Some Like It Hot
During the 1950's, there were many social changes. The "American Dream" of owning a house and car in the suburbs, and having a wife, three children and a dog became ever more popular along with the old Dream of being able to come from nothing to be something. The seeds of the Civil Rights movements were planted, Rock and Roll became popular among teens, and people became more comfortable about talking about sex. In fact, during the 1950's the "Sexual Revolution" took place. Men began to feel increasingly comfortable about announcing homosexuality. In 1953, Hugh Hefner published the first Playboy Magazine, and the first Playboy Centerfold - and American sex symbol - was Marilyn Monroe.
This increase in sexuality, and being sexually comfortable is evident in the 1959 movie Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe. The scene from Some Like It Hot that shows America’s increasing comfort with sexuality is the "party" scene on the train. This part of the film show many women (Monroe more than the others) in their "sleeping attire" at a period in time when that would be seen as very risky and almost in direct violation of the Hayes Code. Also, Monroe’s "naked dress" - a dress that at first glance gives the appearance that Monroe is not wearing anything - is a shock for audiences of this time. And of course, the last line of the film was a comedic shock to the movie. Osgood Fielding’s response to Daphne telling Osgood that she is really Jerry, "Hey, nobody’s perfect,", implies that Osgood Fielding maybe a homosexual at a time when homosexuality (in the film) is illegal, and (in reality) just becoming comfortable among males to announce their homosexuality.
The old idea of the American Dream is also shown in the film. Jerry and Joe go from being to struggling musicians in Chicago to being somewhat well off in Miami; Joe with Sugar and Jerry / Daphne with Osgood Fielding on their way to a yacht at the end of the movie. Also Sugar’s character shows an aspect of this American Dream. She runs off from her home and family to achieve success as the singer of a jazz band. This idea of going from nothing to something is an old aspect of the American Dream, but one that has proved itself time and time again as something that is possible to do.
During the 1950's, there were many social changes. The "American Dream" of owning a house and car in the suburbs, and having a wife, three children and a dog became ever more popular along with the old Dream of being able to come from nothing to be something. The seeds of the Civil Rights movements were planted, Rock and Roll became popular among teens, and people became more comfortable about talking about sex. In fact, during the 1950's the "Sexual Revolution" took place. Men began to feel increasingly comfortable about announcing homosexuality. In 1953, Hugh Hefner published the first Playboy Magazine, and the first Playboy Centerfold - and American sex symbol - was Marilyn Monroe.
This increase in sexuality, and being sexually comfortable is evident in the 1959 movie Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe. The scene from Some Like It Hot that shows America’s increasing comfort with sexuality is the "party" scene on the train. This part of the film show many women (Monroe more than the others) in their "sleeping attire" at a period in time when that would be seen as very risky and almost in direct violation of the Hayes Code. Also, Monroe’s "naked dress" - a dress that at first glance gives the appearance that Monroe is not wearing anything - is a shock for audiences of this time. And of course, the last line of the film was a comedic shock to the movie. Osgood Fielding’s response to Daphne telling Osgood that she is really Jerry, "Hey, nobody’s perfect,", implies that Osgood Fielding maybe a homosexual at a time when homosexuality (in the film) is illegal, and (in reality) just becoming comfortable among males to announce their homosexuality.
The old idea of the American Dream is also shown in the film. Jerry and Joe go from being to struggling musicians in Chicago to being somewhat well off in Miami; Joe with Sugar and Jerry / Daphne with Osgood Fielding on their way to a yacht at the end of the movie. Also Sugar’s character shows an aspect of this American Dream. She runs off from her home and family to achieve success as the singer of a jazz band. This idea of going from nothing to something is an old aspect of the American Dream, but one that has proved itself time and time again as something that is possible to do.
1 comment:
On a good track here. A little more on specific aspects we didn't focus on would improve. Including some background info on the 50s is good. A bit more of that also would improve.
Post a Comment