8. Douglas Sirk
I know what you’re thinking, “But Adrian, I appreciate your consideration for a traditional gender bias in what has been recorded as important/not important in American Film history and all, but I defy all notions of gender imperialism. What do you have for me?” For you, sensitive one, I have camp.
But not just any camp, really good camp, “pure from the source” camp, and as a result, camp that transcends itself and becomes a lesson in discursive irony.
These are films that were basically ignored as schlock entertainment during their own time (labeled “weepies” because housewives used to cry when the went to go watch them… alone) but have since been rediscovered as quite poignant criticisms of American society if you look just a little bit deeper at the surface plot.
Film critic Roger Ebert, in praise of Written on the Wind, has said that “To appreciate a film like Written on the Wind probably takes more sophistication than to understand one of Ingmar Bergman’s masterpieces, because Bergman’s themes are visible and underlined, while with Sirk the style conceals the message.”
These are incredible films that have influenced all American film making afterward. Do yourself a favor and rent a few, once you figure out what to look for, you’ll understand why these films are considered so incredible.
The List:
One of Sirk's Best Melodramas
Bourbon Street Blues (1979)
Silvesternacht – Ein Dialog (1978)
Sprich zu mir wie der Regen (1976)
**Imitation of Life (1959)
A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958)
**The Tarnished Angels (1957)
Interlude (1957)
Battle Hymn (1957)
**Written on the Wind (1956)
Never Say Goodbye (1956) (uncredited)
There’s Always Tomorrow (1956)
**All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Captain Lightfoot (1955)
Sign of the Pagan (1954)
**Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)
All I Desire (1953)
Take Me to Town (1953)
Meet Me at the Fair (1953)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)
No Room for the Groom (1952)
Week-End with Father (1951)
The Lady Pays Off (1951)
Imitation of Life - think about this title's implications
Thunder on the Hill (1951)
The First Legion (1951)
Mystery Submarine (1950)
Slightly French (1949)
Shockproof (1949)
Sleep, My Love (1948)
Lured (1947)
The Strange Woman (1946) (uncredited)
A Scandal in Paris (1946)
Summer Storm (1944)
Hitler’s Madman (1943)
Wilton’s Zoo (1939) (as Detlef Sierck)
Accord final (1938) (uncredited)
La Habanera (1937) (as Detlef Sierck)
Zu neuen Ufern (1937) (as Detlef Sierck)
Das Hofkonzert (1936) (as Detlef Sierck)
Final Accord (1936) (as Detlef Sierck)
‘t was een april (1936) (as Detlef Sierck)
La chanson du souvenir (1936) (as Detlef Sierck)
Stützen der Gesellschaft (1935) (as Detlef Sierck)
April, April! (1935) (as Detlef Sierck)
The Girl from the Marsh Croft (1935) (as Detlef Sierck)
Der eingebildete Kranke (1935) (as Detlef Sierck)
Dreimal Ehe (1935) (as Detlef Sierck)
Zwei Genies (1934) (as Detlef Sierck)
** Denotes essential viewing from this director
