Ten decades, ten directors. In celebration of Vanity Fair’s 100th anniversary, ten eclectic filmmakers — from Judd Apatow to Don Cheadle to Brett Ratner — created a film on each era of the publication’s century-old history and the Zeitgeist that defined it. Watch all ten episodes of The Decades Series below.
The 1910s, by Gilly Barnes
Director Gilly Barnes re-imagines the first march made in the early 20th century by suffragists fighting for women’s equality in her inspiring short, The Decades Series: The 1910s.
The 1920s, by Lee Hirsch
In Pole Royale, director Lee Hirsch explores the 1920s trend known as ‘pole-sitting’. Through extensive interviews with historians and archival footage, see why this cultural fad became all the rage and how it helped define the decade.
The 1930s, by Barbara Kopple
The 1939 New York World’s Fair offered a glimpse into a promising future, filled with innovative ideas and inventions. Featuring firsthand interviews from those who were there, Oscar-winning director Barbara Kopple highlights the landmark event in The Decades Series: The 1930s.
The 1940s, by Nick Hooker
It was the end of W.W.II, the beginning of J. D. Salinger’s literary career, and the golden age of tattoos for men in service. Watch as director Nick Hooker takes us through an animated look back at the 1940s.
The 1950s, by Joe Sabia
During the 1950s, everything seemed to be booming—the economy, childbirth rates, popular culture, inventions, and innovations—and the country was looking ahead to a future of boundless prosperity. In Booms, digital artist/director Joe Sabia offers a musical interpretation of the decade, featuring a costumed cast as they dance their way through iconic images of the era, including those of Lucille Ball, James Dean, and Disneyland.
The 1960s, by Bryce Dallas Howard
It was a time of peace, love, and happiness. Director Bryce Dallas Howard rounds up luminaries, including Chaka Khan, Henry Winkler, Smokey Robinson, Peggy Lipton, and Florence Henderson, to reflect on the highest highs and lowest lows of the 1960s — plus, a few of the icons show off their favorite moves from the swingin’ era.
Guided by the candid photography of Jean Pigozzi, producer and director Brett Ratner takes us through the disco inferno of the 1970s, providing an insider¹s look at the stars who hustled through the bell-bottomed decade, including Steve Martin, Andy Warhol, and John Travolta.
The 1980s, by Don Cheadle
In Don Cheadle’s 1980s-inspired short, H8DES, the director offers a glimpse into the defining era marked by Reaganomics, the burgeoning technology scene, and the AIDS and crack epidemics.
The 1990s, by Judd Apatow
Director Judd Apatow puts comedienne Maria Bamford’s 1990s knowledge to the test as the two reminisce about the highs and lows of the grunge era.
The 2000s, by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing
The first decade of the 21st century was never supposed to happen. Both the mainstream media and apocalypse-watchers agreed that on January 1, 2000, mass chaos would ensue as a result of the Y2K bug. In Y2Krazy directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing highlight the monumental events of the aughts, including Y2K, 9/11 and George W. Bush’s War on Terror.
Source: Vanity Fair: Ten Decades Series channel
