The Gold Diggers of 1933

The Gold Diggers of 1933
Director: Mervyn LeRoy



Q1.How does the film relate to the chapter in Foner?
A1:This movie was made in almost the end of the Great Depression period; in fact, this movie should have described how Americans were suffering from a devastating poor condition of living. However, the director used a totally different point of view to interpret this movie. During the Great Depression, most Americans were living in tragedy, in order to allow the audience to escape from the reality of poor life and to be entertained by the movie, the director made this movie as a vivid and delightful comedy. This movie basically illustrates the story of three chorus girls Polly, Carol and Trixie, performed on Broadway. The movie starts in a rehearsal with a lot of chorus girls who all wear a shiny dollar sign. There are more like coins, gold, and silver, all things associated with money are worn on these chorus girls. Therefore, they keep repeating the main lyrics of the song “We are living in the money”. However, as the impact of the Great Depression, the producer is unable to pay the bill, and just before the show starts, it closed. These three chorus girls lose their job, but get another chance to have a new show. The fact is that producer has everything, but money. Polly’s boyfriend has an outstanding song writer next door, Brad Roberts, who would like to provide the capital. The only condition is that his girlfriend should perform on the show. With producer’s agreement, these three chorus girls have their jobs back, moreover, because Brad’s remarkable talent in composing song, his songs are used in the show. However, just before the show starts, the main character cannot get on the show because of his back problem. As a result, Brad jumps in to take care of the show, and becomes the main character. Since he is a poor, next door song composer, Trixie makes an assumption that Brad might rob a bank to get the fund. In fact, after the success of the show, and the fact that Brad is a member of the Boston wealthy family which is printed in the newspaper, Trixie changes her attitude from disregard to enthusiasm for Brad. When Brad’s order brother Lawrence and the family banker know this news, they come to New York to stop his musical career and disagree with the marriage between Brad and Polly. However, Lawrence has accidently misunderstanding, and takes Carol for Polly. After, Lawrence and the family banker have dinner and other events to investigate the fake Polly, Lawrence falls in love with Carol. Moreover, he wants to marry her. After finding the truth of the misunderstanding, Lawrence still want to marry Carol, and remains opposed to Brad and Polly’s marriage. However, finally this story end with the happy ending that Carol married Lawrence, the snobbish Trixie married the family banker, and of course Polly married Brad Roberts. These gold diggers all find their “gold” and happiness. The Gold Diggers of 1933, indeed, only covered some perspectives of Foner in Chapter 21. In chapter 21, the main points are focusing on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response and the cure to the Great Depression, and what the specifics policies in the New Deal , and their impact. However, as a comedy there are still some illustrations which can be link to Foner’s points. At the beginning, at the rehearsal night right before show start, unfortunately producer’s sponsor or creditor are not able to provide the funds to operate the show, finally; this show is canceled. This reflects to the instable financial environment during the Great Depression. Foner points out the fact that how serious problems in banking, and economy affect American lives. He indicates that “By March 1933, banking had been suspended in a majority of the states-that is, people could not gain access to money in their bank account”(Foner 762). Moreover, “About 5,000 banks –one third of the nation’s total-had failed between 1929 and 1933, representing a loss of tens of millions of dollars to depositors (Foner 762). In fact, this banking crisis, and the lowest economic mood did affect all people in America, a Broadway producer in the movie, no doubt, is one of the victims in the Great Depression. As the performers in Broadway, these chorus girls show they are the victims in the Great Depression. They lost their jobs, and need to steal neighbor’s milk for breakfast. However, after Brad’s help, they can make their lives back again. Indeed, according to Foner’s point “Depression hit industrial employment harder than low-wage clerical and service job where women predominated, the proportion of the workforce made up of women rose”(Foner 783). Indeed, these chorus girls job were considered to be holding “service jobs”, and by the less harm in the Great Depression, women became the minority survival social group. Moreover, they indirectly advocate the uprising of the “feminism”. Foner also illustrates that “The New Deal brought more women into government than before in American history”(Foner 783). This is the evidence that women’s social status were improved; however, there were still some government’s intervention in women’s social status. For instance, Foner points out that “Most New Deal programs did not exclude women from benefits(although CCC restricted its camps to men). But the ideal of the man-headed household powerfully shaped social policy”(Foner 783). Indeed, although women’s social status was moving upward, their rights were still under control by government’s intervention and social perspectives. Finally, in the show, in my observation there was a black chorus which showed up in the scene of many different couples sitting on the bench. Indeed, this might represent that Americans were starting to accept and embrace the diversity of different ethnic group. Foner points out that “American were not only middle-class Anglo- Saxons but also blacks, immigrants, and the working class” (Foner 791), this illustration represent that diversity was promoting and advocating during the New Deal period. Indeed, America is a multicultural country, with different ethnic groups, and immigrants. However, black people still suffered from getting freedom and equality during that time.

