Changes of chick-flicks through the eras

Ellie Foster

1920s‘Why change your wife?’

Date: 1920.Certification: None as they did not have certification in this era.Plot: A love affair which results in a divorce, however they end up getting remarried in the end. This will appeal to a female target audience as they may be able to identify with the situation that occurs in the narrative (uses and gratification theory). The narrative will offer escapism (uses and gratification theory) to the audience because of the romantic genre which is stereotypically popular among females.Themes: Love and marriage.Genre: ComedyPlace of production: USAColour: Black and whiteSound: SilentProduction company: Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Gloria Swanson as Beth Bebe Daniels as SallyThomas Meighan as RobertTheodore Kosloff as RadiniofSlyvia Ashton as Aunt Kate

Cast

1920s‘The Flapper’

Date: 1920Certification: NonePlot: Dame Ginger is a teenager who loves to have fun, her dad sends her to a boarding school where upper-class girls learn to behave. She has many adventures and end up falling in love with a mysterious man, gaining her dream of being a true flapper. This will appeal to a female audience as the main thing in the majority of female’s lives is finding their true love. Due to the fact that the main character is rebelling and sets her heart on a mysterious man creates an enigma code as the audience would like to know how her father reacts and if this mysterious man ends up to be good to her. The audience of women can identify with the female character as they are likely to have been in relationships (uses and gratification theory.)Themes: RomanceGenre: ComedyPlace of production: USAColour: Black and WhiteSound: SilentProduction company: Selznick Pictures Corporation.

Olive Thomas as GenevieveTheodore Westman Jr. as BillWilliam P. Carleton as RichardWarren Cook as Sen. KingKatherine Johnston as Hortense

Cast:

1930s‘Morocco’

Date: 1930 Certification: NonePlot: A Legionnaire and cabaret singer fall in love. However, their relationship is complicated because of his womanizing. This plot is found relatable by most grown women as men are stereotypically known for cheating and having many women on their arm. This creates the audience of females to identify with the character and empathise with her as they feel sorry for her due to the complicated relationship in which the main character is in.Themes: Love and relationships.Genre: Romance and DramaPlace of production: USAColour: Black and whiteSound: Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Production company: Paramount Pictures

CastGary Cooper as LegoinnaireMarlene Dietrich as Mademoiselle AmyAdolphe Menjou as Monsieur La BessiereUllrich Haupt as Adjutant

1930sThe Divorcee

Date: 1930Certification: NonePlot: Jerry and Ted fall in love, however on their third year anniversary Jerry finds out that Ted had an affair. They end up divorcing and Jerry becomes a free and single woman. This is a stereotypical chick-flick where the male commits adultery and the audience empathise with the main character. This creates an enigma code due to the audience being desperate to know how the main character goes about her single life and single women can relate to this.Themes: RomanceGenre: Romance and dramaPlace of production: USAColour: Black and white Sound: Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

CastNorma Shearer as JerryChester Morris as TedConrad Nagel as PaulRobert Montgomery as DonFlorence Eldridge as Helen

1940s‘Notorious’

Date: 1946 Certification: U/APlot: Asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in south america, this women goes to great lengths to prove herself to them. This film is more historical and not as easily relatable as the previous ones. However, an enigma code is created throughout due to its thriller aspects and film noir mystery. Themes: HistoricalGenre: Drama, Film Noir, Romance and Thriller.Place of production: USAColour: Black and whiteSound: Mono (RCA Sound System)Production company: Vanguard Films and RKO Radio Pictures

CastCary Grant as DevlinIngrid Bergman as AliciaClaude Rains as AlexanderLouis Calhern as PaulLeopoldine Kostantin as Mme Sebastian

1940s‘The Philadelphia Story’

Date: 1940Certification: No rating.Plot: A women is about to marry her second husband, just as her ex-husband and a reporter turn up to the wedding, she soon learns the truth about herself. This film has a more complicated story line than the earlier chick-flicks which mostly consisted of a cheating husband. This film seems entertaining due to it’s humorous storyline, however easily identified with.Themes: Divorce and marriageGenre: Comedy and RomancePlace of production: USAColour: Black and whiteSound: Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

CastCary Grant as C.K DexterKatherine Hepburn as TracyJames Stewart as MacaulayRuth Hussey as Elizabeth John Howard as George

