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Post by gerald424 on Sept 10, 2024 3:05:59 GMT
I have a friend who I'm introducing to classic films. One of her favorite images is the housewife: Keeping the home, caring for the children, having dinner ready for the husband etc...
I want to suggest to her some films that portray this in a positive light. I can probably think of a few myself. But, I thought I would give the group here an opportunity to suggest a few. Many minds are better than one.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by topbilled on Sept 10, 2024 3:35:18 GMT
Here's a list:
Barbara Stanwyck in MY REPUTATION (1946)
Frances Gifford in THE ARNELO AFFAIR (1947)
Maureen O'Hara in SITTING PRETTY (1948)
Joan Bennett in THE RECKLESS MOMENT (1949)
Jane Wyatt in OUR VERY OWN (1950)
Joan Leslie in THE SKIPPER SURPRISED HIS WIFE (1950)
Elizabeth Taylor in FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND (1951)
Bette Davis in PAYMENT ON DEMAND (1951)
Dorothy McGuire in INVITATION (1952)
Harriet Nelson in HERE COME THE NELSONS (1952)
Ruth Hussey in THE LADY WANTS MINK (1953)
June Allyson in EXECUTIVE SUITE (1954)
Beatrice Straight in PATTERNS (1956)
Gena Rowlands in THE HIGH COST OF LOVING (1958)
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Post by BunnyWhit on Sept 10, 2024 4:31:24 GMT
I Remember Mama (1948) -- No mother ever had it more together or was wiser than Irene Dunne.
Room for One More (1952) -- I think anyone would like Betsy Drake as the wife, and the entire family dynamic is great.
Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) -- Doris Day is great with the kids; you'll think they are hers.
Freaky Friday (1976) -- Sure, Barbara Harris gets transferred to her young teen daughter's body, but as the mother, she gains a deeper understanding of both her children. I adore Barbara Harris. This is the one to watch; the newer version of this is nowhere near as good.
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Post by kims on Sept 10, 2024 12:41:12 GMT
HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY has a strong wife with traditional values.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE has a loyal supportive wife in the traditional mold.
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Post by topbilled on Sept 10, 2024 16:33:28 GMT
Incidentally, I tried to think of non-Caucasian examples, but the immediate postwar period (1946 to 1959) seemed to focus on white families. African American or Latin American stars were still mostly used for specialty numbers, servant roles or comic relief...which is unfortunate.
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Post by NoShear on Sept 10, 2024 16:48:24 GMT
Incidentally, I tried to think of non-Caucasian examples, but the immediate postwar period (1946 to 1959) seemed to focus on white families. African American or Latin American stars were still mostly used for specialty numbers, servant roles or comic relief...which is unfortunate. How about a raisin in the sun (1961), would that qualify along the line you mentioned, TopBilled? |
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Post by topbilled on Sept 10, 2024 17:21:30 GMT
Incidentally, I tried to think of non-Caucasian examples, but the immediate postwar period (1946 to 1959) seemed to focus on white families. African American or Latin American stars were still mostly used for specialty numbers, servant roles or comic relief...which is unfortunate. How about a raisin in the sun (1961), would that qualify along the line you mentioned, TopBilled? |
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Post by topbilled on Sept 10, 2024 17:38:17 GMT
If we're talking about housewives on television:
Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance in I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show
Joan Davis in I Married Joan
Harriet Nelson, June Blair & Kris Nelson in The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet
Barbara Billingsley in Leave It To Beaver and The New Leave It To Beaver
Whitney Blake & Lynn Borden in Hazel
Pat Crowley in Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Elizabeth Montgomery in Bewitched
Tina Cole & Beverly Garland in My Three Sons
Jeanette Nolan in The Virginian
Ellen Corby, Michael Learned & Lynn Hamilton in The Waltons
Karen Grassle in Little House on the Prairie
Jean Stapleton in All in the Family
Bea Arthur & Rue McClanahan in Maude
Esther Rolle in Good Times
Isabel Sanford & Roxie Roker in The Jeffersons
Kate Jackson & Beverly Garland in Scarecrow & Mrs. King
Mary Frann in Newhart
Marla Gibbs in 227
Anna Maria Horsford in Amen
Roseanne Barr & Natalie West in Roseanne
(Not all of these are traditional examples.)
