1. What do you notice about the interaction between the characters in these two scenes? Please give specific examples.
Their interactions with each other speak of longing, but also an easiness only found between two people who are truly compatible. It is in the ease of being yourself around someone who you find attractive which is magical in relationships. There is no wall or front needed to hide yourself. That is what I saw in the boat while he sings to her, and she so quickly discovers his ploy of inserting any woman's name into the song. It is also at the end of that scene in what was meant to be funny, but was actually kind of heartbreaking, when he said, "It didn't work with Maude, but then nothing worked with Maude." He barely knows Marie, and yet he opened up enough in that moment to let her see a small piece of himself.
In the second scene the viewer can clearly see they care for each other. He knows she is hurt by the other woman's performance, which is base and rude compared with her own. I'm sure, in that moment, she had conflicting feelings of needing to lower her standards to entertain the people, and not wanting to have to do that in order to be liked. She chose the high road by taking herself out of the situation, but he could tell her feelings are hurt. I think it might have even bothered him the person who hurt her feelings came in with him.
2. If you have seen either or both of these actors in other films or television shows, please share your perceptions about them.
I have not.
3. What do these clips tell you about the male/female relationships as they are depicted in the films during this era? What norms might you expect are supported under the Hollywood Film Code?
In the first scene it seemed proper she was facing away from him the the boat, as he was "taking her to meet another man." His co-actions of physically leaning in while rowing and singing indicated his intentions toward her, which sparked her action of turning toward him indicating her returned interest in him. She wore her emotions and perceptions of what he was singing openly on her face, though she was still facing away from him to keep him from seeing. I believe it was a breakthrough she called him out on his song though, allowing her to be open and honest about her feelings instead of simply staying quiet in the background like a good little woman. I liked she could be wholesome, yet stand up for herself.
I also noticed a contrast in perceptions of women vs. men at the time. Women could be either prim and proper (Though Marie broke that for a little while making fun of herself), or they could be bawdy and persuasive (like the woman singing in the low, dusky voice and swaying suggestively). There did not seem to be this duality for the male characters though. They could be both proper and forward in the same scene!