1950s‘How To Marry A Millionaire’

Date: 1953Certification: ApprovedPlot: Three New York models seek to find rich husbands through the use of their skills, however it is harder than they thought to discover the millionaires from the fakes. This also has an audience of women, perhaps younger women as the characters in the film are not looking for a serious relationship and are young themselves meaning young women can identify with their characters (uses and gratification theory)Themes: Friendships and money.Genre: Comedy, drama and romance.Place of production: USAColour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: 4- Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)Production company: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

CastBetty Grable as LocoMarilyn Monroe as PolaLauren Bacall as SchatzeDavid Wayne as FreddieRory Calhoun as Eben

1950s‘All About Eve’

Date: 1951Certification: UPlot: A women puts herself in the company of an established but elderly stage actress and her theatrical friends. This film does not seem to involve romance and therefore differs from the majority of chick-flicks. However the friendship side of it is important to many women and therefore the audience of women may be able to relate to some aspects of the film due to friendship.Themes: FriendshipGenre: DramaPlace of production: USAColour: Black and whiteSound: Mono (Western Electric Recording)Production company: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

CastBette Davis as MargoAnne Baxter as EveGeorge Sanders as AddisonCeleste Hom as KarenGary Merrill as Bill

1960s‘Breakfast at Tiffany's’

Date: 1961Certification: PGPlot: A socialite in Yew York, is attracted to a man who has recently moved into her flat. This is a chick-flick including romance in the stereotypical setting of New York. This may appeal to the audience of females due to Audrey Hepburn being the main character, endorsing the film. Furthermore, love and romance always attracts women due to them wanting a fairy tale ending as Disney films promise.Themes: RomanceGenre: Comedy, drama and Romance Place of production: Jurow-ShepherdColour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: MonoProduction company: Jurow-Shepherd

CastAudrey Hepburn as HollyGeore Peppard as PaulPatricia Neal as 2-EBuddy Ebsen as Doc GolightlyMartin Balsam as O.J

1960s‘The Graduate’

Date: 1967Certification: ApprovedPlot: College graduate Benjamin begins an affair with Mrs.Robinson, the wife of his father’s business partner as he drives her home. The affair ends and he moves onto her daughter, Elaine. This is a more complicated film, and it portrays men as the stereotypical people who over sexualise women. This film is from a man’s perspective so may attract a male audience rather than a female as they may relate to the themes in the film.Themes: Love and friendship.Genre: Comedy, drama and romancePlace of production: USAColour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) and Mono (35 mm optical prints)Production company: Lawrence Turman and Embassy Pictures

Cast:Anne Bancroft as Mrs. RobinsonDustin Hoffman as BenKatharine Ross as ElaineWilliam Daniels as Mr. BraddockMurray Hamilton as Mr. Robinson

1970s‘Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore’

Date: 1974Certification: 15Plot: A widow is determined to start a new life for herself and her son on the road as a singer after her husband passes away. However, her plans don’t end up as she hoped. This film is aimed at an older female audience who perhaps have a family of their own so they can empathise with the character (uses and gratification theory.)Themes: Death and family.Genre: Drama and romance.Place of production: USAColour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: MonoProduction company: Warner Bros.

CastMia Bendixsen as Alice aged 8Ellen Burstyn as older AliceAlfred Lutter III as TommyBilly Green Bush as DonaldLelia Goldoni as Bea

1970s‘Love Story’

Date: 1970Certification: PGPlot: Music student Jennifer and Harvard Law student Oliver and despite their different upbringings, they both admit to loving each other. They later marry and Oliver’s father disowns him, the couple’s relationship does not end up as truthful as begun. This is aimed at an audience of younger females due to the idea of young love. This will appeal to females as it seems like a fairy tale, however it does not end up like one so it is more realistic and relatable.Themes: Love and heartbreakGenre: Drama and romancePlace of production: USAColour: ColourSound: MonoProduction company: Paramount Pictures and Love Story Company

CastAli Macgraw as JennyRyan O’Neal as OliverJohn Marley as PhilRay Milland as Oliver IIIRussell Nype as Dean

1980s‘Smooth Talk’

Date: 1985Certification: 15Plot: 15-year-old girl dangerously flirts with a stranger in the North California. She must prepare herself for the traumatic consequences. This will appeal to a teenage female audience as the idea of rebelling comes into mind. Teenagers usually rebel and find a man who is no good for them, therefore the audience will be able to identify with the narrative.Themes: RomanceGenre: Drama, romance and thrillerPlace of production: USAColour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: MonoProduction company: American Playhouse, Goldcrest Films International, Nepenthe Productions and Palmyra Films.

