American History - 1950-1959

This website provides a brief overview and analysis of all aspects of the 1950’s culture in America. The early part of the decade was marked by a return to conservatism. The homecoming of U.S. troops from World War II, the fear of communist infiltration in the west, and a strong feeling of national pride collectively caused many disillusioned Americans to return to their traditional roots. However despite a traditionalist attitude there were still many changes occurring during this decade which would lead to the rebellious nature of the youth in the 60’ and 70’s. The introduction of television as a new form of media was a major turning point in the industry, and the birth of rock and roll both revolutionized American culture.

It was at the end of this era of 1950’s culture that Billy Wilder produced and directed Some Like it Hot. This movie essentially marks the beginning of the end of the conservatist era. Some Like it Hot cost $2.8 million dollars to make and was a box office hit grossing around $7 million. It is clear from the numbers that people of the time were becoming more open and accepting of topics that were previously banned. The publics’ response to this racy atypical comedy is significant because the audience’s attraction to the movie was based in its openness with themes of sexuality and violence. It was a movie that contained layers of understanding and innuendo that could be appreciated by audiences of all ages. This website provides information regarding the 1950’s way of life, and in understanding the peoples attitudes at the end of the 1950’s one is able to more fully appreciate the costume choices, witty references, and language used in the movie.

This source provides a proficient generic foundation of the culture of the 1950’s and contains a great deal of citations that were used and can be accessed through the database.

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American History - 1950-1959