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We can learn a lot about movies of old, both from what they innovated but also what they got away with. The films of that era are now hard to watch, either literally as lost media or because they’re hard to stomach. You could say there’s something to learn about them as well, but mostly as examples of what not to do.
They might be controversial, but they’re classics in their own right. All in all, these movies have become increasingly difficult to revisit for reasons that go well beyond their age. These are the features that we’ve chosen to highlight for today.
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Titicut Follies
Frederick Wiseman’s documentary about conditions inside the Bridgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane was effectively banned from general public exhibition for more than two decades because of privacy concerns involving the inmates it depicted.
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The Green Berets
John Wayne’s Vietnam War film presented a strongly pro-war perspective that quickly fell out of step with changing public opinion. Today, it is often criticized for its simplistic portrayal of the conflict and political messaging.
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The Conqueror
Although released in 1956, The Conqueror remained widely shown on television during the 1960s. It became infamous because filming near a nuclear test site was later linked, though not conclusively proven, to numerous cast and crew cancer diagnoses.
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The Killing of Sister George
Its frank depiction of lesbian relationships led to censorship and controversy upon release. While historically significant, the film’s treatment of sexuality and its reputation made it difficult to see in many places for years.
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The Wild Angels
Starring Peter Fonda, this biker drama shocked audiences with its depictions of violence, drug use, and sexual assault. Several sequences remain deeply uncomfortable for modern viewers despite the film’s counterculture significance.
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Goodbye, Uncle Tom
Presented as a pseudo-documentary about American slavery, this Italian film has long been condemned for its graphic imagery and exploitative approach. It remains one of the most controversial historical films ever produced.
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The Illustrated Man
Despite starring Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom, this adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s stories has spent long stretches out of print on home video, making it surprisingly difficult for audiences to watch legally.
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The Cremator
This Czechoslovak psychological horror masterpiece was suppressed after the Soviet invasion of 1968. Although later restored, political censorship kept it unavailable to many audiences for years.
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The Devils
Ken Russell’s controversial historical drama faced extensive censorship because of its graphic violence, sexuality, and religious themes. Even today, the original uncut version remains difficult to view through official channels.
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The Touch of Flesh
This obscure 1960s exploitation horror film received only limited distribution and has largely disappeared from mainstream circulation, surviving primarily through private collectors and specialized archive screenings.
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I Am Curious (Yellow)
The Swedish drama sparked obscenity trials in several countries because of its explicit content. Although eventually cleared in court, its reputation as a banned film overshadowed its political and artistic ambitions.
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The Brig
Based on the off-Broadway play, this stark prison drama received limited theatrical distribution and remained difficult to find for decades. Its experimental style also kept it outside the mainstream film conversation.
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Mondo Cane
This influential documentary popularized the “mondo” genre with sensationalized depictions of cultures around the world. Modern audiences frequently criticize it for exploitation, manipulation, and questionable documentary ethics.
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Peeping Tom
Released in 1960, Michael Powell’s thriller was so harshly condemned by British critics that it effectively destroyed his directing career. The film later gained recognition as a psychological horror classic.
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Flaming Creatures
Jack Smith’s experimental film was repeatedly seized by police and banned in several U.S. jurisdictions on obscenity grounds. Decades later, it remains difficult to find through mainstream distribution and is most often screened by museums and film archives.
The post 15 Movies from the 1960s You Can’t Watch Anymore appeared first on Den of Geek.
