MovieChat Forums > Melody (1971) Discussion > Too Innocent to Remake

Too Innocent to Remake

posted 19 years ago by Font
17 replies | jump to latest

It occured to me that this great film could not be remade today because times have so changed since 1970; instead of the two children wanting to get married, they would probably just have sex at her mother's flat (with her knowledge, and she probably wouldn't have a father), she becomes pregnant, mother tells the tabloid press that she is proud of her daughter's behaviour, and boy moves in with them! The scene in which Muriel tells the other girls that she has kissed a boy, and what it was like, would be more than just kissing today. I'm also glad that a sequel wasn't made. The film was/is perfect.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] xrahspex 15 years ago

Reasons why Melody could never been remade or made in this day and age.

Reason #1: The rag and bone man would have got fined for giving a goldfish to Melody.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/31/pet-shop-fined-over-goldfi sh

Reason #2: Ornshaw would have been arrested for homophobic abuse for saying "Last one on the bus is a queer!"

Reason #3: Melody and Daniel would have been given ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) for chasing each other in the cemetery. Same goes for the kids during the teachers' chase.

Reason #4: Dadds and co. (boy with the glasses who makes the bomb) would be arrested and detained for inciting terrorism.

Reason #5: Mrs. Perkins would get a warning letter from the NHS for giving ham to Daniel and Melody as it can lead to obesity.

Any more?

Peckham's boring and flat on Sundays. In fact, England's boring and flat on Sundays.

[–] Reno-Rangan 10 years ago

Still it can remade with minor changes like an old couple recall their childhood story with their grandchildren that took place in the 70s.

You better know what you want to do before somebody knows it for you -The Astronaut Farmer

[–] marktayloruk (2590) a month ago

Things were better back then!

[–] lombano 14 years ago

Definitely shows a Britain that is long gone.

[–] andyg35 12 years ago

Totally agree - very much of its time, which is why so many people love it so much. Like stepping back into an early 70s childhood every time I watch it. The subject matter would scare any prospective remakers away and that can only be a very good thing.

AndyG

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] L0GAN5 10 years ago

It technically has been remade as Moonrise Kingdom. Wes Anderson got around the problem by setting his film in the 60s.

[–] Reno-Rangan 10 years ago

I can't call it a remake in any aspect, but, probably might have inspired from this.

The whole narration awesome in 'Melody'. It begins portraying their individual life(style) to how they meet and finally in that last moment they take off.
But in 'Moonrise Kingdom', it is all about a runaway. So more like a sequel than a remake.

You better know what you want to do before somebody knows it for you -The Astronaut Farmer

[–] lombano 10 years ago

Apart from both being romantic comedies, and the leads' ages, I don't see much in common between Moonrise Kingdom and Melody. It's not a remake.

[–] L0GAN5 9 years ago

It's virtually the same movie! The director and writer of Melody even discussed the similarity in an interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3iPwUAOzVo&t=18m45s

[–] louiseculmer 10 years ago

I agree. You could never remake it. it is very much a film of its time. Though the innocence of the children was probsbly a bit exaggerated even for 1970. we weren't really that innocent then.

[–] Naneki1 8 years ago

I dunno. They were 11 or 12 and it was 1971. I think they were probably still somewhat innocent. Had they been 14, however...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(O)(H)(W)(E)(L)(L)...

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

Well, i was 11 in 1967, and i don't think we were quite as innocent as the children in this film. especially not the boys, who i can remember making some quite rude jokes.

[–] Kewl_Kat (226) 8 years ago

It could certainly be remade. Just do it the same but with a scene or two that features full insertive coitus. Yeah, the Bee Gees are out of the question because of the unfortunate deaths but maybe CSN&Y can do a new version of Teach Your Children. Sure, they all hate each other now but I hear their hatred of Donald Trump is even greater and may inspire a reunion.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/04/20/crosby-stills-nash-young-reunite-mutual-hatred-trump/

[–] Satan2016 (26201) 8 years ago

Breitbart? There's hope for you yet!

[–] Kewl_Kat (226) 8 years ago

I love to read the articles that feature whiny racists.