Commentary If you’ve read any of my classic movie reviews here at The Epoch Times, you probably know that I focus on a particular 20-year period, 1934-1954. As I often explain, these two decades were Hollywood’s Golden Era because that was the Motion Picture Production Code’s heyday. The Code is a set of guidelines for…
‘The Model and the Marriage Broker’ From 1951: Hitching for Happiness
May 4, 2023
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EntertainmentFilm & TVmotion picture production codeOpinionThe Model and the Marriage BrokerTimeless Principles
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Commentary Most classic movies star young, glamorous actresses as their leading ladies. “The Model and the Marriage Broker” from 1951 is a rare exception, since it focuses on a middle-aged female character played by veteran supporting actress Thelma Ritter. Although Jeanne Crain, who plays a young model, could be considered the leading lady because she…
In Defense of Hollywood’s Old Code: Debunking the Common Myths
Commentary “Woman of the Year” from 1942 was the first movie Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy made together. In this film, which began their dynamic partnership spanning eight films and three decades, they both are journalists working for the same paper. Sam Craig (Tracy) is a sportswriter, and Tess Harding (Hepburn) has an opinion column…
Hollywood’s Old Code Is Better Than the New Code
Commentary On the recommendation of Tiffany Brannan, I watched “No Highway in the Sky” (1951) with Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. It’s an absolutely thrilling movie with tremendous scenes of what it was like to fly commercial in 1951 in all its luxury. It’s comfort, service, and spaciousness all around. Those scenes alone are remarkable…
Sisters, Mothers, and More: Feminine Familial Roles in Classic Films
March 16, 2023
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Arts & CultureEntertainmentfemininityFilm & TVLifestyleMen & Women: Embracing Our Differencesmotion picture production codeOpinionTimeless PrinciplesValues and Tradition
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Commentary The Epoch Times celebrates truth and tradition in all areas, including entertainment. Many traditional role models and values are featured in classic films, especially Hollywood productions from 1934 to 1954, when the Motion Picture Production Code’s strong enforcement ensured all films’ decency for everyone. Under the Code, marriage and the family were defended and…
‘Housewife’ From 1934: A Pre-Code Crossover
Commentary “Housewife” is a 1934 film starring George Brent, Ann Dvorak, and a young Bette Davis. To be accurate, all three of the lead actors are young here, but Bette is noticeably more youthful than in her later, more famous roles. Movies from the early 1930s have a distinct style, and they offer fascinating insight…
Book Review: ‘Hollywood’s Censor: Joseph I. Breen & The Production Code Administration’
Commentary If you’ve read my articles for The Epoch Times, you probably have seen me make reference to the Motion Picture Production Code, the Production Code Administration (PCA), and Joseph I. Breen. Very rarely do I fail to mention that the Production Code, commonly called the Hays Code, was the set of moral guidelines which…
‘The Elephant Song:’ Breening a Modern Play
Commentary If you’ve read my articles before, you’re probably familiar with the term “to breen.” This made-up verb, coined by “Variety” back in the 1930s, is the Old Hollywood version of bowdlerization. Named after Joseph I. Breen, it’s the process of applying the Motion Picture Production Code to film stories and scripts to render them…
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1938): A Classic Take on a Timeless Story
One of the most popular Christmas stories of all time is “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Although written in 1843, this holiday tale is just as beloved today as it was in the Victorian Era. It’s believed that this book started the tradition of saying “Merry Christmas.” This Yuletide tale reminds people to embrace…
‘Waterloo Bridge’ (1940): The Power of Subtlety
Commentary When I heard that there was a 1940 movie of “Waterloo Bridge,” I was surprised. Having seen the 1931 film of the same name with Mae Clarke and Douglass Montgomery, I knew the controversial story: during World War I in England, a naïve young soldier meets a prostitute and falls in love with her,…
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