In a previous post, I suggest that Westerns are an iconically conservative movie genre, and suggested The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance as something like the conservative movie. I wondered what an iconically liberal genre might be, and what movies were quintessentially liberal.
Despite all that “liberal Hollywood” talk, it hasn’t been an easy exercise. Lots of genres tend to embody conservative values; many “law & order” action movies, all those Rambo and Death Wish things, and there’s a strong punish-the-slut current in most horror.
In the previous post and its comments section, we came up with a short list of liberal movies:
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- 12 Angry Men
- All the President’s Men
- Inherit the Wind
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Silkwood
- Dances with Wolves
Over dinner, I thought of a few more:
- The China Syndrome
- Erin Brokovich
- Norma Rae
(and here comes the one I think is quintessential)
- The Grapes of Wrath
This starts to look like the courtroom drama is the liberal genre, with the battle for an underdog’s rights being the liberal theme.
So, now it’s your turn. What do you think are the quintessential liberal genre(s) and movie(s)?
You’re right about The Grapes of Wrath—Fonda’s whole speech at the end should be tattooed on every liberal’s forearm.
I cannot decide if SUPERMAN is a liberal or conservative movie. Is the hero protecting the weak and vulnerable and fighting for truth, justice, and the Amerrican Way? Or is the hero an Aryan ubermench serving gov’t authority?
Of course, I’m still waiting for Hollywood to make “The Joe Hill Story.”
I see Superman as kind of Kennedy/Camelot hopeful. Government is good because people are good. Superman as a person as well as an icon is always optimistic and a bit naive.
Touch of Evil (which has extra entertainment value in seeing Charlton Heston mouthing liberal lines like “A policeman’s job is only easy in a police state);
I Heart Huckabee’s;
A whole bunch of Capra films;
Gentleman’s Agreement, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, etc.;
Tootsie;
9 to 5;
Salvador;
Missing; and
Philadelphia.
That’s all I can think of on the spur of the moment, but there’s tons more.
Two movies about the liberal worldview—depressing tho’ they are:
JFK
Easy Rider
How could you guys possibly miss Legally Blonde II? Not just dogs, not just gay rights, but gay dog rights. Seriously. I wonder about the caliber of people I hang out with. Where did I leave that snaps cup…?
I didn’t realize that I knew anyone who’d seen Legally Blonde II (Red, White, & Blonde).
đŸ™‚
Seriously, we have a significant percentage of these that involve legal proceedings. The more I think about it, the more I think that courtroom drama is to liberal as Western is to conservative.
Yeah, uh, in case the sarcasm wasn’t evident my point was that I realize how much I should be embarressed by my affection for silly films like Legally Blonde. But I realized a long time ago I must embrace my inner goofball. It’s not my fault that I was born with an equal love of both the intellectual and the whimsical…
I agree on the court/legal theme, which is very interesting. Law indicates restriction, doesn’t it? But I suppose it is also the protection of freedom. Like my Momma always said, your right to extend your arm ends where my nose begins. That’s a very liberal viewpoint – balanced freedom. The only way to arbitrate an abuse of that principle is to go to the courts.
The more I think about it, the more I think that courtroom drama is to liberal as Western is to conservative.
If that’s the case, then it’s no wonder they kick our asses every election.
You better smile when you say that, Tex.