Films have come and gone but some have left their marks more than others have. Epic films such as The Ten Commandments and unforgettable, action packed stories like Star Wars have made their mark on generation after generation of movie goers. People have always been entertained by movies and have been fascinated by the lives of the imaginary characters that fill them. What prompts writers and directors to put out the films they do?

During the twenties and thirties different kinds of films were produced

Although some motion pictures were clinging to old ?goutdated?h pre-war values, the shift towards a more rebellious theme to films was felt all around. With the arrival of such important films as The Miracle Man and Male and Female it became even more apparent that things were changing. The Miracle Man told the story of a racketeer and materialist portrayed by Thomas Meighan. The film ?gopenly acknowledged sex magnetism (Jacobs, 400)?h and placed a strong emphasis on it, which paved the way for a new breed of films. Meanwhile, Male and Female was the story of a lady and a butler stranded on a desert isle and their intimate relationship. The film ?gproved?h to the public that class barriers were useless when it came to sex and that infidelity was okay. Along with countless others, films such as Male and Female continuously reiterated the same points: traditional morals are obsolete. The films of Cecil B. DeMille, the decade?fs premier director, always depicted some sort of sexual intrigue and challenged the traditional views of women and their role in the home. Such DeMille films like Fool?fs Paradise and Adam?fs Rib did that and the public agreed with it. As this advertisement read for Adam?fs Rib it easy to understand the film?fs motives:

The modern girl in a new light?cWith all the luxury of beautiful gowns and magnificent sets that are an integral part of C. B. DeMille?fs art, Adam?fs Rib reveals the modern girl in her true color, and in a story crammed with action, interprets her impulsive heart to all who wish to appreciate her for what she is (Jacobs, 410).

The movie industry was due up for a radical change. Now almost two full years into the Great Depression, American movie making was about to change into a more ?greal life?h based environment just to satisfy the needs of the viewers. During the period of time between late 1930 and the middle of 1932, the movie industry began its change over to ?greal-life?h film-making by producing an abundant amount of gangsters movies to examine the deep and dark underground of this ?gbig business?h in the late twenties. Gangster movies such as Mervyn LeRoy?fs Little Caesar, based off of a book of the same name by W.R. Burnett, and Scarface, the final and perhaps most legendary ?ggangster film?h which depicted the life and crimes of the notorious Al Capone, dominated the two year period until the genre was exhausted and it was time to move on to more current issues such as: The Great Depression.

As time went on, directors and movie studios decided to diverge away from the gangster film genre but eventually returned to it during the early thirties. People had grown tired from the fantasy like films that had littered the movie industry for song long and were craving reality. When Little Caesar came out in 1930 people were confronted with one of the most realistic films they had been faced with in a very long time. This ?gin your face?h film depicted the rise of an egotistical and aggressive man. The film portrayed how power was attained and maintained with an iron fist through car chases, gun fights, and excessive violence. People had been slapped in the face with a tremendously real assessment of America and how rule by force had surmounted any ideals America had attained in the past. The films following Little Caesar maintained this ?greality theme?h and were always eagerly anticipated. The previously hated and despised gangster later became heralded as a great hero to all. Actors like James Cagney and Gary Cooper were praised for their great roles in The Public Enemy and City Streets in which each, respectively, portrayed likable characters who used their toughness and wits to get them to the ?gtop of the food chain?h. The theme of these films changed to one of condoning gangsters?f actions because of their intelligence. People were inspired and even admired these new heroes whom they believed had earned their keep. This in turn was the mentality of the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Maurice Maeterlinck, Governorfs Island, World War, Seven Tibet, Little Caesar, Red Line, Adamfs Rib, City Streets, Star Wars, Cecil DeMille, movie industry, movie studios, organized crime, twenties thirties, public opinion, little caesar, current issues, cecil demille, male female, gangster films,
Approximate Word count = 3251
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)