The Wages of Sin: Censorship and the Fallen Woman Film, 1928-1942

Book Description

The story of the fallen woman was a staple of film melodrama in the late 1920s and 1930s. In traditional plots, a woman commits a sexual transgression, usually adultery. She becomes an outcast, often a prostitute, suffering humiliations that culminate in her death. In more modern variants, the heroine is a stereotypical "kept woman," "gold digger," or wisecracking shopgirl who uses men to become rich. In The Wages of Sin, Lea Jacobs uses the fallen woman film, which served as a focal point for public criticism of the film industry, to explore Hollywood's system of self-censorship and the evolution of the rules governing representations of sexuality.
Drawing on the extensive case files of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), the industry trade association responsible for censorship, Jacobs focuses on six films. Her close analyses of The Easiest Way, Baby Face, Blonde Venus, Anna Karenina, Kitty Foyle, and Stella Dallas reveal the ideology of self-regulation at work and the social constraints affecting the film industry.

Customer Reviews:

How censorship REALLY worked.......2003-06-12

If you're going to criticize a book, it is helpful if you 1)understand the argument of the book; and 2) understand how the author goes about making that argument. Every critcism that the reader from LA makes about this book reveals the reader's own ignorance.

LA Reader either ignores the fact that Jacobs has consulted over 100 censorship case files or does not know what these are (I am guessing the latter). Ignorance may also explain why LA reader attacks Jacobs for not having watched a film that no longer exists, and then ignores the fact that she painstakingly reconstructs the film as accurately as possible from available evidence (screenplays, studio memoranda, case files). Again, perhaps LA reader does not know what these are.

While one might not agree with Jacobs' conclusions, one can certainly not call them baseless. Jacobs may, at times, overstate continuities between the early 30s and later 30s, but at least she is aware of the fact that the Code existed and was enforced before 1934, unlike other books on the era (see Complicated Women, Sin in Soft Focus, for example).

This simplistic (and erroneous) view of censorship seems to have clouded LA Reader's judgement. Unfortunately, this view is one that is embraced by too many popular books on the subject (again, see Complicated Women and Sin in Soft Focus). LA Reader's apparent defense of this view, ignorance of the facts, and eagerness to attack a book that attempts to paint a more accurate picture of the way self-censorship worked in Hollywood, indicates that her/his views should be taken with a large grain of salt. On second thought, they should be ignored entirely.

A TRAVESTY.......2003-03-03

This book analyses the censorship histories of a small handful of films, one of which the author admits to not having seen. She writes from an ignorance of the era and comes to conclusions about censorship that are wrong and conclusions about women's place in the late twenties and thirties cinema that are not only specious but baseless, formed out of nothing but guesswork.
Anyone reading this book is likely to have seen more and know more on the subject than the author.
The truth is that the fallen women films of the early thirties explored sensitive subject matter, were protofeminist, and that the sentiments expressed therein -- the notion, for example, that sex before marriage was acceptable -- soon became mainstream in women's films, at least until the intrusion of censorship.
It's also true that the introduction of censorship caused a profound disruption in the content of women's films. The wrongness of Jacobs' argument that censorship made little difference is patently obvious to anyone who has ever seen more than five films from the early thirties and compared them to films from the late thirties.

A TRAVESTY.......2003-03-03

This book analyses the censorship histories of a small handful of films, one of which the author admits to not having seen. She writes from an ignorance of the era and comes to conclusions about censorship that are wrong and conclusions about women's place in the late twenties and early thirties cinema that are not only specious but baseless, formed out of nothing but guesswork.
Anyone reading this book is likely to have seen more and know more on the subject than the author.
The truth is that the fallen women films of the early thirties explored sensitive subject matter, were protofeminist, and that the sentiments expressed therein -- the notion, for example, that sex before marriage was acceptable -- soon became mainstream in women's films, at least until the intrusion of censorship.
It's also true that the introduction of censorship caused a profound disruption in the content of women's films. The wrongness of Jacobs' argument that censorship made little difference is patently obvious to anyone who has ever seen more than five films from the early thirties and compared them to films from the late thirties.

Wages of Sin: Censorship and the Fallen Woman Film 1928-1942.

Average customer rating:

Wages of Sin: Censorship and the Fallen Woman Film 1928-1942.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ICKVK4

Average customer rating:

Wages of Sin: Censorship and the Fallen Woman Film 1928-1942.
Lea Jacobs
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V0DOZW

Amazon.com

Anyone seeking to understand 20th-century America should consider examining it through the lens of musical theater. Ethan Mordden's Make Believe: The Broadway Musical in the 1920s tells us so much more about what was really on people's minds during that decade than a hundred hours of newsreels ever could.

