drama film
A drama film is a film that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, crime and corruption put the characters in conflict with themselves, others, society and even natural phenomena.["Drama Films". Filmsite.org]
This film genre can be contrasted with an action film which relies on fast-paced action, and physical conflict but superficial character development.["Action Films". Filmsite.org] All film genres can include dramatic elements, but typically, films considered drama films focus mainly on the drama of the main issue.
Some of the top drama films include The Godfather (1972), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966), Schindler's List (1993), and Shichinin no samurai (1954).["Top Drama Movies". Internet Movie Database]]
Sub-genres
Dramatic films include a very large spectrum of film genres. Because of the large number of drama films, these movies have been sub-categorized:
 Romantic drama - The drama is provided by the romance between the characters and external factors that try to destroy it.
Crime drama and Legal drama - Character development based on themes involving criminals, law enforcement and the legal system.
Historical drama (epic) (including War drama) - Films that focus on dramatic events in history.
Biographical drama (biopic) - Films that focus on true stories of real people.
Early film
From the silent era to the 1950s, Dramas were tools to teach the audience. Films like The Grapes of Wrath (1940) show the effects of the depression. Citizen Kane (1941) was said by Orson Welles to not be a biography of William Randolph Hearst, but a composite of many people from that era.
1950s
In the 1950s, began a rise in well-known dramatic actors. Glenn Ford, James Dean, Bette Davis, and Marilyn Monroe were notable dramatic actors. Dramatic Films focused on character relationships and development. All About Eve (1950) focused on women, and their relationship with men. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) displayed teenage angst. Films like 12 Angry Men (1957) and Anatomy of a Murder (1959) show the inner workings of a courtroom. The 1950s was the debut of Akira Kurosawa, and films such as Rashomon (1950) and Seven Samurai (1954).
1960s
The 1960s brought politically driven dramas focusing on war, such as Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Sports dramas became inspiration such as The Hustler (1961) and Downhill Racer (1969).
1970s
During the 1970s, modern dramatic directors made some of their first films. Francis Ford Coppola directed The Godfather (1972). Martin Scorsese directed Taxi Driver (1976), Mean Streets (1973), and musical drama New York, New York (1977). Sylvester Stallone created one of the most successful sports drama franchises Rocky (1976) and also directed the sequel Rocky II (1979). In addition, in sports drama were films that focused on the struggle of athletes such as Brian's Song (1970), and The Longest Yard (1974). War films and specifically World War II films were produced, giving the most realistic adaptation of the war seen in films at that time. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Patton (1970), and Apocalypse Now (1979), which all show the trials and hardships of war, are still considered classic war films.
1980s
In the 1980s, dramatic film put emphasis on highly emotional themes. Do the Right Thing (1989), Spike Lee's debut film, and The Color Purple (1985) were full character studies of African American culture and history. War dramas again played a big part as Platoon (1986) showed the horrors of Vietnam. Das Boot (1981) focused on the German viewpoint of World War II. Drama, with a science fiction edge was a theme when Steven Spielberg directed E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner (1982).
1990s
During the 1990s Drama was put into epic proportion when films like Goodfellas (1990) came out. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) had strong themes of hope, as did Schindler's List (1993). Dramas also took a turn with thrillers like, Fight Club (1999), American Beauty
(1999), and Leon (1994). Race relationships were a theme in American History X (1998), and the AIDs epidemic and discrimination were the focus of Philadelphia (1993). Comedy-drama was featured with films like Jerry Maguire (1996) and Barton Fink (1991).
2000s
In the 2000s, biopics such as Ali (2001), Frida (2002), Ray (2004), and Walk the Line (2005) have become popular among filmmakers, particularly those seeking critical acclaim such as Academy Awards. Gladiator (2000) is an epic dramatic film, along with Master and Commander (2003). The Gulf War and similar skirmishes were an inspiration for dramatic films in movies like Black Hawk Down (2001) and Jarhead (2005).
See also
List of drama films
Romantic drama film
References
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