Hollywood’sObsession with the 20’s

When many people think of the ‘20s, the words roaring, fun and party typically come to mind. In fact, a poll done by The Economist shows that the ‘20s are in the top three decades Americans would most like to relive. This is no coincidence, though, as many of these ideas stem directly from Hollywood and its iconic ‘20s scenes. “The Great Gatsby” is one of the most famous depictions of this decade. Gatsby’s luxury has been a symbol of the ‘20s wealth since the movie’s release. Flapper girls, jewels and excessive lights became the modern idea of what the ‘20s was like, but it didn’t stop at Gatsby. “Midnight in Paris” and “Bugsy Malone” are just two more examples of ‘20s luxury depicted all throughout Hollywood. All of the most popular ‘20s movies have one thing in common: luxurious, dance-tillyou-drop parties that never seemed to end.

The partying wasn’t completely unjustified or unrealistic, though. The ‘20s followed a time of great difficulty in America. The first World War had just ended in 1918, and with the end of the war came the reunion of families, the end of recessions and the reinstitution of familiarity in life. The takedown of the Central Powers led to great nationalism all across the country and America had never seen such a strong connection among its people. In the early ‘20s, the economy boomed due to mass production in the states, with the nation’s wealth more than doubling, and families finally felt relief after years of economic distress. All of these combined factors led to a joyful and celebrating nation, and the ‘20s truly exemplified a time of joy for much of America. Additionally, because of all of the extra wealth circling the economy during this time, families now had money to spend on fun rather than necessities. This led many people to watch the newest silent films in theaters, where big names like Charlie Chaplin came to life. Consumers boosted the movie industry, and Hollywood began to get on its feet.

Another highlight of the ‘20s was society’s reaction to Prohibition, the nationwide banning of alcohol. Americans found a loophole in the law: Prohibition only banned the production of alcohol, not the consumption of it. Thus, consumers continued to drink alcohol, and with depleting supply and no production, illegal distribution of alcohol increased, increasing gang activity with it. Hollywood took note, and mob and crime movies began to gain popularity. “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Last Man Standing” and “The Untouchables” all became classics for their depiction of crime during the Prohibition era. Many notable detective and old crime films came from this period, jumpstarting the crime genre in Hollywood. What Hollywood oftentimes seems to miss about the ‘20s, however, is that this joy was not equally spread to every American citizen. Although the 19th amendment was finally ratified in 1920, there was still much resistance against nonwhite women’s suffrage, and racial stigmas remained strong. All of the glamorous parties were held exclusively for white men and women. The Klu Klux Klan began to terrorize the streets, and wages held by Black workers did not compare to those of white workers. The Harlem Renaissance did provide a similar music and party scene up north, though, where African American culture came to life. Manhattan became the center of Black musicians, street life, visual arts and, most notably, the Jazz Age. Although not as popular, Hollywood’s depiction of Harlem in “Passing” was very accurate, with the main character, Irene, actively living in Harlem and being a part of its community. The film received great ratings for its unique storyline and accurate and personal depiction of the time, receiving a 90 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. In the past, Hollywood has tended to share stories that show glamour, and fun; whatever will attract viewers quickest. In this trend, the other side of stories are often missed and misrepresentation is common. So, although the ‘20s did have much of the glamour and extravagance that many movies depict, it wasn’t equal for all, and many people had a much different experience in the ‘20s roar.