"Old Films, Young Eyes," A Modern Moron Book Review

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Films are an effective way of teaching young people about the past in an entertaining way, Simone O. Elias said, the author of "Old Films, Young Eyes." 

Elias shares her impressive and enlightening knowledge of Pre-Code Hollywood, which began in 1930, the same year sound on film became mainstream. Luring ladies such as Clara Bow and Ginger Rodgers embraced the tangibles of life while ignoring the Christian critique of their time. Bow and Rodgers blind sided the censors with lurid and lascivious story-lines in their movies.  

Elias, like myself is a fan of Clara Bow and Ginger Rodgers, both pictured above, Bow on the left and Rodgers on the right. Elias writes detailed information on the two. She also reviews two of their Pre-Code flicks and why vintage films remain relevant.   

Bow's silent features have held the test of time such as "Capital Punishment," "The Plastic Age," "Hula," "Wings," "My Ladie of Whims," "Black Oxen," and "It." These movies merely tinge the surface of Bow's immortal personality and allure on and off the screen. In 1925 or 26,' Bow appeared or starred in more than two dozen feature films.  

"I'm gest a woiken' a gol," Bow said to journalist's in the 1920s. 

Prior to Clara Bow, women's sexuality in the movies was non-existent. This was the B.C era of Hollywood; Before Clara. I got the B.C. reference from David Stenn's book "Running Wild," the biography of Clara Bow. 

The clever and sometimes crazed plots detailing free sex, and indulgent vices have withstood the test of time. Elias, the 15-year-old author of this book reviewed 1932s "Call Her Savage," starring Clara Bow, arguably the inspiration for Betty Boop. Bow was a dominant box office draw during the Roaring Twenties. Betty Boop was created in 1930 and in July, 1934, her garter was forced to disappear and her skirt was drawn closer to the knees. 

Thou shall not show women in scanties or lingerie was just one of the many things written into Hollywood law midway into 1934, officially ending the fabulous four year run of the Pre-Code flicks. Ridged rules were literally written biblically, such as the above. 

These old films are objectifying, yet liberating for women, Elias said. Elias is correct, many early 1930s films portrayed women as independent, smart, sly and sexy. 

Anna May Wong, as pictured in "Old films, Young Eyes." 

In "Call Her Savage," Bow is seen in a diaphanous blouse without a bra, and Ginger Rodgers is a teenaged flirt who drinks in 1934s "Finishing School Girls." Bow, nor Rodgers is punished for their sins upon the ending of these movies, a big no-no for films made after July, 1934.   

Elias reviewed "Finishing School Girls," starring Ginger Rodgers. Rodgers portrays a smart young woman, free from the uptight expectations of society. She acts and behaves on her own terms, Elias said. 

"Old Films Young Eyes" is so much more then what I've said. Elias not only reviews "Call Her Savage" and "Finishing School Girls " in detail, she also mentions an array of many more Pre-Code flicks and talks about 1960s films, her personal life, politics and so much more. 

From 1890 to the 1920s there were more female film makers then there are today. Elias writes in-depthly about the screen-writers and directors, Alice Guy Blache,' Lois Weber and Frances Marion. Alice Guy Blache' made the first ever film to tell a story, 1896s "The Cabbage Fairy." Until I read this book, I thought the inaugural story telling film was 1903s "The Great Train Robbery." Blache' was also the first female to operate and control her own movie studio, Solax Studios in New Jersey. 

Films before "The Cabbage Fairy" were mostly magicians, disappearing acts and dancing. Alice Guy Blache said women can master every technicality of the art of movie making...Acting, painting, music and literature. Women have long held their place among the most successful workers...Scores of women are not found among the most successful creators of photo drama offerings. This is an actual quote from Moving Picture World in 1914.   

Years before 1920, writer and director Lois Weber made feature films such as "Where are My Children?," "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," "The Blot," and "Hop, the Devil's Brew." Weber addressed the need and political controversy over birth control, voting rights and poverty in her films. She also showcased the ills of alcohol and drug addiction more than a 100 years ago in her films. 

Screen-writer Frances Marion was the highest paid writer in Hollywood for decades. She wrote more than a 130 movies, including films with Shirley Temple, Marion Davies and Greta Garbo. 

The great grand uncle of Simone was black listed by Hollywood. Like Simone, he was Jewish. She details how black and Jewish actors, screenwriters, directors and musicians were black listed by Hollywood in the mid 20th century. "Old Films, Young Eyes" is laden with a bevy of enlightening information. 

My favorite parts of the book entailed her talking about Clara Bow and Ginger Rodger. Simone mentions several Pre-Code flicks I've seen multiple times. 

"Gold Diggers of 1933" is a Pre-Code cliche' of women's bodies, drinking, gold diggers and portly men in three piece suits and dance numbers existing only to show off women's legs and women hanging out in their underwear half the time, and my favorite, women tricking men to get money and status, Elias said. She describes this movie with aplomb detail. Ginger Rodgers has an amazing voice and sings brilliantly in Latin, the song "We're in the Money." Pictured below is Joan Blondell, my favorite Pre-Code babe. Joan Blondell and Ginger Rodgers were sensational and funny as showgirls in"Gold Diggers of 1933".

 

The Book, "Old Films, Young Eyes," is only a year old and refueled my fascination for these films. Claudette Colbert, pictured below was another lady of lure who pushed the skin bearing envelopes in mainstream movies. Some people collect vintage cars, I collect vintage movies, especially Pre-Code films.

 

I own a geekish amount of Clara Bow and Joan Blondell DVDs, along with several other starlets from nearly a century ago and because of "Old Films, Young Eyes," I will aquire some Colbert movies I've never heard of before I read this book, particularly "The Wiser Sex" and "Man of Manhattan."  

Thank you so much Simone, this afternoon read I took weeks to finish was amazing. Four and a half stars easy for this 2024 book. Instagram; @teeneagegoldenage and teenagegoldenagebook. Bravo Simone, not even old enough to drive, yet your wisdom far surpasses mine.

"Being a teenager means being hopeful, cynical, ambitious and risky, Elias said. 

Mark Izzy Schurr