Best period dramas before 1980
William Jenkins 
I recently watched Beckett, Lion in Winter, and A Man for All Seasons. I loved A Man for All Seasons, but I didn't care for the other two-- too melodramatic for my tastes. Which ones should I watch next?
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | September 20, 2021 5:57 AM |
Barry Lyndon is the most sumptuous ever put on celluloid.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | September 16, 2021 1:14 AM |
I'm also open to foreign films. I watched Bondarchuk's War and Peace but I couldn't really get into it because Pierre seemed all wrong to me.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | September 16, 2021 1:16 AM |
Anne of the Thousand Days is worth a watch.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | September 16, 2021 4:30 AM |
OP, for movies I'd recommend "Becket" and "Lawrence of Arabia." Sadly there's not much good before 1960: that was the one genre Golden Age Hollywood was just not able to do believably because they always took so many liberties with recreating the time periods. i would recommend a few British films, though, like "That Hamilton Woman" (with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh).
The best period dramas from before 1980, though, were done for British television as miniseries. "I, Claudius" and "Elizabeth R" are deservedly legends, and should both be seen if you like this genre; but there are several more you should see.
I highly recommend the first BBC miniseries broadcast on "Masterpiece Theatre" in 1970, "The First Churchills," with John Neville and Susan Hampshire, who are terrific as John, the First Duke of Marlborough, and his controlling wife Sarah (the same role played by Rachel Weisz in "The Favourite"). the series is too long, and the costumes form this era were ridiculous, but it's worth seeing just for the cast's real standout is Margaret Tyzack as Queen Anne (she won a BAFTA for it): she starts out as a teenager as sweet and innocent, and by the end when she has power has been transformed into a bitter, sour, paranoid wreck, and Tyzack shows you exactly how the Churchills brought Anne to that state through their constant manipulations.
Just as good (but also overlong) is "Edward VII," which was released on "Masterpiece Theatre" as "Edward the King." Timothy West is good as Edward, Helen Ryan is even better as his wife Alexandra, but the real honors go (and again the BAFTA went) to Annette Crosbie as Edward's mother Queen Victoria. To this day she is by far the best Victoria ever on screen--she captures how mercurial and volcanic her emotions were (when her Victoria is about to throw a fit--which is often--you can see Crosbie's eyes start to widen, as if she honestly can't help her own overreactions).
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | September 16, 2021 5:12 AM |
Wow, thank you r4 for your detailed response. I have seen Becket, Lawrence of Arabia and I watch I, Claudius about once a year. I will watch "The First Churchills" next and then move on to your other suggestions.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | September 18, 2021 2:31 AM |
The Duchess of Duke St. was a lot of fun and of course Upstairs Downstairs. I agree with r4, you'll have better luck on Masterpiece than in films.
However if you didn't like The Lion in Winter I can never fuck you. A relief to you, I'm sure.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | September 18, 2021 2:40 AM |
The Six Wives of Henry VIII, looks cheap, but if you recognize it as a theater piece, you will be rewarded over and over. It is simply stupendous, the greatest mini-series ever, the best writing and acting on TV, EVER.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | September 18, 2021 2:53 AM |
Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) is a pretty solid depiction of the last czar and czarina of Russia. Oscar winner for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 8 | September 18, 2021 2:59 AM |
Nicholas and Alexandra written by James Goldman, who also wrote Follies. Same year (1971).
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | September 18, 2021 3:01 AM |
Keith Mitchell was the greatest Henry VIII EVER in that Six Wives of production. All the wives were great too. That's of a piece withe Elizabeth R, already recommended.
As for production values, I Claudius is nothing to look at but it's so brilliant nobody minds. She/he says she/he watches that one every year.
For films I'd recommend The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Great stuff.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | September 18, 2021 3:02 AM |
It's Keith Michell, pronounced like Michele. Stupendous actor.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | September 18, 2021 3:04 AM |
If you get past the 1980 frame, you might enjoy Cate Blanchett's two turns as Elizabeth I: Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | September 18, 2021 3:10 AM |
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
Mary Queen of Scots (not as good as Elizabeth R but still fun)
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | September 18, 2021 5:19 AM |
"Melodrama is a perennial, and the craving for melodrama is perennial and must be satisfied."
Thank you, T.S. Eliot
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | September 18, 2021 5:36 AM |
"Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) is a pretty solid depiction of the last czar and czarina of Russia."
Actually, a rather pedestrian movie. (except for its last twenty minutes), with some rather cringeworthy moments, but I won't single them out.
"It is simply stupendous, the greatest mini-series ever, the best writing and acting on TV, EVER."
Couldn't agree more but I'd make room on the mantel for The Forsyte Sage and The First Churchills to share pride of place.