Mordden conjures up a parade of glittering Ziegfeldian revues, galumphing operettas, Marxian star vehicles, writers like Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin in their first flowering, musical comedies full of "nutty moxie." But Mordden goes beneath the art deco surface to show how these shows dealt--in their own ways--with issues of race, immigration, the growing power of women and technology, America's changing place in the world vis-à-vis Europe, the tension between classical music and jazz as illustrative of class struggle and generation gaps. Mordden doesn't clobber you with this revelation--he simply finds that it's impossible to treat the material, regardless how fluffy and frothy, without it popping out. The book is capped with Mordden's masterful examination of Show Boat as a seminal work of musical theater--and as a quintessential American document.

Book Description

The 1920s represented a turning point in the history of the Broadway musical, breaking with the vaudeville traditions of the early twentieth century to anticipate the more complex, sophisticated musicals of today. Composers Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and their contemporaries revitalized the musical with the sound of jazz and other new influences. Productions became more elaborate, with dazzling sets, tumultuous choreography, and staging tricks, all woven into tightly constructed story lines. These dramatic changes of the 1920s ushered in the "golden age" of the American musical theater. Ethan Mordden captures the excitement and the atmosphere of Broadway during the 1920s in Make Believe. In captivating, lively prose, Mordden describes in superb detail the stars, the songs, the jokes--the sheer fun of this era. Here are shows great, interesting, or even bizarre-- Sally , The Student Prince, Rose-Marie, Lady, Be Good!, No, No, Nannette, Rainbow, Good News!, Ziegfeld Follies, The "Coconuts", The 5 Oclock Girl, Blossom Time, Whoopee. Early on, the charisma of entertainers such as the bragging Al Jolson ("You ain't heard nothin' yet!"), the bewitching Marilyn Miller, the madly prancing Eddie Cantor, the unpredictable Gertrude Lawrence, and the indescribable Marx Brothers were the essential element in a hit musical. But, as Mordden demonstrates, the stars lost power and the authors took control, as shows like Desert Song , Peggy-Ann, Strike Up the Band, and Sweet Adeline reinvented the old forms. The musical became more "adult," too, baiting the censor in the lyrics of Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, and B. G. DeSylva. And Broadway became more racially integrated, with "blackface" acts dying out while all-black musicals such as Shuffle Along and the Blackbirds shows enjoyed mainstream success. Make Believe reaches its climax with Morddens' deep look at Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's 1927 masterpiece, Show Boat. With its intricate story line spanning four decades, its gala interracial cast, its stunning physical production, its powerful score including "Ol' Man River," "Bill," "Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun'," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Life on the Wicked Stage," and "Why Do I Love You?," Show Boat was the first American musical universally hailed as a classic. Fusing the decade's developments into one epic show, Kern and Hammerstein created something at once timeless and contemporary, the ultimate twenties show but, as producer Florenz Ziegfeld called it on the posters, "the all American musical comedy."

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Piece of Theatre History.......2001-02-14

Ethan Mordden has added another book to his fine list of books looking at the history of musicals. Make Believe, The Broadway Musical in the 1920's, will have something for those with little prior knowledge of musical theatre history as well as a little something for those with far too much knowledge of musical theatre in the twenties. As usual with Mr. Mordden, the clearly presented chronology and history comes complete with fascinating anecdotes and interesting opinions. This is a fascinating period in the history of musical theatre as artists and stars and formulas both tried and fought against change until the triumph of Show Boat arose from the water. The reader will get a clear understanding of the era through this book as well as a cotton candy nostalgia for a period of time one did not even live through.

Wonderful look at a bygone era.......1999-12-08

Ethan Mordden is one of the finest writers working in the area of musical theatre and opera. His insights are not only spot-on but witty and revealing. This book is another welcome addition to his works and to the works written about American musical theatre.

It is difficult to conceive what a fertile time the 1920's was for musicals. Today we consider ourselves very lucky to have more than eight new musicals open on Broadway in a season; back then, it was not uncommon to have more than five times that many. Mordden's skill lies in his ability to delineate the feel of the era, and he is able to dissect, with surgeon-like skill, the strengths and liabilities of each show he discusses.

He not only tackles the well-known shows of the decade ("Sally," "No, No, Nanette," "Good News," "Show Boat") but gives equal attention to the flops as well. Operetta and musical revues such as George White's Scandals or Ziegfeld's Follies are also given plenty of coverage. In fact, I can't think of a major show from this era that Mordden does not cover.

It is clear that Mordden loves and respects his subject. He knows, too, that many of the shows of this time are thin and poorly constructed, but he never sidesteps or apologizes for this material. If you are looking for hard-core facts, this is not the book for you: Mordden is somewhat skimpy in giving particular dates. But if you want an entertaining and comprehensive analysis of a dizzying time in the American theatre, give this book a try.

