex Cox list is at the end).
I was reminded of Moviedrome as I watched Brazil on an AirFrance flight the other day and it reminded me of what an impact that film had on me. It got me thinking about how there are a handful of films that I saw in the late 80's early 90's, (not necessary the greatest films or even my favourite films) but ones that some how left their mark on me.
Here are my big 3:
Brazil
Subway
Blade Runner
3 more that have a special place in my heart:
Le Grande Bleu
Fitzcarraldo
Rumble Fish
And 3 more that always come to mind that I saw around the same time:
Il Grande Silenzio
They live
Repo Man
Here's the Alex Cox list from his time as host of Moviedrome (lifted from http://www.kurtodrome.net/moviedrome.htm )
1988
The Wicker Man
Electra Glide in Blue
Diva
Razorback
Big Wednesday
Fat City
The Last Picture Show
Barbarella
The Hired Hand
Johnny Guitar
The Parallax View
The Long Hair of Death
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Fly (1958)
One From The Heart
The Man Who Fell To Earth
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
One-Eyed Jacks
1989
The Man With The X-Ray Eyes
Jabberwocky
D.O.A.
The Thing From Another World
The Incredible Shrinking Man
California Dolls
THX 1138
Stardust Memories
Night of the Comet
The Grissom Gang
The Big Carnival (Ace in the Hole)
Alphaville
Two-Lane Blacktop
Trancers
The Buddy Holly Story
Five Easy Pieces
Sweet Smell of Success
Sunset Boulevard
1990
Assault on Precinct 13
Brazil
Get Carter
Goin’ South
Dead of Night
The Terminator
The Honeymoon Killers
Ulzana's Raid
The Loved One
An American Werewolf in London
Yojimbo
A Wedding
The Phenix City Story
Walk on the Wild Side
Il Grande Silenzio
Quien sabe?
1991
The Beguiled
Vamp
Knightriders
Something Wild
Carnival of Souls
Badlands / The Prowler
Performance
At Close Range
The Duellists / Cape Fear (duels)
The Music Lovers
Manhunter
Hells Angels on Wheels / Rumble Fish (gangs)
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
Solaris
Mishima
1992
Mad Max II / F for Fake
Dead Ringers / Rabid (Cronenberg)
Inserts
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Les Diaboliques
La Strategia del Ragno
Escape from New York
Alligator / Q - The Winged Serpent
Wise Blood / The Witchfinder General
Lolita
Play Misty For Me
Walker
Tracks
The Day of the Locust / The Big Knife (Hollywood satires)
1993
Darkman
House of Games
Escape from Alcatraz / Un condamné à mort s’est échappé (prison)
The Hill
Cry-Baby / Lenny
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) / Romance of a Horsethief
Gothic/ The Navigator
The Terminator
Get Carter / Week-end
Rebel Without A Cause / 200 Motels
Django / Grim Prairie Tales
Run of the Arrow / Verboten! (Fuller)
The Long Riders
The Big Combo
Face to Face
Requiescant
Qué he heche yo para merecer esto?
Carrie
1994 (Alex Cox's final year)
The Andromeda Strain / Fiend Without A Face
Talk Radio
Carnal Knowledge
Coogan’s Bluff / The Narrow Margin
The Harder They Come
Salvador
The People Under the Stairs
Halloween / The Baby
Carny
Girl on a Motorcycle / Psychomania (motorcycles)
Race with the Devil / Detour (keep death on the road)
Rope / 84 Charlie Mopic (experimental filming)
To Sleep with Anger / Le Mépris
Excalibur / Nothing Lasts Forever
Naked Tango / Apartment Zero (Buenos Aires)
Major Dundee / Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (Sam Peckinpah)
Kiss Me Deadly