by Sam Juliano
Wonders in the Dark will be conducting the first of its scheduled series of ‘Movies of the Decade’ polls. The first decade under the microscope will be the 1930s. (Silent film lovers, do not despair, will come back to the silent era afterwards, but we feel that it’s more à propos to start with a decade that will generate more interest).
Any film first seen in its native country from 1st January 1930 to 31st December 1939 is eligible for the poll. Each person is allowed 25 choices in order preference, in descending order starting with the no. 1 choice. The poll will begin today and close at midnight (EST) on Sunday 16th November.
Potential voters have a terrific reference source that will enable them to conduct on-site research. The Movie Timelines on the sidebars provide each voter with a year by year delineation of all the potential choices for such an undertaking. It is to be noted that, while Allan Fish’s annual listings will invariably comprise the lion’s share of each individual list, there is the option to choose films not listed therein.
I am concurrently launching a page at the top of the blog to allow people to leave their choices which will remain there for the duration of the poll. These lists to be entered as comments on the above page.
Wonders in the Dark writers aren’t concerned about the public display of lists as each individual voter is fully expected to reveal their own choices that won’t be influenced by previous submissions. It is hoped that this polling will be the springboard for a successful consideration of the full scope of the history of the cinema and, popularity permitting, we will move on to the successive decades in the coming winter months…