From the Depression and after WWII, movie fights were largely lots of punching each other, kicks were often flat footed shoves, there was some basic throws, there were sudden knifings, saps KOing people, and people sneaking up behind other people and breaking their necks.( )

This was also the era when the most Americans were involved in poverty, riots, and after, the most Americans were trained by the military and saw wartime violence of any time since.

Now, fights are choreographed, people hardly ever get KOed by things that KO people, the goal is the most exotic break or throw or strike or kick, weapons hardly ever kill characters. And less people are confronted with real violence, though some still are.

A good example of the difference is Watchmen. The comic itself portrays fights exactly in keeping with the older movies above, the movie is totally in keeping with the newer movies below.

Just found it interesting.

Is your kung fu James Cagney, or Keanu Reeves?