Waterfall of Health

Disability Goes Hollywood #11: The 2000s (Film)

October 19th, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner 
Movies based on popular comic books are big business in the 21st century. Because of their inclusion in these movies, disabled characters are hot stuff too. Imagine that!
First up, “X-Men.” “X-Men,” released in 2000, was directed by Bryan Singer and starred Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, James Marsden, Bruce Davison, [...]


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DISABILITY GOES HOLLYWOOD #9: The 1990s (Film)

September 21st, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner 
In the 1990s, various films debuted with disabled characters. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the roles tended to be played by able bodied actors, and the portrayals weren’t always positive.
First up, “The Waterdance.” Released in 1992, it was written by Neal Jimenez and directed by Jimenez & Michael Steinberg. [...]


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Disability Goes Hollywood #7: The 1980’s (Film)

August 24th, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner 
In the 1980s, the scent of brotherly disability must have been floating over the film studios. Two films came out in that decade about brothers, one of whom has a disability. We’ve all heard of “Rain Man,” but do you remember the other one? I didn’t think so.
First up, “Rain Man.” Directed by [...]


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DISABILITY GOES HOLLYWOOD #5: The 1970s (Film)

July 27th, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner 
The 1970s, on film, was a great era for movie-making. Directors like Lucas, Spielberg, Coppola, and Scorsese, among others, were bringing freshness and energy to the silver screen. Into this mix, came a fresh look at the disabled in movies.
First up, “Butterflies Are Free,” released on July 6, 1972. Directed by Milton Katselas, [...]


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DISABILITY GOES HOLLYWOOD #3: The 1960s (Film)

June 29th, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner
Like ’60s TV, movies in that era were also a reflection of turbulent, sometimes confusing times. When it came to the depiction of the disabled in 1960s movies, it was definitely a good news, bad news situation.
The bad news was represented by “Dr. No,” the first James Bond movie, released in 1962. Directed [...]


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Disability Goes Hollywood #1: (1940s-1950s)

May 30th, 2007 by Joe Posner

by Joe Posner
From the silent era through the talkies, Hollywood portrayed the disabled primarily in one of two ways: either as figures that generated fear or pity. That began to change in 1946, with the release of “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
The film, directed by William Wyler, starred Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, [...]


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Disabled achievers focus of film festival

May 25th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw

The International Disability Film Festivalheld its 27th annual event in Berkeley. Thirteen award winners were chosen from the 45 entries submitted from 10 countries.


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