What do we love about the sixties?
It was a decade of change and style, where fashion became bolder, music got louder, and cinematographers took risks. It was a golden era for music with the Beatles and labels like Motown, and Hollywood golden era with stars like Audrey Hepburn and Clint Eastwood.
But beyond pop culture, the sixties were about reinvention. People questioned norms, fought for civil rights, and pushed boundaries in art, politics, and everyday life. The sixties brought the sense that anything was possible.
In this article, we explore movies from the 60s that are always worth rewatching.
The Unnaturals (1969)
#Crime #Thriller #Italian #German
Directed by: Antonio Margheriti
Loosely based on Dino Buzzati’s short story Eppure bussano alla porta, The Unnaturals blends gothic horror with psychological thriller elements.
When a group of London socialites seeks shelter in a remote countryside house during a storm, they find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious host and his mother. What begins as a harmless séance quickly turns dark when the medium starts revealing secrets from their pasts. As the storm rages outside, their past sins come to light through unsettling flashbacks, revealing a web of secrets they can no longer escape.
The film reused elaborate period sets from costume dramas and Westerns to create its eerie, atmospheric world. The séance scene was filmed using an unconventional technique where cinematographer Riccardo Pallottini was suspended upside down to create an unsettling, otherworldly effect. Though met with mixed reviews— called “uneven but still interesting”—the film remains an intriguing entry in Margheriti’s gothic horror catalog.
La Calda Vita (1964)
#Drama #Romance #Italian #French
Directed by: Florestano Vancini
Sergia, an 18-year-old accustomed to spending time with her older sister and her mature friends, is convinced to break away for a beach vacation with two young men. As the summer heat rises, so do emotions, as both men fight for her attention. Based on Pier Antonio Quarantotti Gambini’s novel, The Warm Life captures the essence of a changing era, blending the sun-drenched visuals reminiscent of Antonioni’s L’Avventura with a coming-of-age story rich in emotional depth. Florestano Vancini’s direction brings a delicate balance of sensuality and introspection. Though its title nods to La Dolce Vita, this film carves its own identity among 60s movies, offering a stunning use of color and an intimate portrayal of youthful longing.
Twenty-Four Hours of Pleasure (1969)
#Comedy #Spanish
Directed by: René Cardona Jr.
Catalina (portrayed by the iconic Silvia Pinal) is stuck in a dull marriage and decides to reconnect with her former lover, Mauricio, who has recently gained fame as the author of a risqué novel. His newfound literary success earns him a reputation as a legendary “bedroom athlete” overnight. A fun bit of trivia: the movie’s title is the same as the scandalous novel within the story, which gives it a little meta twist.
Both feeling trapped in marriage—Catalina with a neglectful husband and Mauricio with an overly prudish wife—they decide to embark on a secret 24-hour fling. Directed by René Cardona Jr., known for blending genres and entertaining audiences with commercial hits, this movie offers a playful tone, flirty and cheeky without being explicit as the characters dive into outrageous situations. It’s a lighthearted bedroom farce that cleverly pushes boundaries for the late ’60s movies.
Two Women (1960)
#War #Drama #Italian
Directed by: Vittorio De Sica
Two Women is about Cesira (Sophia Loren), a widowed shopkeeper, and her young daughter Rosetta on their way to flee Nazi-occupied Rome to escape the bombings. Seeking refuge in Cesira’s native village in the countryside, they cross paths with Michele, an idealistic young intellectual. But as the war rages on, their struggle for survival forces Cesira to confront both human cruelty and the desperate need to protect her daughter at all costs.
Based on Alberto Moravia’s deeply personal novel La Ciociara, Two Women made history when Sophia Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress, the first ever for a non-English language performance. Originally meant to play the daughter, Loren took on the lead role at just 25. Reflecting on the challenge, she said, “I thought it was worth taking the risk at 25 to play an older woman because the story was so beautiful.” Loren also recalled how De Sica often cried on set during the film’s most intense scenes.
Charade (1963)
#Comedy #Crime #Romance #English
Directed by: Stanley Donen
“The best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made”, as critics often call it, Charade is a 1963 American screwball comedy and mystery film featuring unforgettable chemistry between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
The film follows Reggie Lampert, a woman who returns to Paris only to discover that her husband has been murdered and their apartment completely emptied. If that wasn’t shocking enough, she soon learns that several men believe she has a fortune her husband stole during the war, and they’re willing to do anything to get it back. Caught in a web of deceptionand danger, Reggie finds an ally in the charming yet mysterious Peter Joshua. But it’s not clear yet if she can trust him…
Charade remains a beloved classic, even earning a place in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Lady with the Dog (1960)
#Drama #Romance #Russian
Directed by: Iosif Kheifits
The Lady with the Dog (Дама с собачкой) is a film adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s famous short story of the same name. Created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chekhov’s birth, the film was screened at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.
Chekhov’s story has sparked multiple interpretations, from a journey of personal transformation to the paradox of how an illicit love affair can feel more authentic than a conventional marriage.
Set in the seaside town of Yalta, the story follows Dimitri and Anna, two individuals trapped in loveless marriages who find solace in each other. Their fleeting romance, however, is cut short when Anna returns to Saratov and Dimitri to Moscow. But for Dimitri, their affair is more than just a passing moment. Unable to let go, he seeks Anna out in her hometown, leading them to a life-altering dilemma: pursue their love despite the risks or remain bound by societal expectations.
Discover Golden Oldies Among Movies from the ’60s and Other Decades on UVOtv
Classic cinema is never too old or irrelevant. On UVOtv, you can find tens of classic movies from all over the world to fit every mood: holidays, literary adaptations, documentaries, and mystery thrillers with the unmistakable flair of the past eras.
