April 16 2008
Many American conservatives are convinced that Hollywood has always been a stronghold of leftism, but this isn't true. During the history of American movies, the political tone of Hollywood films has shifted from right to left and back more than once. These shifts have reflected changes in the political attitudes of the American public. After all, the movie studios are selling entertainment, so offending the majority of their viewers doesn't make good business sense.
The very early Twentieth Century was a very conservative time, so Hollywood movies of that era portrayed social reformers as "Bolsheviks" and D.W. Griffiths produced Birth Of A Nation, a film that glorified the Ku Klux Klan. Blacks were always portrayed in movies as comical, cowardly and not very bright. Big corporations were good for America.
Things began to change during the 1930s because of the misery brought by the Great Depression. Movie plots began to show the 'little guy" as a hero fighting a system that wouldn't give him a break and some films even included very muted talk about social change. Villains were usually shown to be corrupt politicians because it was still too dangerous to criticize the big corporations.
When World War II arrived, leftism gave way to flag waving. The American Way was considered a beacon to the rest of the world. This didn't last long and the late 1940s brought film noir, with its cynicism about the police, the courts and everything else. Many of these movies were directed by dedicated socialists and they included a subtle leftist subtext. Conservatives were frightened by this and they tried to use the McCarthy witch hunts to clean the Commies out of Hollywood.
The leftward shift increased during the 1960s and 1970s. Many movies of that era, such as Catch 22 and Dog Day Afternoon wouldn't get made today because of their scathing attitudes toward the miltary and the police. The shift leftward screeched to a halt during the Reagan years and movies began using long haired hippies, street blacks and homosexuals as stock villains. The Right was back in the saddle again.
Today, movie politics seems to be moving back to the left as the American public becomes increasingly concerned about the Iraq War, a sinking economy and the climate crisis. This may result in some great films being produced. Most of the movie classics of the past were made during the more leftist periods in Hollywood, due to the greater artistic freedom allowed directors at those times.
Where do you think the movies are headed politically? I'd like to know your opinion.
George
P.S. Check out my books on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstrip books&field-keywords=George+J.+Condon&x=0&y=0
Many American conservatives are convinced that Hollywood has always been a stronghold of leftism, but this isn't true. During the history of American movies, the political tone of Hollywood films has shifted from right to left and back more than once. These shifts have reflected changes in the political attitudes of the American public. After all, the movie studios are selling entertainment, so offending the majority of their viewers doesn't make good business sense.
The very early Twentieth Century was a very conservative time, so Hollywood movies of that era portrayed social reformers as "Bolsheviks" and D.W. Griffiths produced Birth Of A Nation, a film that glorified the Ku Klux Klan. Blacks were always portrayed in movies as comical, cowardly and not very bright. Big corporations were good for America.
Things began to change during the 1930s because of the misery brought by the Great Depression. Movie plots began to show the 'little guy" as a hero fighting a system that wouldn't give him a break and some films even included very muted talk about social change. Villains were usually shown to be corrupt politicians because it was still too dangerous to criticize the big corporations.
When World War II arrived, leftism gave way to flag waving. The American Way was considered a beacon to the rest of the world. This didn't last long and the late 1940s brought film noir, with its cynicism about the police, the courts and everything else. Many of these movies were directed by dedicated socialists and they included a subtle leftist subtext. Conservatives were frightened by this and they tried to use the McCarthy witch hunts to clean the Commies out of Hollywood.
The leftward shift increased during the 1960s and 1970s. Many movies of that era, such as Catch 22 and Dog Day Afternoon wouldn't get made today because of their scathing attitudes toward the miltary and the police. The shift leftward screeched to a halt during the Reagan years and movies began using long haired hippies, street blacks and homosexuals as stock villains. The Right was back in the saddle again.
Today, movie politics seems to be moving back to the left as the American public becomes increasingly concerned about the Iraq War, a sinking economy and the climate crisis. This may result in some great films being produced. Most of the movie classics of the past were made during the more leftist periods in Hollywood, due to the greater artistic freedom allowed directors at those times.
Where do you think the movies are headed politically? I'd like to know your opinion.
George
P.S. Check out my books on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstrip books&field-keywords=George+J.+Condon&x=0&y=0
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 3