Fun, Fascinating and Flawed.......1999-05-20

Mordden is the best writer about musical theatre. He knows the subject in and out, and writes in an engaging and fun style. That said, his earlier works are much stronger. He doesn't use footnotes or include a bibliography, so when he makes his often problematic assertions, you have only his word to go by. He doesn't back things up.

Book Description

Public speaking always ranks first in surveys of everyone's greatest fears. Nevertheless, presenting your ideas and results is essential to professional success. What to do? With Successful Presentations For Dummies, you discover proven techniques for everything from researching and organizing your material to projecting confidence through your voice and body language. With nationally acclaimed speaker, author, and attorney Malcom Kushner as your personal mentor, you quickly understand the principles of creating effective visual aids as well as ways to handle panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and whatever else pops up.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource.......2005-03-06

This book is a comprehensive guide to the art and science of public speaking. It covers all the basics and then some. I am a professional speaker and a professional member of the National Speakers Association (www.nsaspeaker.com). I teach public speaking skills and always recommend this book. I totally disagree with a previous reviewer who says the way to better public speaking is through practice. Experience without foundation is not the best teacher where public speaking is concerned. There is much to be learned about presentation technique, content development, preparation, etc. The book also gives great tips for using humor to make your point, using audiovisuals appropriately (so many people use them inappropriately), handling questions and so much more. Whether experienced at speaking or a novice, everyone can glean something from this book.

Great resource for revisting and revising your style........2003-09-26

I've had a copy of Successful Presentations for Dummies on my bookshelf since 1996 and found it to be a great reference and source of ideas for presentations as I have moved forward in my professional career. The book is broken up into various sections that address the most common problem areas for presenters and is easily referencable when you just need a quick review. I recommend this book, but it is now out of print.

Great resource for people who want to make an impact!.......2000-04-09

As a professional speaker, I found this book full of useful information. The author covers everything from how to be introduced to how to end your presentation effectively. He tells you how to involve your audience, how to use humor, how to design your presentation, and more. It's full of tips and examples. While it's true that the best way to improve your public speaking is to just do it, this book will shorten your learning curve by years!

Too long to read!.......1998-11-28

The section on humor is very good, but if you want to improve your presentation skills, it's no point reading a big book, you have to practice to improve.

Book Description

Tried-and-true tips for dazzling your audience

Conquer your public speaking jitters and deliver a dynamite speech

Anxious about public speaking? Have no fear! Use this friendly guide as your personal arsenal of tools to overcome stage fright and build a rapport with your audience. From researching your topic and preparing the room to crafting a riveting address, these savvy tips will help you deliver a masterful presentation.

The Dummies Way

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

Speak with confidence
Create spectacular visual aids
Add power with body language
Address international and virtual audiences
Answer questions the right way

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!!!.......2006-06-05

Very informative and well written. This book definately had some good tips and advice on how to improve your public speaking. I highly recommend it.

Very good to lay a strong foundation...........2006-05-07

I do a fair amount of public speaking and have found this book very helpful in many respects. It does an excellent job of covering the basics, includes some great tips that you might not think of on your own and also introduces some advanced topics without overwhelming you with lots of detail.

Like most of the "For Dummies" series, the book has an encouraging tone and is written in a humorous or light manner. It's an easy and pleasurable read and I believe everyone interested in public speaking would pick up something useful from it.

Excellent Book for Dummies and Non-Dummies Alike.......2006-05-05

While I am not a huge fan of buying a book advertised as being for "dummies," I find the "...for Dummies" series to be very helpful for those of us unfamiliar with a certain topic. Needless to say, I am very unfamiliar with public speaking, unless you count the class I had in high school ten years ago, which I barely remember.

I am grateful for Kushner for taking a complex topic and making it easy to understand. Even though I am naturally outgoing and like to talk to groups, I wanted to learn an effective method of public speaking. I picked up the book because some friends and I have started an internet broadcast (called a podcast) and I wanted tips and suggestions on how to improve my speaking ability and organizational skills. I eventually want to branch out and do public speaking.

Generally, I liked the book, and even read it in a single day. I especially enjoyed the chapters about speech organization and the ones about voice and body language. I am going to practice his techniques during my spare time before either the mirror or a camera, to try to make them come more naturally. I am also going to thoroughly prepare for any speech I make, using the methods outlined in this book. He gives plenty of tips on how to start a speech, how to end one, and how to fill the speeches with humor and other interesting elements. Even though the book is an overview, putting his many suggestions into practice will keep anyone busy for awhile.

