TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

The tragedy of September 11, 2001, reshaped so many facets of our world, and film and media are no exception . The immense impact of the attacks introduced new genres and themes in film and media. This blog explores how 9/11 influences American cinema, the emergence of new cinematic themes and genres, and why movies based on tragedy are so popular. We’ll also dive into some movies based on 9/11, such as The Rest of Us , directed by Dr. Linda G. Mills.  Immediately after the attacks, the media avoided showing destruction, shifting away from the disaster-laden blockbusters of the 1990s. Some films and TV shows, such as Sex and the City, even removed images of the Twin Towers from the opening credits of shows and scenes in movies. Most famously, the teaser trailer and poster for Spider-Man were edited so that the Twin Towers could no longer be seen in the background. In the Vox Article Movies, Patriotism and Cultural Amnesia , Lindsay Ellis states, “The two-year period immediately ...

Labor Day, a national holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September, honors the contributions of American workers and their relentless fight for fair labor practices. While it's a day often associated with barbecues, parades, and the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day's roots are steeped in the labor movement's history—a history marked by both progress and setbacks. One film in our library that captures the harsh realities workers have faced is the 1993 made-for-TV movie For Their Own Good , directed by Ed Kaplan. For Their Own Good tells the harrowing story of Sally Wheeler, a factory worker at the crossroads of personal freedom and economic survival. Set in a small-town factory, Sally and her fellow female workers are given an unimaginable ultimatum: agree to be sterilized or lose their jobs. The film is based on true events , reflecting a dark chapter in labor history where workers, particularly women, were subjected to coercive practices under the guise of ...

In film, inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places. For Netflix’s Hit Man , the inspiration originated not from a novel or a script written in Hollywood, but from an article published in Texas Monthly. The author behind this incredible article is Skip Hollandsworth , a journalist whose skillful storytelling has inspired several films, including Hit Man and the films Swearing Allegiance and For My Daughter's Honor , streaming on TheArchive .  Hollandsworth’s October 2001 article about the real Gary Johnson , a man known as the “most sought-after professional killer” in Houston, Texas, who was secretly working for the police. Johnson carried the persona of a dangerous assassin for hire while feeding crucial information to the police to help them bring down the criminals who hired him. Glen Powell co-wrote and starred in the Netflix film, which was directed by Richard Linklater .  Another film inspired by Hollandsworth’s journalism is Swearing Allegiance ....