DECEMBER 12, 1981

Full News Archive

• Headline: Stylized Musical Drama: Pennies from Heaven. Impact: The film inspired a generation of artists to embrace bleakness as a form of expression. If only they knew that their gloomy vibes would lead to the creation of countless hipster coffee shops and the rise of ironic mustaches in the 2000s.. Fact: Despite its grim theme, the film's dance numbers were so catchy that they almost made you forget you were watching a story about a salesman doomed to fail. Almost..
• Headline: Penn's '4 Friends' Drama of the 60s. Impact: This drama sparked a wave of nostalgia that permeated the '70s and '80s, leading to an entire generation of people trying to reconnect with their high school buddies on Facebook, only to realize, 'Wow, we really did make some questionable life choices.'. Fact: This film is proof that the real treasure of friendship is just a series of awkward encounters and questionable life advice..
• Headline: Kris Kristofferson and Jane Fonda Star. Impact: The corporate greed depicted in this movie became the blueprint for every Wall Street film that followed. It’s almost as if they were saying, 'See? This is what the future will hold—only with more suits and less charm!'. Fact: If you ever wondered what it feels like to watch a corporate drama while simultaneously feeling your soul slowly drain away, this film is your answer..
• Headline: WILDER'S 'BUDDY BUDDY'. Impact: The comedic duo format established here paved the way for countless buddy cop films, ultimately resulting in the bizarre notion that mismatched partners can solve crimes while bickering like an old married couple.. Fact: This film is what happens when you take a classic Odd Couple trope and throw in an assassin—because why not? It’s not like they were running out of ideas or anything..