During the 1960s, theater attendance declined as televisions became more popular. Many downtown theaters closed, while new megaplexes emerged in the suburbs. With studios increasingly focused on producing big-budget spectacle films like “Cleopatra,” Hollywood was making fewer movies by 1962 than ever before. Nevertheless, this decade gave us iconic films such as “Mary Poppins,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,”
“The Sound of Music,” “Psycho,” and “The Graduate,” alongside a host of lesser-known gems. Here are some of my personal favorites from the 1960s that you might not have encountered.
Two for the Road (1967)
Director Stanley Donen’s “Two for the Road” is a remarkable anti-romantic comedy featuring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. The film explores the evolution of a married couple’s relationship over ten years, alternating between their happier moments and scenes foreshadowing their eventual breakup. It feels like flipping through a scrapbook, capturing both the joys and challenges of love. Hepburn delivers what I consider her finest performance, convincingly portraying her character throughout this complex relationship.
Charade (1963)
In another Hepburn collaboration with Stanley Donen, “Charade” offers an exhilarating alternative to “Two for the Road.” If you haven’t seen it yet (it also stars Cary Grant), you’re in for a treat. I was late to the party, only discovering it during my 2020 quarantine movie binge. Hepburn plays a widow who learns that her deceased husband had hidden millions during WWII, attracting the attention of three men who are also after the fortune. Her adventure through Paris is suspenseful and peppered with humor, making it one of my all-time favorites.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Another hilarious 1963 film is “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” a three-hour treasure hunt adventure. After a group of motorists witnesses a car crash, they learn about a buried bag of money and engage in a mad race to find it. The film balances excitement and comedy, and I can only imagine how fun it would have been to experience it in theaters back when tickets cost just 85 cents!
The Miracle Worker (1962)
Few films move me to tears, but “The Miracle Worker” definitely does. Based on William Gibson’s play, it stars Patty Duke as Helen Keller and Anne Bancroft as her tutor, Anne Sullivan. Having previously watched a tamer TV remake, the original’s raw emotion was eye-opening. It doesn’t shy away from depicting the struggles faced by Keller and her tutor, making the emotional breakthroughs all the more rewarding.
Cash on Demand (1961)
This lesser-known British film featuring Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin from “Star Wars”) is a hidden gem I discovered in October 2020. Set on Christmas Eve, the story unfolds almost in real-time, following a bank manager threatened into helping a robber steal a significant sum of money. Cushing portrays a cold, Scrooge-like character, and despite his aloofness, you find yourself rooting for him amid the tension.
Pitfall (1962), Woman in the Dunes (1964), and The Face of Another (1966) Director Hiroshi Teshigahara’s films often delve into psychological torture. In “Woman in the Dunes,” a nature enthusiast becomes trapped in a village surrounded by sand dunes and is forced to help a widow with her haunting tasks. The premise is as compelling as it is unsettling. Teshigahara’s other works from the 1960s, including “Pitfall” and “The Face of Another,” are similarly intriguing and accessible, despite being categorized as avant-garde.
The Exterminating Angel (1962)
Spanish director Luis Bunuel’s “The Exterminating Angel” is a mind-bending exploration of psychological tension. Set at a lavish dinner party, the guests inexplicably find themselves unable to leave. As frustration mounts, the guests descend into chaos, revealing their primal instincts.
Bunuel’s unique approach and confidence in storytelling make this film an unforgettable experience, reminiscent of the influences it had on later filmmakers like Darren Aronofsky.