Q2: What can we learn about American culture during the time period by interpreting the film as a primary historical source?
A2: In the film, women are the most important component that we can observe their change and improvement in social perspectives. First, in the show rehearsal they wear a very exposed costumes that covered by money signs and coin. Even though they are chorus girls, it might affect what they wear while in performing. However, the fact that women were wearing more exposed dress, and the public take this as a usual behavior. Another instance is when Brad’s brother Lawrence goes to visit Carol, the fake Polly, she wears a very exposed dress just after taking a shower; however, she does not care about Lawrence’s visit and talks to Lawrence. This represents that women had their own choice to wear whatever they like, despite social expectation, and conservative’s view of how a women should wear during 1933. Moreover, the show scenes in the movie might have some sexual implications in the film; this represents that American had a more liberal sexual point of view than before. Women smoking cigarettes play a significant role that reveals and express women’s liberty. We can see that in the movie, men accept women smoking in the public. Moreover, they are glad to use a lighter to light up women’s cigarette. Men did not deny women to smoke like men did; they take this as a common activity that everyone had the right to do. Women smoking cigarettes became a symbol that the inequality between men and women were eliminated in some perspectives. However, the inequality still existed in other parts of the society.

Q3.What does the film reveal about attitudes toward gender, class, and race?
A3: The Gold Diggers of 1933 shows that a lot of improvement in American social perspectives regarding gender. Again, smoking cigarettes, wearing exposed dress, having their own job and vivid personalities in each actress were important changes. This all represents American women’s social status was moving upward. Their freedom was embodied in having more activities the same as men did. In the class point of view, in the strong contrast of Brad’s brother Lawrence wealthy and luxurious life, and chorus girls’ poor living condition after the layoff, points out that even in the Great Depression, there were still some people living in a good life. The huge gaps between upper class and the public were not eliminated by the effect of the Great Depression. In the film, the case that finally two of Boston wealthy family members Lawrence and Brad both married two chorus girls. This is the best evidence points out that the cross-class marriage was accepted by the public in 1933; moreover, it was acceptable to put this case in the film to promote this liberal concept in marriage. Regarding race, my own observation was again, the appearance of the black chorus in the film. This represents that American accepted the other ethnic group to join in their society. Compare to have the total prejudice or discrimination on them; this is a huge step that represents American’s awareness to social minorities, and takes them as the same “American”. Therefore, America was moving to accept themselves as a multicultural country, and started to put a real action to help these social minorities. This recognition from the American public might be a chance that allows these social minorities to upward their social status.

