The simple answer would be, not an A-movie. For a detailed answer let us plunge into movie history! In the 1940s it was often customary for movie theaters to show 'two for the price of one', called the "double feature." The "A" movie was the one with the big famous stars, all chic and big budgeted. Then there was the "B-movie", shorter, cheaper and often a much more trashy sort of film, an perfect inexpensive way to meet the requirement for the two-for-one ticket.
But hey, did that matter? Teens were too busy to give a damn about movie plots and way to involved making sure the date went home with a hickey!!. But the "B" in double feature was not necessarily bad at all! Sometimes they were even better - or at least much more entertaining - than the seriously "A" feature film.
When the double-feature procedure phased out, it did not surprisingly become the end of the B-movie, au contraire, it flourished right on! The 60s and 70s became the golden years of the "grindhouse" & "exploitation" films, so called after the 'non-studio' production facilities. Because of their low budgets and low expectations, and lack of any 'regulation' the opportunity arose to tackle the more subversive and provocative topics and themes, something respectable Hollywood could not afford to do so. Many of these low budget productions became obscure gems, cult classics waiting to be re- discovered by each new generation!
Some Fun facts about B-movies:
- In general, B-movies are made without the support of major film studios. The typical genres are horror, sci-fi and westerns.
- Actors who have started out in B-movies include: Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Lee Curtis, Owen Wilson and Johnny Depp.
-Macabre (1958) offered moviegoers an special insurance to cover. "the Death by fright" should it occur.
- The Tingler (1959) used 'buzzers' randomly placed in cinema-seats that would go of at the climax of the film.
- Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), directed by Ed Wood, was funded by a local Baptist church led by Wood's landlord.
- Ed Wood is often called the World's Worst Director". Contemporary Director Tim Burton made a film "Ed Wood" in 1994 that won two Oscars.
- B-movie director legend Roger Corman directed 53 films in 15 years, and produced a whopping 400 in the last 50 years.
- The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), directed by Roger Corman, holds the record for shortest shooting schedule for a film: TWO DAYS!
- Composers like John Williams (Saving Private Ryan), Elmer Bernstein (The Great Escape) and Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther) all have written music for B-movies.
Press Release collaboration Large / BUTFF:
Low-budget special effects for Dummies!
Von Magnet gives a concert performance on Saturday, September 6th at the BUTFF festival.
Trash cinema is a derogatory term that film critics "officially" adopted when naming the B-movies