Final New Hollywood Show

All good things must come to an end and on December 7th, Sounds of Cinema will air the final episode of this year's New Hollywood Series.

The year 1968 is generally regarded as the start of the New Hollywood era, the special period of time between 1968 and 1980 when filmmakers has more control over their work than any period since the pre-studio era. The period saw the arrival of a new generation of filmmakers including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorcese, Peter Bogdanovich, and William Friedkin. These filmmakers were products of the counter cultural generation and they carried the revolutionary spirit into the cinema.

Throughout 2008, Sounds of Cinema has taken a close look at some of the films of this period including critical darlings such as The Godfather, The Graduate, and Raging Bull and box office blockbusters like Jaws and Star Wars. The series has also included a look at films not often included in other discussions of the period (but should be) such as Planet of the Apes, Night of the Living Dead, and Halloween.

On this Sunday's program, the show will cover two films: American Graffiti and Easy Rider, including music from both pictures. It's a fitting end to the series since Easy Rider is widely regarded as the film that initiated the era and both pictures feature rock and roll soundtracks reflective of the time.