Q4.What was the most important scene in the film?
A4: The last scene with American flag, soldiers, and many men waiting on line accompanied with the song of “Remember My Forgotten Man” was the most profound and significant scene in the film. This scene connects to the first scene. At the beginning, the song of “We are in the money,” with exaggerated costumes of dollars signs, everything represents the prosperous American economy before the Great Depression. However, this show is canceled, in my explanation it means that the prosperous time in America was over. Later, the shortage of fund to start the new show is another implication that represents the circumstance in America’s poor economy. In the final scene, with the national flag, the returning soldiers from World War I, indeed, should be pleasant to back to their country. However, later on, the men are waiting in line and taking turns to smoke the same cigarette points out that how these return soldiers were treated after they back home. These surviving soldiers expected to have a good life after war; however, the Great Depression made these “forgotten men” to maintain their life in such difficult conditions. This scene not only describes the disappointment of the returning soldiers, but also indicates the hard time during the Great Depression. Although the whole movie is interprets in a comedic way, the final scene pulls the audience back to the theme of the Great Depression, and its effects. Indeed, this scene has the significant meaning represents the transition that America was undergoing in 1933, and what they were expecting and hoping in the future.

The Crowd

The Crowd, 1928
Director:King Vidor




Q1.How does the film relate to the Chapter in Foner?
A1:“The Crowd” was shot in 1928; this was a film about an ordinary American, John Sims who has a typical American dream, and is eager to have a great life in the future. This film describes how he put his endeavors to pursuit his expected life, furthermore, how he goes through his life time dilemmas and challenges, and tries so hard to accomplish his American Dream. The film starts with a scene that when he is born; his father says to him “ I am going to give him every opportunity.” Indeed, John does not disappoint his father’s expectation, and becomes a very ambitious child who has a big aspirations and goals. However, when John is 12, his father dies. When he becomes 21, he comes to New York City, and becomes a professional accountant. In this metropolis, as an accountant, a well dressed professional person. Finally, he finds his love, and gets married with Mary. They live in a very tiny place, indeed, they are poor. Moreover, John is suffering from being humiliated by Mary’s wealthy mother and brothers, namely, Mary’s mother requests John to have a better standard of living to take care of Mary. When time passes, this young couple has a lovely son and daughter. Their life is normal and pleasant, but there comes an event that will change John’s ordinary life. John earns the prize of 500 dollars from an advertising competition; he buys some presents for his children for celebrating his wining. However, when his daughter crosses the street from playing with other kids to get his father’s gift, she is hit by a truck. His daughter does not survive after that accident, and this dramatic moment changes John’s life. In fact, after this tragedy, John is too pained, and unable to focus on his work. The consequence is not surprising; he quit his job. Later he decides to start up his own business by selling vacuum cleaners, but ends up with failure. After losing his lovely baby and job, he starts to stays at home, and does not work for a long time. During that time, Mary starts to do some handmade works to maintain their life. However, Mary cannot stand for John doing nothing at home, moreover, she wants to leave him. Meanwhile, John still suffering from losing his child, and thinks of himself as a useless man. He once thinks about committing suicide to end his tragic life, but with his son’s encouragement, he is willing to seek another job. A clown that John made fun of earlier in the film becomes John’s only option to bring his wife and family back. In fact, he takes the job as a clown; put his family and life back again. John represents 1920’s average income American people, like white-collar accountants, this is a portrait of how an average income American lives, and how they overcome their life time difficulties. In fact, this film did reveal some of Foner’s points of view about 1920’s in his book. First of all, when John goes to New York City, it is not hard to observe that New York is a big, populated city. This gigantic city was filled with cars, wide-extended roads, and sky-high modern buildings, most important of all, more and more busy, well-suited people around. This part of the film gives us an information of how an American city like New York was so prosperous and advanced during that time. Foner points out that “The 1920s was a decade of prosperity”( Foner 722).I think that New York is one of the most significant signs of prosperity in 1920s’ America. Foner also believes that “The automobile was the backbone of economic growth”(Foner 722). Indeed, automobiles played a significant part to stimulate America’s economy, and pushed American society to be more modernized and advanced. That’s why Foner thinks that “The automobile industry stimulated the expansion of steel, rubber and oil production, road construction, and other sectors of the economy”(Foner 722). In fact, we can notice there were so many cars in New York city, these cars in the film might be the best illustration of Foner’s point. Second, when John became a vacuum cleaners’ salesman, after not selling any of them, he went home disappointed and said to Mary “Mary, there's no use trying to sell vacuums. Everybody has one.” In fact, this reflects what Foner’s description on the top of the graph, it points out “Electric washing machines and Hoover vacuum cleaners were two of the home appliances that found their way into many American homes during the 1920s(Foner 724). This represents that the public had stronger consumption power, and how advanced American society was popularized during 1920s. Last but not least, in the film, there was a standard for men and women to be well dressed. For instance, John always wears suit and tie with his hat, no matter where he is going. This standard might be the fashionable way of wearing and part of public culture in America’s 1920s. Foner, indeed, explains this phenomenon as “ Radio and the movie spread mass culture throughout the nation. Americans seemed to dress like, think like, go to the same movies, and admire the same larger-than-life national celebrities”(Foner 721). In my understanding, these three main points are most related to Foner’s chapter, moreover, because this film was just made a year before the Great Depression, so this might be the best material to illustrate America’s culture, and their daily life before the Great Depression. However, this film was made in 1928, so, maybe the problems and negative parts of the society like corruption in the government, and the opposite sides of the modern urban culture, the rise of fundamentalism were not mentioned in the movie.



