As you note, film noir flourished post-WWII and is not a genre of escapism. Film noir channelled the anxieties of the time as did the (better) melodramas (think Minnelli and Sirk). Also, we got spectacle through the sword-and-sandal epics. I wonder what will measure up as escapism post-pandemic, and how new anxieties will be expressed.
Also, it takes so much longer to make movies now. In the late 1940’s and the 1950’s, the studio system was still (more-or-less) functioning as it had. It was nimble and large enough to a) respond to the cultural moment; and b) produce films noirs and musicals and spectacles all at the same time. I wonder how many of the new genres and pandemic-response films will appear online or on streaming services. What stories will we want/need to tell each other?
Perhaps we will see some Sirkesque melodramas, alongside an increase in one city dramas. Quicker lower budget stuff shot utilising whatever locations they can find within their locality.
As for whether NTTD keeps November, at the time that was the best decision to be made based on models and data. Everything is very different now, and probably far worse.
But I think the next domino to fall will be the NFL season. There’s already controversy over the push to finish construction on Sofi stadium for the Chargers and Rams, as well as Vegas’ Raiders stadium. A worker has already tested positive, and there are 3000 of them. Further, player contractual deadlines, also in the Premiere League, are complicating matters. We’ll see what the NFL does with their draft, but that could be their last official action in 2020.
I would be most surprised to see the NFL season start as scheduled. I’m now thinking that the NBA, NHL, and MLB seasons are going to be outright cancelled (the Houston Astros must be happy). Strange times, but stranger is that I haven’t even really noticed the lack of sports. Also, Wrestlemania went on for some reason, albeit without fans and in multiple venues on multiple nights with participation as voluntary (or so WWE claims).
PS-will XFL 2020 survive this or will that be killed off unceremoniously like XFL v1?
Some interesting tidbits about Universal‘s goals, for example using only one marketing push for theatrical and home video by shortening the window between both - see Simon´s post with the working link below.
I’ve noticed that DVDs seem to be released much sooner than they used to be, and this proves it. Three months is quite short - I’m sure it used to be more like six.
It has already shrunk in the last years, with only the biggest blockbusters sticking to more months.
But with DVD/BR sales tanking anyway and streaming already favoured as the home video choice it does seem like an antiquated method to wait too long. Especially with films playing in cinemas not that long anymore either.
In my home town even cinemas showing blockbusters reduce their showings per day after two weeks tops.
And with cinemas not offering the best projection, grimey seats and aircondition with only two choices (none or ice storm) and people chattering or texting away during a movie, I hope that the home video option soon will be coming much faster.
I see, thank you. Cinema tickets are also quite expensive these days.
On another matter, but one still pertaining to dates, I read that Indiana Jones 5 has been pushed back to July 29, 2022. Ford will be have just turned 80 upon it’s released.
There’s a confident rumour, however, that it could be followed by a female-led Disney+ spin-off series, at least according to site We Got This Covered. Do we trust this site?
That’s what I think too. Indy belongs in the interwar period.
Due to the late start on the film, and these delays, Indy 5 would have to be set in 1969, so a daughter series would have to be set in the early '70s. That’s a heck of a long way from 1936 and Raiders.
It’s also not a thing hugely in demand currently. As for a modern day female adventure archeologist, there is Lara Croft and I could absolutely see that franchise picking up again.
That or just move on to something new and let Indy ride off into the pasture. If they wanted a 5th Indiana Jones movie with Harrison Ford as the lead action star, they should’ve made it years ago instead of milking Star Wars to death. As it stands, Harrison Ford is way too old now to play Indy and with the, we’ll call it mixed response to the Disney Star Wars films, I’m sure everyone believes that Disney would release an Indiana Jones movie that is nothing, but a nostalgia-filled trainwreck.
I guess IndyV was delayed again and again due to Spielbergs reluctance to direct it. Ford seems keen on doing it, and that made Disney nervous to recast.
Now it could happen - with Ford‘s age and Spielberg out. Unless Spielberg insists as producer to keep Ford.
I could imagine Jon Hamm taking over. He can do drama and comedy - and he has the looks of an old-fashioned movie star.