2. Over the years these high energy films have made some changes.
3. EARLY ACTION
1920’s- 1930’s
1920's to the 1930's the predominant films were classic swashbuckling movies where heroes would
battle villains with the swords. Heros like Douglas Fairbanks as a "Swashbuckler“
Swashbuckler films are an action-adventure subgenre often characterised by swordfighting and
adventurous heroic characters.
Mainly set in Western Europe in the period between the late Renaissance and the age of reason with
appropriately lavish costumes.
1940’s-1950’s
In the 40's and 50's War Movies, Cowboy Movies, and Spy Adventure Films took the stage as
the top action films of the time.
4. Early action
WHY
The leap from sword fighting to spy movies/western styled
films in early action may be because of the change in
culture. Spy and western were more realistic than sword
fighting. The costumes became more normal and
associated to the theme, it therefore became more
realistic to the audience
5. EARLY ACTION
1960’s
During the 60's it was Ian Fleming's larger than life creation, James Bond.. It was inspired by movies
like North by Northwest (A 1959 American thriller) and The Guns of Navarone(a 1961 British-
American Action/Adventure war film)
The James Bond dominated the 60's.
Part of their appeal were the larger than life characters (both heroes and villains). A great feature of
the Bond movies was that 007 was basically a "one man army."
He would dispatch his opponents with either fist fights, weapons or futuristic gadgetry.
The Bond films were also adorned with many car chases and Martial Arts combat.
6. EARLY ACTION
1970’s
The 70’s introduced a gritty dectective and urban crime dramas shaped the a new ‘action style’
Movies like Dirty Harry (1971) entailed featured the convention of intense car chase inspired by the
popular stunt work in previous the Bond films. Movies dismissed western themes and showed that the
modern world offered just as much glamour, excitement, and potential for violence as the old west.
These films brpught an end of the prolific "cowboys and Indians" era of film westerns.
long with this change came the major introduction to Martial Arts Action. Movies like You Only Live
Twice, enter the Dragon with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris
8. DEVELOPING ACTION
COW BOY TO COPS
Again the genre made changes to cater to the far from
niche audience. The gritty cop feel became popular
because it was within belief. The bond era created a new
field to see authority and underground villains
9. EARLY ACTION
1980’s
The 1980s would see the action film take over Hollywood to become a dominant form of summer
blockbuster; literally "the action era" popularized by strong male.
Rising comedian like Eddie Murphy smashed box office records with the action-comedy in 48hrs.
Movies like lethal weapons (1989) proved that low-budget plots could attract millions. The one man
army attracted loads.
10. EARLY ACTION
More family friendly?
The comedy in action has increased to
attract more.
The one man army theme attracted
more and more
11. ACTION
Today
TODAYS ACTION HAS BEEN
MOULDED BY THE OLD
DEVELOPMENTS.
EVERYTHING IN NEW
ACTION HAS BEEN
INFLUENCED BY OLD FILMS
