You had it for five years . . . . . and then it was gone for decades.

[Stinky The Clown]

I'm using that as a lead in to citation of the 2003 documentary "Complicated Women". Sparkly and I have watched this any number of times, and just watched it again tonight. Yes, its about the movies and Hollywood and make believe. But it is really a scholarly work; an accurate reflection of our cultural mores and the dangerous influence of the Great Moralizers and Tome Thumpers.

The focus are the so-called "Pre-Code" movies between 1929 and 1934. This is the era from the start of talkies (seen as the start of the modern movie era) and the institution of the draconian Hays Code, which kept married couples in double beds, with one foot always remaining on the floor.

If you get the chance, watch it. Turner Classic Movies runs it with some frequency.t.

This isn't about sex or the sexual content of these movies - except to the extent that women CAN have sex on their own terms. It IS about the strength of women. And how men have a great deal of trouble dealing with that.

As a corollary, you can rent the "Forbidden Hollywood" series, which are the movies discussed in the documentary. But it is the documentary itself that is so enlightening.

(Next showing we know of is August 10)

http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article.jsp?cid=25794&mainArticleId=149209

The documentary is actually based on a book of the same name, by historian Mick LaSalle.



http://www.micklasalle.com/books.htm

Its worth the read and goes into greater detail than the 55 minute documentary.

[XemaSab]

1. Sounds terrific

I would also suggest "The Celluloid Closet" for an exploration of pre-Hayes Hollywood. Even if you're not particularly interested in queer issues, it's an eye-opening film.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. What I find fascintaing is how closely Hollywood tracks with actual society . . . . except . . . .

. . . . when the Great Moralizers and Tom Thumpers were in charge.

"Men in White" was quite realistic and addressed serious issues.

Compare that to some of the cute pap starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland from the late 30s and early 40s.

[Auggie]

2. LaSalle may just be the foremost expert on pre-code films

[daleanime]

4. Thanks for the word...

I'll have to put that on my list.:popcorn:

[Hekate]

5. I think I caught most of that on TCM one night. It's remarkably good. Thanks for bringing it up

Certainly makes a nice change from the other topics. ;-)

Hekate

[Stinky The Clown]

6. When we get to discussing the implications of the whole Hays Code, we get sorta pissed off.

In many ways, the Hays/Catholic Church "morals" weren't about morality so much as they were about controlling women.

[Hydra]

7. "Morality" usually has nothing to do with making lives better

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo"

[daleanime]

8. Ooooh, I like that....

who's it from?

[Hydra]

9. You made me break out the google

Since I heard it fourthhand at best.

A surprisingly good pedigree:

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26949.html

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo."
H. G. Wells, The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman (1914)
English author, historian, & utopian (1866 - 1946)

[blondeatlast]

10. Ooh--I may have a new sig line! Great. nt