I grew up watching movies such as “Casablanca”, “The Big Sleep”, “State Fair”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, and “All About Eve” just to name a few of them. I still watch them to this day and I consider Old Hollywood movies my favorite. The women wore glamorous dresses and I envied their curled hair. The men were handsome and chivalrous and went after what they wanted. I’ve always felt a strong connection with the 1940’s decade, so maybe that’s why I enjoy these movies so much.
But maybe I’m delusional. Or maybe it’s because I think I have an old soul and I’m a hopeless romantic, but I’ve always wished that Old Hollywood movies were real. There were never “almost” relationships or wishy washy guys who couldn’t choose one girl. The men portrayed in these movies were gentlemen and you always knew which woman they adored.
The women were strong and independent and they knew they didn’t need a man, but they wanted them. They had their own lives and were often successful in the movies. Old Hollywood movies portrayed simpler times. In these movies, the romance always seemed to work, but the plot usually revolved around a murder mystery. That always intrigued me, too.
It seemed like there weren’t as many mixed messages, either. But they didn’t have technology to get their lines crossed, either. I loved the relationship that Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall had in their movies. I loved how Dana Andrews’s character always made plans with Jeanne Crain’s character in “State Fair” and how they seemed to find each other in the crowd.
Actresses such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn inspired me to go after my passions. I enjoy reading biographies about these actors and actresses. Many of their lives intertwined through the movie business. In addition, I loved their makeup, hairstyles, and clothing. In fact, for most of my Halloween’s growing up, I either wanted to be a Disney princess or dressed like a woman from the 1940’s Old Hollywood.
My mom was the one to get me hooked on the movies and those decades. I’m glad she showed me this side of Hollywood. It’s hard to imagine what it would’ve been like to not have so many things trying to grab at our attention like we do today. Our phones and computers are always at close range with news of so many things happening in the world. I think it would’ve been nice to communicate through letters and postcards like they did back then. I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy one of these movies in your lifetime. It's part of America's history, in fact. I’m glad that movies from the Old Hollywood era exist today because it’s nice to take a break from reality sometimes.
