history of thriller films

Thriller Films

Timeline!This PowerPoint is a

timeline of the Thriller film’s that have been

made from the 1920’s to 2014.

1926 – The Lodger

The Lodger. This is an Alfred Hitchcock film. It was Hitchcock’s 3rd silent film he had made but his first Thriller film which is what he is commonly known for. The Lodger is a suspenseful Jack Ripper film as a type of serial killer. Starring Marie Ault, Arthur Chesney, June Tripp, Malcolm Keen and Ivor Novello.

1928 – Spies

Spies was on the of the first spy films in the Thriller genre to be released. It is a Fritz Lang film, this was his first independent production. The criminal spy character is played by Rudolf Klein-Rogge who in the film was pursued by the good-guy Willy Fritsch. This film anticipated the James Bond films of the future.

1934 – The Man Who Knew Too Much

This is again an Alfred Hitchcock production. It is a suspense-thriller movie. It features Peter Lorre. It was one of the most successful films of Hitchcock’s period.

1946 – The Spiritual Staircase

The Spiritual Staircase is a psychological thriller film directed by Robert Siodmak. It was adapted from a novel called Some Must Watch. A mute domestic servant, Dorothy McGuire, was terrorized by a serial murder.

1953 – Niagara

Niagara is a film produced and directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Casey Adams and Marilyn Monroe. The films was one of Century-Fox’s biggest hits of the year. Marilyn Monroe as a trashy femme fatale who schemes to kill her unstable husband (Cotten).

1958 – Touch of Evil

Touch of Evil is directed and produced by Orson Welles. It is a unique crime thriller. A pre-Psycho Janet Leigh as a terrorized wife, Charlton Heston as a Mexican narcotics agent. The director himself Orson Welles is the evil border-town cop in the thriller film.

1960 - PsychoPsycho is an American horror-thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is based on the novel Psycho (1959). This film is considered one of the best Hitchcock’s and is praised as work by international film critics and film scholars. It set a new level of acceptability for violence and sexuality in American Films. After Hitchcock dies in 1980 Universal Studios began to produce follow ups: three sequels, a remake, a television spin off and a TV series.

1978 – The Eyes of Laura Mars

This film was directed by Irvin Kershner. It was a stalker themed thriller. It starred Faye Dunaway as the main character who had the title of a stalked photographer. The film is noted for its use of red herrings and plot twists.

1990 - Miser

Misery is a psychological thriller film based on Stephen King’s novel. It stars James Caan, Kathy Bates and Lauren Bacall. Bates won the 1990 Academy Award for best actress for her role. The film was ranked #12 on Bravo’s 100 scariest movie moments.

1999 – The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley is an American psychological thriller written and directed by Anthony Minghella. It is an adaption from the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955). The film stars Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow.

2006 – Casino Royale

Casino Royale is the 21st film in the James Bond series and is the first one to star Daniel Craig. It is directed by Martin Campbell. It is themed with spies and fictional MI6 characters (Daniel Craig). It is followed by Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012).

2008 - Taken

Taken is a 2008 action-thriller film directed by Pierre Morel. Its stars Liam Neeson and is the first film in the Taken series, it is followed by Taken 2. it is the story of Neeson’s daughter, Maggie Grace, being kidnapped for sexual slavery. He is a CIA agent and has to find her. The film is said to of made Neeson an action film star.

2014 – The Purge: Anarchy

This is an action-thriller film directed and written by James DeMonaco. It is a sequel to The Purge (2013). The film was met with generally mixed views but was agreed to be an improvement of the first film.

Change throughout the years

Firstly, the posters from all the films have changed throughout those years. At the beginning of the thriller film stage the posters are quite bright and they don’t symbolise the thriller genre as well as dark and dull colours do.

The older films were mostly based on novels or plays where as the more recent thrillers weren’t based on these, they were specifically written for these films.

Lastly, the more recent films mostly have sequels, a follow on film etc. However the older thrillers do not have this.