Q2.What can we learn about American Culture during the time period by interpreting the film as a primary sources?
A2: The entertainment was more important than before in1920s and people took this as necessity in their daily life. In the film, when John has a date with Mary, they go to a carnival to enjoy their date. This also points that the “night life” appeared in 1920’s and was important to the public. Moreover, in John’s company, they have a activity like “ Annual Picnic”, this reveals that cooperation started to have this kind of company activity provides an event that make their workers know each other, relax, and most important part was to unite their workers. In my explanation, this represents that the “company culture” or “company spirit” emerged in the 1920’s American business culture. Working attitude might be another issue in the 1920’s business world. John and his colleagues seem to expect to get out of work as soon as possible. There is a scene that all accountants including John are staring at the clock before five pm, and is not hard to see how they are eager to get out of work. However, after work, everyone is excited to enjoy their entertainment. This issue reflects how working people lack break time, and how they did not enjoy working. In 1920s, the social status of women had reached another level. For instance, when John has a date with Mary they are not afraid to hug or kiss in public. This represents that women’s liberty was promoted and accepted by the public. Moreover, in Mary’s case they could choose their groom or dating guy without having the same social status or parents’ arrangement. The vacuum was another symbol in 1920s, it was popularized and became a symbol of how America’s economy was rapidly growing; moreover, most Americans could afford to use this type of advanced technology at home. America’s society no doubt was more modernized than any other country and culture. Urbanization was another achievement we could observe from the film. New York City’s fascinating sky-high buildings, endless driving cars, and countless people in the city all embodies that New York City was as a well urbanized city in1920s.

Q3.What does the film reveal about attitudes toward gender, class, and race?
A3:
In this film, it does not describe any issue that associated with race, but“ The Crowd” does deal with about class and gender. In the class system, John, an accountant, is a typical representative of a white-collar average American, this film well describes what an average American life was about in 1920s. In fact, their salaries only could cover their daily fundamental uses, for example, food, and basic furniture. That’s why when John earns the prize from an advertising competition of 500 dollars, he is so pleased, because he can pay off the furniture loan, and buy something considered luxurious like presents for their children. Without this 500 dollars, he has barely enough money to buy something else, his income is completely dedicated to some daily needs like food and loans. Indeed, this points out that although John was an average income American in1920s, he could only barely maintain his life in balance. Regarding gender, although Mary had more freedom like kissing or hugging in the public as a normal behavior in the 1920s society, in this movie the women were still defined as the people who only need to devote themselves to their family. Mary, in the film, despite the time before she married John, she always stays at home waiting for John get out of work. Mary cooks breakfast for John, and when John is fired, she does some handmade works to support their family. In fact, Mary’s priority is still focusing on her family. Women’s liberty was still held by their family’s control in 1920s, they did not have complete freedom yet.


