Message Pictures

Message Pictures

I think EVERY picture at least in some way is a "message" pictures whether it conveys a point of view of the writer the director the studio or even the actor/actress.

For instance Henry Fonda frequently played an "against the establishment" or cynically an "against conservatives" type of role. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) The Ox Bow Incident (1943) and 12 Angry Men (1957) come to mind immediately. Fritz Lang directed several in a similar vein M (1931) and Fury (1936) to name just two. The latter features Spencer Tracy who was also in Inherit the Wind (1960). Clearly the viewpoint being "foisted" upon us in that film is "religious people are nuts" (which I personally find offensive) as exemplified by Frederic March.

"Women are evil" is another common theme whether it’s a Disney animated feature or a film such as Johnny Guitar (1954) (though Mercedes McCambridge may have been intentionally "over the top") and The Manchurian Candidate (1962) with Angela Lansbury which is a triple play: it shows "conservatives are to be feared" (hey so does Johnny Guitar!) "women are evil" and a third common message "the Military is full of nuts who may even want to ruin the World". Dr. Strangelove (1963) played this theme for laughs but the implicit message is there.

American Beauty (1999) works the "The Military is nuts" theme as well and also has several other more subtle messages about lifestyles behaviors that we should accept as normal et al.

Obviously as a lover of this medium I accept it. But I’m also quick to point out the "hidden" messages with which I disagree to my kids on family movie night. I know that Louis B. Mayer and the other studio heads of old were conservative men who "pushed" their views on the public so it’s certainly nothing new.