In the days when films in the cinema were categorised (“A” – the main feature, “B” for a shorter accompaniment to go with the main film, and, below that, “C” and even “Z”) the big breaks into the movie industry for actors and designers often came through the “B” movies. With the advent of television, the “B” movie became a staple of entertainment in that medium, but they have retained their iconic style.
“B” movies are often derided as low-quality but for directors, such as Roger Corman, they provided a creative outlet with the freedom to produce without the constraints of the large production companies. Luckily, these films engendered a faithful following and they are increasingly recognised for their production values and fun (often ridiculous to modern eyes) storylines that also speak to the anxieties of the time they were made. They are still being made today, the current versions styled on the originals.
The streaming service, YouTube, has lots of these movies available to watch. Titles such as “The Wasp Woman“, a story about a cosmetic company director in search of eternal youth, and “Kiss Me Deadly“, a film that has been selected for preservation by the United States Library of Congress because of its cultural significance, are amongst the free-to-view titles.
Often these movies were cheap to make, and the costumes and sets look it, but some of the films were surprisingly sophisticated, using fashions and styles of the period to great effect. “The Wasp Woman” is a good example of mid-century style. If you love 1950s interiors, big hair and glamorous clothes this is the one for you. Long live the “B” Movie!
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