old hollywood

Last night we lived out one of my picnic dreams (the Fried Chicken one) and dined in Grant Park. (with hundreds of other people). We were there to enjoy the free movie on the big screen (one of the many exciting summer events that Chicago has to offer). Last night's showing was
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".
Really good.

It made me realize once again how great the movies were back then (this particular one was made in 1958). And by great I mean there was always a good bit of substance, excellent writing, and fantastic acting to wrap you up completely in the story.
(and usually some great clothes too)

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I think there aren't great movies nowadays, but it's just different. I think writing back then was so much more clever, the lines were just witty and complex enough to make you think for a second before realizing how hilarious they were. They're the kind of movies you could watch over and over just to catch all the humor that you missed the first time.
I think that the humor in modern movies is kind of slap-you-in-the-face funny, you really don't have to think about it: it's just funny. Which makes me wonder...

Are people getting dumber? Do writers feel like they need to pander to the now-lazier minds of us TV-watching, video-game-playing, internet-dependent humans?
Or is it the writers? Could they be the lazy ones?

Or, maybe it's just that American humor is different now than it used to be. What people found funny in 1950 is not what people find funny in 2009.

Well, I still think it's funny.

Photos from Glamour Germany