Q4.What was the most important scene in the film?
A4:
The most important scene was when John is encouraged by his son, and finds a new job to be a clown; the same job that he had laughed at in the beginning when he was still an accountant. However, he gives up his unpractical dream in thinking about that he still could have his own big business, without doing nothing, furthermore, he takes the job. Based on this clown job, John earns his revenue again, brings Mary back, and their family back on track again. This indirectly shows that John starts over his American dream again, and puts it into action. Although being a clown has a low salary, hope is what he has now. He can use this hope to change his family’s poor living condition to a better life. This optimistic vision of future might be a unique product and response of the prosperous decade of 1920s. However, again, this movie was made right before the Great Depression; I believe that after the Great Depression this optimistic social expectation will switch in a different way.

Traffic in Souls

Traffic in Souls, 1913
Director: George Loane Tucker




Q1.How does the film relate to the chapter in Foner
A1:”Traffic in Souls” was the film that took shot in 1913, right before the World War I. This movie started In New York City, William Trubus who is the boss of “International Purity and Reform League”, indeed; it is an underground organization that kidnaps women, especially, overseas immigrants to do prostitution for profits. Moreover, in order to escape from police’s attention, Trubus uses advice like dictograph and telegraphic pen to contact with the brothel’s operators. At the beginning, two Swedish immigrant sisters become organization’s target. After they are taken to the brothel, a police randomly find the place, and save all the victims. Later on, another case that a candy shop’s employee Loran asked by a man out for drink. However that man is one of the member in the organization, after Loran is drunk, he has kidnapped Loran to the brothel. Loran’s sister, Mary, is so worries that her sister has not come home for so late and not coming home for so many days. As a result, she starts to find her sister by herself, but in vain. Indeed, after Loran’s missing, Mary is too sorrowful to concentrate on her work. Finally she gets fired, but occasionally hires by Mr. Trubus wife as a secretary in Trubus’s office. However, fortunately Mary has the opportunity to clean Trubus’s desk, moreover, indirectly listens to the conversation between Trubus and brothel’s operator. She thinks that this might be have something associated with her sister’s case. After finds out this, she asks her boyfriend, the officer Burke for help. In the end, they find the evident by using Mary’s father new invention, and safe Loran out of torture. Although this was a typical “hero safes his lover” type of movie, this movie reflects some social perspectives and social issues in progressive Era, and illustrates some Foner’s points. First, the immigrants’ issues were raised in the movie. According to Foner’s point, he points out that“the new immigration from southern and eastern Europe had begun[to arrive] around 1890 but reached its peak during the Progressive era”(Foner 643). In the film, we could clearly see that when two Swedish sisters are coming to the United States, how joyful and pleasant they are. Most of these European immigrants were escaped from Europe during World War I. They consider America as a shelter to start their brand new life. However, in Swedish sisters’ case, when they first got here, they were taken to the brothel. I believe this strong contrast illustrates that the Swedish sisters’ case was used to enlarge the fact that how these European immigrants were unfairly treated. Foner illustrates their situation as “they endured low wages, long hours, and dangerous working condition”(Foner 646). Although these immigrants were free from the battle field of World War I, indeed, they were not totally free when they moved to the United States. Foner points out that these immigrants request for “the true freedom”. They were not free with the limited low wages, and little upward economic mobility (Foner 746). In fact, these European immigrants were no doubts, a huge social issue during the Progressive Era. They were still experiencing the social inequity. Women, in this film, is another key point that depicts women’s social status during the Progressive Era was moving upward. For example, Mary and her sister Loran were allowed to work in a candy shop. Moreover, Loran was asked out for a drink case, it is normal that women can have drink and dance in the public place during that time. Just as Foner said “ Traditional gender roles were changing dramatically in Progressive America” (Foner 647). As a matter of fact, before Progressive Era, women’s social role was focusing on family. They spent almost all of their time and energy to devote to their family. A woman’s freedom of having job, go to dance hall was not accepted. However, the Progressive Era gave American women opportunities to work and consume. As the promotion of “Feminism” by more and more people, women’s also have their right in sex. The sexual liberation had occurred.

