1950s / Richard A. Schwartz.

The 1950’s was a decade whose beginning and end were marked by obvious changes in American culture and society. With the birth of television shows such as American Band stand a new teenage market was born. A market of consumerist who denied the traditionalist styles their forefathers embraced. The place of women in this society also exhibited a large range from the traditionalist house wife and mother to a sexual icon during the late 50’s into the 60’s. With all this incongruity between ideals of the older and younger generations it is not a surprise that Hollywood movies dealing with risqué topics began to find their market. Schwartz’ book is a comprehensive look at the defining event of the 1950’s and summarizes how every aspect of society from politics to entertainment changes as the years pass. In the chapter concerning 1959 the time period when Some Like it Hot was released, Hollywood was finding its footing in the market by touching on topics that television supported by advertisers was too fearful to attack.

Some Like it Hot is a movie which is truly of its time, particularly with regards to Marilyn Monroe’s role a sexual icon and a fool for love. These two roles Marilyn Monroe inhabits could be viewed as symbolic of the dualistic roles of woman during this transient time from the late 1950’s into the 1960’s. There was the submissive role which Marilyn encompasses as a fool who will do anything for a man she’s fallen, and Marilyn’s role as a sexual icon. Marilyn’s sexual presence gives her power and makes her the star of the movie. Even though she is in less scenes then Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon she is by far the most memorable figure in the movie.

This source is a historical assessment of 1950’s America as a whole and it is during this context that one is able to see clear societal influences in Billy Wilders comedy Some Like it Hot.

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1950s / Richard A. Schwartz.