I think this clip and movies form the time frame show the light side not just for an escape but also appealing to the people who were less affected by the depression. Those who had money to spend want to see a good life that they have and those who find the money want a dream of what could be. Most of the films of the era would follow the same path as once something works it's easier to copy and paste the same type of films which has always been the calling card of studio films. If the code was not enforced Held would not have been dressed in an on-stage outfit that looks like she was performing in a frozen environment compared to the pre-code movie. If this was pre-code backstage we would have seen even more of her than in the "skimpy" she would have had on-stage with one of the male characters waiting for her to come off stage.
DAILY DOSE OF DELIGHT #1 (From The Great Ziegfeld)
in MAD ABOUT MUSICALS: THE HISTORY OF THE HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS
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I think this clip and movies form the time frame show the light side not just for an escape but also appealing to the people who were less affected by the depression. Those who had money to spend want to see a good life that they have and those who find the money want a dream of what could be. Most of the films of the era would follow the same path as once something works it's easier to copy and paste the same type of films which has always been the calling card of studio films. If the code was not enforced Held would not have been dressed in an on-stage outfit that looks like she was performing in a frozen environment compared to the pre-code movie. If this was pre-code backstage we would have seen even more of her than in the "skimpy" she would have had on-stage with one of the male characters waiting for her to come off stage.