CastTreat Williams as ArnoldLaura Dern as ConnieMary Kay Place as KatherineMargaret Wels as LauraSara Inglis as Jill

1980s‘When Harry Met Sally’

Date: 1989Certification: 15Plot: Having known each other for years, Harry and Sally are both good friends but fear sex will ruin that. This film would appeal to older females due to perhaps having a friend of their own who they like more than just friends. The humour of this film creates it to be more light hearted and therefore a stereotypical chick-flick appealing to females. Themes: Sex and friendship.Genre: Comedy, drama and romance.Place of production: USAColour: ColourSound: DolbyProduction company: Castle Rock Entertainment and Nelson Entertainment.

CastBill Crystal as Harry BurnsMeg Ryan as SallyCarrie Fisher as MarieBruno Kirby as JessSteven Joe

1990s‘Little Women’

Date: 1994Certification: UPlot: Sisters living and growing in America post-Civil War. This would appeal to an audience of females who have a sister or sisters as they will be able to identify with the relationships in the film creating a better understanding of the narrative.Themes: RomanceGenre: Drama and romance.Place of production: USA.Colour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: Dolby SR, SDDS and Dolby DigitalProduction company: Columbia Pictures Corporation and DiNovi Pictures

CastWinona Ryder as Jo Gabriel Byrne as Friedrich BhaerTrini Alvarado as MegSamantha Mathis as Older AmyKristen Dunst as Younger Amy

1990s‘Never Been Kissed’

Date: 1999Certification: 12Plot: Josie, aged 25, enrols as an undercover journalist at her old high school, finding research for her story. The chance of blowing her cover and losing her career is high. This may be found relatable by writers as they go to such lengths to get the story they need. Also drawing in females who would like to go back to high school and perhaps miss their childhood as this film helps the main character achieve this in some ways.Themes: LoveGenre: Comedy, drama and romance.Place of production: USA.Colour: Colour.Sound: Dolby.Production company: Fox 2000 Pictures, Bushwood Pictures, Flower Films II and Never Been Kissed Productions.

CastDrew Barrymore as JosieDavid Arquette as RobMichael Vartan as SamMolly Shannon as AnitaJohn C. Reilly as Gus

2000s‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’

Date: 2002Certification: 12APlot: Years of conflict between mother and daughter has led to Siddalee receiving a scrapbook including the adventures of the "Ya-Yas", her mother's childhood friends. This would attract to older women who had a friendship group when they were younger. They would be able to relate to the narrative and the relationships in the film, creating a more realistic feeling.Themes: FriendshipGenre: Drama and romancePlace of production: USAColour: ColourSound: DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDSProduction company: All Girl Productions and Gaylord Films

CastSandra Bullock as SiddaleeEllen Burstyn as Vivianne JoanFionnula as ‘Teensy’ MelissaJames Garner as Shepard JamesCherry Jones as Grandma ‘Buggy’

2000s‘Miss Congeniality’

Date: 2000Certification: 12Plot: FBI agent Gracie goes undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent another contestant from bombing the pageant. This may attract teenage girls due to the idea of beauty pageants as teenagers are usually health conscious and care about the way they look, idolising models. Also, this character is a feisty individual which would attract the female audience as they find this enlightening.Themes: Beauty and action.Genre: Action, comedy and crime.Place of production: USA and Australia.Colour: Colour (Technicolor)Sound: DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDSProduction company: Castle Rocks Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment and Fortis Films.

CastSandra Bullock as GracieMichael Caine as VictorBenjamin Bratt as Eric Candice Bergen as KathyWilliam Shatner as Stan

• Overall the main changes include going from a simple narrative to a more complicated one.

• Women now seen as more independent and powerful rather than having to rely on a man.

• The advance of colour and sound in films.• The advance from no certification to specific ratings.• The brighter use of colour in the DVD covers.• Female audience.• Same themes of romance and friendship.• The same stereotypical characters, for example love

interests.