Q2.What can we learn about American culture during that time period by interpreting the film as a primary historical source?
A2:First, the new technology like dictograph and a telegraphic pen showed up, this represents that America had a great success in accepting new technology and had a modernized society, moreover, consumer freedom. Second, when Loran goes out with a man for a drink this represent that American Women during that time had their own will to decide who she wanted to go out for a date with. Namely, they started to have their sexual self-determination. Third, again, women were allowed to drink alcohol and dance in the public. In fact, this is a great moment to American women, and a great illustration of women’s liberty. In fact, this might be great evidence that points out how American women have their early liberty in having entertainment. Fourth, the emergence of the European immigrants’ gave American a multicultural society. Finally, in the film, even though they had gun fight, there was almost no bloody scene, and little violence. Moreover, in the film, when depicting the relationship between Mary and her boyfriend, there were no sexual imply in the film, and their relationship seems conservative based on their body contact and gesture. In sum, the male-female relationship in the Progressive Era might still be conservative.

Q3.What does the film reveal about attitudes toward gender, class, and race?
A3:In fact, Traffic in Souls did not directly or indirectly mention race. However, in the class part, my own observation was that a strong contrast between the boss of “International Purity and Reform League”, William Trubus, and the two Swedish sisters who just arrive to America. On one hand, Trubus is a typical upper class who has everything he needs; power, money, social status, reputation, and marriage. On the other hand, two Swedes who just immigrate to America, they have nothing but need to get the assistance from their cousin in America. Moreover, they seek for any chance to have a job, a job that might have low wages and long working hours. However, they do not care about wage; their priority is to survive. This huge gap between higher class and lower class in different standard of living and different way of thinking about money might be a serious social problem during that time. The gender, in this film, I believe is the most important element, and well illustrated one. The film used Loran and two Swedish girls as an example to highlight that women were always victims and belonged to the weak side in the society during that time. Swedish sisters are deceived to take to the brothel, and forced to stay there. Loran is drunk, and is locked up in the room, and forced to do prostitution. In addition, when Loran realizes that she is locked in the room of the brothel, she is depressed, crying, and doing nothing. Conversely, Loran’s sister, Mary, although at the beginning when she knows that her sister is missing, she does the same things that Loran did. She is depressed and crying. However, instead of waiting, she asks Officer Burke for help. Moreover, when she works in Trubus’ office, she finds out the whole conspiracy in Trubus’ organization, and uses her father’s new invention to record the evidence. Indeed, Mary became the symbol of the rising of “Feminism” in the Progressive Era. She indirectly told the American women they should stand out to enjoy their freedom, furthermore, earn their own freedom by themselves.

Q4.What was the most important scene in the film?
A4:The most important scene is when Loran’s sister Mary gets the evidence of Trubus’s crime, even though she is in danger be caught by Trubus and his member. Mary’s brave determination to collect the evidence by herself points out that American women can have their own will and liberty to do what they should do, and have to do in the Progressive era. They should not think that women only need to stay at home and take care of their family. Thus, they should have the same opportunity as men did; they could find a job in work place. They could have a great contribution to American economy. They could have relationship with whoever they wanted. They also could drink alcohol and dance. Women started to pursuit their liberty in different fields and issues in the Progressive Era. For example, when the Progressive Era’s women started to think about themselves, what they want, and what they need. This also indirectly established the consuming power of women. They used purchasing as a way to present their form of freedom. This made Feminism more important and vivid to the society. In this scene, the director had the points that, the Progressive Era’s women were more independent, and did not belong to the weak and soft side of the society. Family might still be an important part of their lives, but not everything of their life. Women in Progressive Era might have a question in their mind “Men can why Women cannot? ”; this type of thinking might strongly be inserted in their mind.