Scenery and Costumes
The 1950s were a time of glamor and decadent style. In The King and I, Deborah Kerr’s character, Anna Leonowens, wears many elaborate and extravagant ball gowns and dresses. Around this same period, Dior’s “New Look” was taking flight in France and around the world. It featured a tight, cinched waist and an overall hourglass figure. The women’s costumes of the movie follow this silhouette and are very stereotypically feminine, as was popular in the 50s. Anna’s blue traveling dress, for example, had a lot of fabric to make a full skirt and lace trim to add girlish appeal. The costume also came with tight, white gloves, which were popular choices for women attending formal events. Her dresses throughout the film are similar and reflect the expectations of women’s formalwear during both the period that the movie was set in, as well as the 50s. The costumes and sets for the natives of Siam, however, were somewhat caricatured. Anything Siamese was considered strange, primitive, or made fun of. In Singin’ in the Rain, many of Gene Kelly’s suits and coats were single-breasted, although during the time period that the film was set in, double-breasted suits were in style. Also, Gene’s grey outfit was more suited to the 1950s because of its more conservative style. The 20s and 30s were about making a splash with pinstripes and look-at-me flair. The set of Guys and Dolls shows how city life in 1920s New York looked like through Art Deco architecture and olden-style lights. The men’s suits were very accurate to the time period, however some of the women wore pants, which did not come into style until the 50s and 60s.
Languages and Songs
The song, Adelaide’s Lament, from Guys and Dolls relates more so to a 1950s women’s perspective than it does to one of the 20s. The 1920s woman would have been more independent and educated. The character in the song feels powerless and worthless because she has not married yet. She is desolate and incomplete without having acquired a husband. She is also a ditzy type of woman, stumbling over large words and perpetuating the convention that blondes are dumb. The men in the movie speak with heavy New York accents and their language imitates that of early gangsters. There are also many references to “crap games”, a popular game consisting of rolling dice. Singin’ in the Rain, on the other hand, uses slang from movies and showbusiness. The “talkies” were new and the goal was to make people stand “in lines for those old honky tonk monkeyshines”, as quoted from “Make ‘Em Laugh”.
In The King and I, the music that accompanies the march of the Siamese princes and princesses displays the mood and personality of the children. When the eldest prince arrives, the music swells to reflect his stubbornness and power. Then it reduces itself to show the shyness of the younger children, while reaching higher notes to resemble curiosity of the more playful kids. The music itself has an Oriental sound to it, but lacks authenticity.
In The King and I, the music that accompanies the march of the Siamese princes and princesses displays the mood and personality of the children. When the eldest prince arrives, the music swells to reflect his stubbornness and power. Then it reduces itself to show the shyness of the younger children, while reaching higher notes to resemble curiosity of the more playful kids. The music itself has an Oriental sound to it, but lacks authenticity.
Pop Culture References
The illegal gambling that often took place in the cities, especially during the 20s, is referenced to in Guys and Dolls. Mid-song, everyone whispered because the words were “crap game”. If the police caught wind of what was going on, those involved would likely be in jail. Throughout the film, the characters are avoiding arrest for their glamorized crimes. At the same time, the movie does not try to promote illegality. At the end, everyone is married or getting married and the women have converted their sinful men into honest ones.
The King and I features a similar transformation in the King. At the beginning of the film, he is harsh, strict and primitive. By the end, he has learned that Western society is not all bad. He no longer has to be an all-powerful, controlling tyrant and can die in piece. The female lead character, Anna, goes back home equally satisfied with her newly gained knowledge that the King is a good, caring person and that Siam is not a land of savages.
Singin' in the Rain,refers to the period of time when actors had to transition from silent films to the “talkies”. There was a bit of a struggle as actors, directors, and others in the movie business had to readjust to the new style of movies. Actors could act more naturally and exaggerated facial expression less. There was also the risk that a talented actor might not have a good enough voice, which was part of the plot of the movie.
The King and I features a similar transformation in the King. At the beginning of the film, he is harsh, strict and primitive. By the end, he has learned that Western society is not all bad. He no longer has to be an all-powerful, controlling tyrant and can die in piece. The female lead character, Anna, goes back home equally satisfied with her newly gained knowledge that the King is a good, caring person and that Siam is not a land of savages.
Singin' in the Rain,refers to the period of time when actors had to transition from silent films to the “talkies”. There was a bit of a struggle as actors, directors, and others in the movie business had to readjust to the new style of movies. Actors could act more naturally and exaggerated facial expression less. There was also the risk that a talented actor might not have a good enough voice, which was part of the plot of the movie.