Message picture

A message picture (or "message movie") is a motion picture that, in addition to or instead of being for entertainment, intends to communicate a certain message or ideal about society.

Characteristics

Message pictures usually present the message they want to deliver in the form of a morality play, and are usually serious (often somber) works. However, not all message pictures are entirely serious, and there are also films spoofing the genre (Sullivan's Travels, for example).[1]

History

Dore Schary was famous for his message pictures at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the late 1940s and early to mid-1950s. Among these were Tea and Sympathy, Bad Day at Black Rock, and Blackboard Jungle.[2] Other famous message pictures by other parties include Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night [3] (the former directed by Stanley Kramer, who was also well known for numerous message films).[4]

In Indian cinema, B.R. Chopra was known for message pictures. Examples include Kanoon (against capital punishment), Naya Daur (importance of labour), Waqt (importance of time and destiny), Nikaah (against triple talaq (divorce) among Muslims), etc.[5]

Pre-1970 examples

• Paths of Glory (1957) [6]
• On the Waterfront (1954) [7]
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946) [8]
• Judgement at Nuremberg (1961) [9]
• On the Beach (1959) [10]
• I Want to Live! (1958) [11]
• Salt of the Earth (1954) [12]
• The Intruder (1962) [13]
• A Child is Waiting (1963) [14]
• Heroes for Sale (1933) [15]
• The Connection (1961) [16]

Post-1970 examples

• Do the Right Thing (1989) [17]
• Blood Diamond (2006) [18]
• American Gun (2006) [19]
• Born on the Fourth of July (1989) [20]
• The Sea Inside (2004) [21]
• Courageous (2011) [22]
• White Dog (1982) [23]
• Stand and Deliver (1988) [24]
• I Am Sam (2001) [25]
• Coach Carter (2006) [26]
• American History X (1998) [27]
• Crash (2005) [28]
• Music of the Heart (1999) [29]
• Where to Invade Next (2015) [30]
• Amistad (1997) [31]
• Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004) [32]

Notable directors

• Spike Lee [33]
• Stanley Kramer [34]
• Tom Laughlin [35]
• Elia Kazan [36]
• Oliver Stone [37]
• Abel Gance [38]
• Norman Jewison [39]
• Frank Capra [40]
• Richard Attenborough [41]
• Edward Dmytryk [42]

See also

• Oscar bait
• Social issues
• Social problem film
• Very Special Episode
• After-school special
• Television film
• Christian film
• Melodrama
• Social thriller
• Public service announcement

References

1. "Sullivan's Travels". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
2. Film Producer Dore Schary, 74, Dies - The Washington Post
3. "In the Heat of the Night". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
4. Bergan, Ronald (2001-02-21). "Obituary: Stanley Kramer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
5. BR Chopra – Upperstall.com
6. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
7. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
8. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
9. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
10. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
11. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
12. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
13. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
14. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
15. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
16. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
17. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
18. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
19. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
20. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
21. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
22. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
23. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
24. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
25. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
26. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
27. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
28. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
29. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
30. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
31. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
32. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
33. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
34. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
35. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
36. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
37. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
38. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
39. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
40. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
41. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart
42. The Best Message Movies of All Time - Flickchart