The Film Industry In Hollywood During The 1930's

The film industry in Hollywood was no more immune from the Great Depression’s hit than any other industry. The film industry, founded on several economic and social institutions, hid the real world difficulties behind the on-screen glitz and glamour. These efforts to disguise the country’s hardships were essentially what kept American’s coming back to view motion pictures time and time again. At movie theatres, individuals were able to escape from their worries for a few hours. No other “medium has contributed more greatly than the film to the maintenance of the national morale during a period featured by revolution, riot and political turmoil in other countries”. The film industry itself experienced several obstacles in efforts to gain prosperity

Audiences are limited to what is offered but the array of options offered depends on what has been previously accepted by audiences. Films began to resemble American desires, just as “American desires reflected films”, making it close to impossible to acknowledge the power of Hollywood during the 1930’s. Despite the variety of genres, depression films assumed responsibility of restoring American values such as “individualism, classlessness and progress”. Filmmakers realized the need to stay within the realm of reality, not venturing too far out, for this is one of the reasons American audiences chose movies as entertainment. Without the connection between audiences and the characters and plot lines, Americans would have found entertainment elsewhere. In 1933, musicals such as 42nd Street, Footlight Parade and Gold Diggers became especially popular. Although the intricate singing and dance numbers within these musicals do not serve as a solution to personal Depression problems, “it is just [about] escape, merely utopian”. This strategy Hollywood utilized helped create these musicals that became the highest money making films of the decade. This was when filmmakers no longer felt the need to concentrate on the idealistic outlook of the roaring 1920’s. They were able to exhibit realistic aspirations and attainment through up

Musicals also depicted familiar sites audiences could identify with, such as homes filled with hardship and Depression-stricken cities. However, with this being said, these settings grasped audience’s emotions while manipulating them with a positive ending. This is best exemplified in the 1933 musical Gold Diggers. In this film, we are first presented with an extravagant and dazzling musical number. The film’s opening is “one of the most preposterously optimistic reflections on the depression in screen history”. It was one of the first times the Hollywood musical offers a “saccharine alternative” to economics hardship outside the movie theatre, “entertainment as escapism pure and simple”. However as the song continues, they are required to stop due to bankruptcy. To their surprise, this actually leads them to the hands of a wonderful pianist who eventually is able to lead the showgirls to success. Gold Diggers was able to make light of the misfortune presented while also incorporating a great deal of humor. In addition the plot dramatized the anger presented in war veterans as their pride drastically diminished from marching in army lines to standing in breadlines in desperation for food. Due to this, the musical draws a variety of audiences varying from middle-aged unemployed men to romantic teenage