If you’re a true movie fan, you probably don’t just watch the latest releases that hit the box office. Instead, you’re constantly scouring Letterbox, Best of Lists, and Cult Movie Blogs for iconic and lesser-known movies to feast your eyes on. That’s where SBS’s Eras Collection hub comes into play. Starting in the 1930s and spanning nearly a century to date, the collection has featured everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Pedro Almodóvar, Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage. What’s more, it doesn’t focus solely on Hollywood, allowing you to experiment with genres from French New Wave to Hong Kong wuxia films. Here are some highlights from across the decades.
50’s: To catch a thief
There is no such thing as a bad Hitchcock movie. Representing his golden age, this 1955 masterpiece is a classic mix of romance and thrills, anchored by some of the era’s biggest stars. Former jewel thief John Robbie (played by the ever-dapper Cary Grant) is trying to settle down in the sunny south of France until a series of robberies brings him to the attention of law enforcement. To clear his name, he wants to stake out the cat thief who has framed him, while negotiating a complicated romantic relationship with attractive American tourist Frances (Grace Kelly). Must do. The obvious chemistry between the two leads (not to mention the gorgeous period costume designs) makes To Catch a Thief both an immersive experience and a fascinating time capsule. Admittedly, this is one of Hitchcock’s lighter films, but as such it’s a great entry point for those wary of heavier works such as Psycho. To Catch a Thief will be streamed on SBS On Demand from September 5th.
60’s: Hard Day’s Night
Perhaps the first mockumentary to grace screens around the world, this 1964 production follows a fictionalized version of the Beatles (all solo) as they prepare for a big show in London. Unusual adventures as the band flees from rabid fans while juggling unexpected developments such as Paul’s grandfather spiraling out of control and George getting caught filming a shoddy clothing ad. There is no shortage of them. It’s energetic, fun, and silly in the best sense of the word, and of course it has a wonderfully janky soundtrack made up entirely of Beatles songs, with hits like “She Loves You” and deeper cuts. are beautifully combined. Fun fact: “A Hard Day’s Night” may have been the inspiration for the 1997 Spice Girls blockbuster movie “Spice World.” The film follows a similar trajectory with its tongue-in-cheek, self-referential style.
“A Hard Day’s Night” is now available on SBS On Demand.
70’s: Eagle of Revenge
An excellent example of Hong Kong’s wuxia film genre, which blends martial arts like kung fu with historical Chinese fantasy, The Avenging Eagle is a short but captivating 90 minutes of action and blood-pounding art. A well-choreographed fight scene is essential. The story centers on Chik Minhsin (Ti Lung), a member of a group of orphans who are trained to be skilled killers. After being injured in a fight, he desires a peaceful family life and begins to reevaluate his choices. But to get it, he must work with one of the gang’s victims, Chuuk Yifan (Alexander Hu), to defeat the gang. The gang that raised him. More than just a fight movie (though those scenes are great), it’s a thoughtful rumination on redemption, war, and peace, with well-rounded characters who may look tough on the outside, but there’s plenty inside. appear.
“The Eagle of Vengeance” is currently available on SBS On Demand.
80s: Sophie’s Choice
If you’ve ever heard the term “Sophie’s Choice”, which refers to a decision that only has bad consequences, it comes from this 1982 film (an adaptation of the book of the same name). Here, novelist Stingo (Peter MacNicol) moves to Brooklyn, where he meets his Auschwitz survivor neighbor Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her mentally disturbed boyfriend Nathan (Kevin Kline). . As he befriends Sophie, he learns more about her traumatic past, but finds himself entangled between the two as the erratic Nathan unravels before his eyes. A deeply moving film that offers poetic insight into the intertwined nature of trauma and love, Sophie, heartfeltly embodied by Streep, is truly awe-inspiring (for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress) I did). For another Meryl Streep wonder in the Eras collection, consider watching 2007’s .
“Sophie’s Choice” is currently available on SBS On Demand.
90s: Drop Dead Gorgeous
This dark comedy about a teenage beauty pageant gone awry has become a cult classic for its creepy acting and over-the-top plot. As aspiring television reporter Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) prepares for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Contest in the Minnesota farm town of Mount Rose, When suspicious incidents begin to befall other contestants and their loved ones, attention turns to Becky (Denise Richards), a wealthy local kid whose mother is serious about winning. A fanzine of bizarre characters makes Drop Dead Gorgeous a devilishly bizarre yet funny tapestry of small-town life, with a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of some of the silliest human traits.
“Drop Dead Gorgeous” is currently available on SBS On Demand.
00s: 10 canoes
A masterpiece of Australian Indigenous cinema. It showcases both Indigenous folklore and the landscapes that contributed to it in one epic package. Ten Canoo, the first film to be shot entirely in an indigenous language (Yolngu), centers on brothers Minigururu and Daindi. Daindi becomes interested in Minigrul’s wife, and the two go on an extended hunting trip, during which Minigrull lingers on a similar affair from years earlier (and the accidental retaliation that followed). Tell an unforgettable story. Despite its serious subject matter, the film is both a quirky film and a wonderful ode to the tradition of oral storytelling. The film concludes with stunning cinematography of the plains, bush, and wetlands of Arnhem Land.
Ten Canoes is now available on SBS On Demand.
2010s-present: Official competitions
For a film about the film industry itself, look no further than this Spanish drama. An aging businessman, Humberto Suárez (José Luis Gomez), worried about his legacy after death, decides to invest his wealth into award-winning, high-concept arthouse films. But dreams of Hollywood prestige are derailed by the hiring of eccentric director Lola (Penelope Cruz), who uses increasingly bizarre coaching tactics with actors and staff, and arrogant actor Felix (Antonio Banderas). . A brilliant satire of the industry, from pretentious directors to self-centered actors to stupid festival voters, no target is immune to Official Competition’s occasionally dark humor.
The official tournament is being streamed on SBS On Demand.
At SBS On Demand, discover gems of international film history, from filmmaking since the 1930s to filmmaking in subsequent decades.
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