As much as I love Anne of a Thousand Days, it is SOOOO obvious a bid to cash in on the glory of A Man For All Seasons, it isn't funny.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | September 18, 2021 5:43 AM |
Some more from Europe:
Ingmar Bergman's "The Virgin Spring"
Jan Troell's "The Emigrants" and "The New Land"
Andrei Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rubelev"
Marcel Carne's "Children of Paradise"
Julien Duvivier's "Lovers of Paris"
Abel Gance's "Napoleon"
Jean Renoir's "The Golden Coach"
Werner Herzog's "Aguirre, The Wrath of God"
Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Effi Briest"
Mario Monicelli's "The Organizer"
Pier Paolo Pasolini's "The Gospel According to St. Matthew"
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | September 18, 2021 6:04 AM |
Some great historical films by David Lean in addition to "Lawrence of Arabia":
*"Madeleine" (about a famous poisoning case in mid-Victorian Scotland)
*"Doctor Zhivago"
*"Hobson's Choice"
*"Great Expectations"
*"Oliver Twist"
Some other great 1980 British period dramas:
*The Queen of Spades" (great and little-seen fantasy-horror film set in 1806 St. Petersburg, directed by Thorold Dickinson)
*"That Hamilton Woman" (gorgeous Alexander Korda film about Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton, played by laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh at their most charismatic)
*Henry V" (the Olivier version)
*"The Go-Between" (Julie Christie)
*"Far from the Madding Crowd" (the 1967 John Schlesinger version, again with Julie Christie)
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | September 18, 2021 6:07 AM |
The best period movie is obviously Carrie.
And, getting past that cheap joke, another good period movie is… Carrie. The one with Jennifer Jones and Laurence Olivier, both of whom do some of their best work in it.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | September 18, 2021 7:13 AM |
I've seen some of the ones mentioned:
Pier Paolo Pasolini's "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" - loved it
"Doctor Zhivago" - loved it
Andrei Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rubelev" - violence was upsetting
Upstairs, Downstairs - couldn't get into it
Death in Venice - loved it
The Leopard - liked it
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | September 18, 2021 1:10 PM |
OMG, The Go-Between!
The destruction of innocence....soul-murder, really...right up there with THE HEIRESS.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | September 19, 2021 5:20 AM |
Nothing will ever top this for period drama.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 24 | September 19, 2021 2:57 PM |
"The Epic That Never Was"
Not an actual film but a fascinating documentary about the first attempt to film "I, Claudius" in the late 1930s. The film would have starred Charles Laughton and Merle Oberon as Claudius and Messalina under the direction of Joseph von Sternberg, produced by Alexander Korda.
Narrated by Dirk Bogarde, the documentary explores the multiple reasons production was shut down midway though but more importantly it takes the hours of footage that exist and rough cuts them into semi-finished scenes, which are astonishing and magnificent. Laughton is brilliant. Really a must see if you like older historical films.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 25 | September 19, 2021 3:24 PM |
The Marriage of Maria Braun. A triumph of scriptwriting, costuming, and set design.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | September 19, 2021 3:29 PM |
That Hamilton Woman with Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, who were sensational and epically gorgeous in this.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | September 19, 2021 3:50 PM |
Trivia: "That Hamilton Woman" was released in Great Britain as "Lady Hamilton." The working title was "The Enchantress."
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | September 19, 2021 4:47 PM |
[quote]Joseph von Sternberg
Oh, dear.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | September 19, 2021 4:52 PM |
Gone with the Wind
The Ten Commandments
Mary Queen of Scots, 1971
The Taming of the Shrew, 1967
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | September 19, 2021 5:04 PM |
The Gorgeous Hussey starring Miss Joan Crawford
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 34 | September 19, 2021 5:17 PM |
Here's another vote for That Hamilton Woman/Lady Hamilton. I love how this trailer riffs on Vivien Leigh's worldwide fame as Scarlett.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 35 | September 19, 2021 5:25 PM |
“Best period dramas before 1980”
These! Period!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 36 | September 19, 2021 7:34 PM |
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | September 19, 2021 7:35 PM |
You can't go wrong with Cobra Woman
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 38 | September 19, 2021 9:28 PM |
Carrie is the best period drama of all time. Period.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 39 | September 19, 2021 9:38 PM |
BARRY LYNDON is indeed a gorgeous film but dull, dull, dull. Ryan O'Neal is in over his head.
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (1967) doesn't work entirely as Christie doesn't convince as a woman who takes over a farm. She's certainly beautiful enough for Bathsheba but she doesn't project the kind of determined intelligence of the character (the the recent remake, Carey Mulligan had the opposite problem). Peter Finch is the best thing in it, acting-wise, though Terence Stamp is very charismatic (if too contemporary) as the soldier.
THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY is worth seeing if you can find it.
THE STORY OF ADELE H. and THE WILD CHILD, both by Truffaut.
Agree that CARRIE (1952) is marvelous. I never much liked Jennifer Jones, but she's very good here.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | September 19, 2021 11:32 PM |
Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | September 20, 2021 12:43 AM |
Does the Deer Hunter count, or is it too close to the time it was filmed?
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | September 20, 2021 1:13 AM |
Speaking of Jennifer Jones, I think The Song of Bernadette does a good job of capturing Second Empire France. The whole movie appears to be on YouTube:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 43 | September 20, 2021 1:19 AM |
"The Gorgeous Hussey starring Miss Joan Crawford:
Just saw it yesterday. The only worthy thing about it is, per usual, Beulah Bondi, who has two great scenes and deserved her Oscar nod. The rest? Meh.
"BARRY LYNDON is indeed a gorgeous film but dull, dull, dull. Ryan O'Neal is in over his head."
Actually it's his best performance. Kubrick elicited unexpected depths of grief and emotion from O'Neal, which shouldn't be surprising, given the film's theme that all life is suffering and a vale of tears. A brilliant and subtle film.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | September 20, 2021 5:01 AM |
[quote]Nothing will ever top this for period drama.
Surely no lines of dialogue in any period drama have ever surprised audiences more than, "C'mon, Jill, I'll show you... I'm having my period now! Let's go into the bathroom..."
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | September 20, 2021 5:57 AM |