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Sept 10, 2024 23:43:38 GMT
MEET ME IN ST LOUIS  |
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Sept 11, 2024 14:37:54 GMT
I wonder if Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House qualifies since they have a live-in maid.
Of course, we find that in many studio-era films, but does having a live-in maid make one a traditional housewife?
In Mr. Blanding the housewife (as excellently played by Myrna Loy), doesn't work so in that sense she is traditional, but with a live-in maid one would assume such a housewife doesn't have to perform traditional housewife duties.
Thinking about Loy more one could say that once Nick and Nora have a kid, Nora is the same type of housewife.
I really wonder the percentage of US households in the era that had a live-in maid. I assume it was very low, and we see it more in movies than it actually took place.
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Post by kims on Sept 15, 2024 12:52:50 GMT
I'm watching ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN with Fredric March and Martha Scott and great character actors in the supporting cast. Film is set early 1900's. I'll recommend this film because it shows husband and wife as my grandparents told the old family lore.
By today's standards it seems the husband is somewhat oblivious to the trials of the wife, assumes she is at fault when money doesn't last until the next pay: The husband says do this, do that-not truly dictatorial, but shows that the husband is head of the family and the wife is the helpmate. Compared to today the wife may seem more a servant. The wife is not a meek subservient though. It is an era that the husband often makes decisions without input from the wife because were thought to be unable to make important decisions.
And that carried into the 70's in my mother's family. At the dinner table my grandfather would command my mother or grandmother-"more potatoes." No please or thank you from him. When my grandmother saved money for a new stove, he used the money for a tv.
The couple in ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN are not as harsh as my grandparents, but I can recommend this film for a view of marriage that commonly existed in the 1900's.
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Sept 15, 2024 17:17:19 GMT
I'm watching ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN with Fredric March and Martha Scott and great character actors in the supporting cast. Film is set early 1900's. I'll recommend this film because it shows husband and wife as my grandparents told the old family lore. By today's standards it seems the husband is somewhat oblivious to the trials of the wife, assumes she is at fault when money doesn't last until the next pay: The husband says do this, do that-not truly dictatorial, but shows that the husband is head of the family and the wife is the helpmate. Compared to today the wife may seem more a servant. The wife is not a meek subservient though. It is an era that the husband often makes decisions without input from the wife because were thought to be unable to make important decisions. And that carried into the 70's in my mother's family. At the dinner table my grandfather would command my mother or grandmother-"more potatoes." No please or thank you from him. When my grandmother saved money for a new stove, he used the money for a tv. The couple in ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN are not as harsh as my grandparents, but I can recommend this film for a view of marriage that commonly existed in the 1900's. March and Scott also play parents in The Desperate Hours (1955). Scott is a traditional housewife in this film as well. |
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Post by gerald424 on Oct 16, 2024 2:57:04 GMT
Thanks for the replies.
There are no set rules or parameters. Just someone who enjoys keeping the home and family. This time of the year this theme comes more into focus. I was talking to my friend and she's getting ready for decorations and such although it's still at least a month away, depending on which holidays you may celebrate or observe.
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Post by gerald424 on Oct 22, 2024 2:41:49 GMT
Just for the record, I'm still looking for some. Now, I'm more into decorating the home, family together types of scenes.For the season.
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Post by kims on Oct 22, 2024 20:24:44 GMT
THE CHEATERS!!! the 1945 film. Hard to find, usually plays on TCM at Christmas. Stars a great cast including Joseph Schildkraut, Eugene Pallette and Billie Burke. Film starts in the fabulously rich mansion, but the family and guests go to a country house where there is decorating for the season.
Oh, and is it too early to dare mention the un-classic Hallmark Channels? Almost all are relatively mindless and predictable and usually display at least one Hallmark product. But after election season, I need a dose of sugary sweetness to counteract the venom.
But seriously, THE CHEATERS is a gem.
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