The only drawback to this book is that being a "...for Dummies" book, I feel like I need to read another more advanced book to actually get the best handle possible on public speaking. While I am glad this book is for complete beginners, some of the material is more about basic time management skills and common-sense psychology than public speaking. Also, I expected to read something about how to record myself and then how to evaluate/correct any mistakes I made. I didn't read anything about this. Webcams and microphones are so cheap these days that it only makes sense to suggest recording yourself speaking, and then watch it and evaluate it. I know that just editing my own (and others') podcast talks has helped me see how often I use "um," trail off, and ramble.

Overall, this is a very helpful and easy-to-read introduction to public speaking, with many advanced suggestions thrown in. I would suggest that anyone interested in public speaking read this book, and then get out and practice, practice, practice. That is what I plan to do.

I haven't read it yet.......2005-09-28

This book was well........ I'm not sure cause I haven't read it yet. Personally though I love Public Speaking and this book is required for a course I'm taking. For those of you who think you'll never be able to do Public Speaking, I assure you, you can!

Say good by to public speaking fears.......2005-08-04

I've made speaches for many years and this book has helped me to polish my presentations and deal with fears more than any other resource I have seen. The tone and pace are refreshing for any business self help book.

The author has an obvious wealth of knowlegde and experience. He delivers insights with acute humor and sincerety.

I whole heartedly recommend this book for anyone that makes public presentations of any kind.

Average customer rating:

Very good - little surprised not more reviews
Getting the best of obnoxious people can be fun...

Presentations for Dummies
Malcolm Kushner
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764559559

Book Description

Whether you’re dealing with one person or one thousand, the ability to transmit ideas in a coherent and compelling fashion is one of the most important skills you can ever develop. Want to impress your colleagues? Convince your clients? Prove your point? The key to success is what you say. To get what you want in life, you have to present yourself forcefully, credibly, and convincingly.

If you need to land that big consulting job or launch a new initiative at the office, knowing how to present your case is half the battle. Luckily, Presentations For Dummies shows you the way. It gives you all the tools and tips you need to make your presentations flawless and effective, including proven advice on:

Relating to your audience
Overcoming stage fright
Adding flare with personal stories
Using humor to loosen up the crowd
Making your point with visual aids

From getting prepared to dealing with unexpected problems while you’re the focus of attention, this handy guide covers everything you need to make all your presentations flawless. You’ll learn how to create fantastic, effective visual aids that make your point with passion, and a whole lot more:

Gathering sources and compiling data
Organizing your ideas
Improving your timing for maximum impact
Using your pre-presentation nerves as an asset
Choosing the perfect word in every instance
Crafting an introduction, conclusion, and transitions
Using PowerPoint to make your point
Understanding what body language says about you
Simple tricks for every situation

Written by consultant, humorist, and professional speaker Malcolm Kushner, Presentations For Dummies tells you everything you need to know — and do — to get it right from the start. But be careful, this powerful resource could make your presentations so good that you might have to give more of them.

Customer Reviews:

Very good - little surprised not more reviews.......2007-05-14

I picked this book up at a store, and would not have bought on Amazon because of the lack of reviews, which I am very surprised about. This books is a very nice review of what you need to know to give a great presentation. Net, covers the major topics, hits on the key points to think about what your audience wants to here. I have read, many, many books on presenting and thought this was very good. Very comfortable recommending.

Getting the best of obnoxious people can be fun..........2006-01-27

Here's hoping that you're not in my shoes, but even so, Presentations for Dummies can make life go down a little smoother. There's no need to dread that next encounter with an overbearing in-law or neighbor. With just a little practice using the strategies outlined in this book, you'll look forward to these war games.

Success for Dummies / Public Speaking for Dummies

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Success for Dummies / Public Speaking for Dummies
IDG Books
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Public Speaking | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0764581465

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MUST Be Good...

Book of Treasures

Start and Run a Profitable Secondhand Store

Start and Run a Profitable Secondhand Store (Self-Counsel Business Series)
Richard Cropp , Barbara Braidwood , and Susan M. Boyce
Manufacturer: Self-Counsel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Rags to Riches Resale : An Operations Manual

Retail Business Kit for Dummies

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ASIN: 1551801361

Customer Reviews:

MUST Be Good..........2005-08-20

I havn't read it yet, but it MUST be good, because my local library system had two copies, which are "lost." As a longtime patron and bookscout/seller, I know this really means STOLEN.

Since our library only charges a maximum of $6.00 for lost books, it's hardly a disincentive for thieves, unfortunetly for people like me. (When I wrote this, Amazon had no copies, and used copies are around $55.)

I will eventually buy a copy, and do a real review after that. Just thought I would add this tidbit.

Book of Treasures.......2001-06-22

This is a great book for those interested in antiquing, yard sales, flea markets, or just love the hunt for the perfect treasure. In Part I, the authors cover different types of collectibles: sporting goods, books, computers, clothes and more. In Part II, they discuss in depth, the business of owning a secondhand store as-well-as adding stories and tips from current secondhand store owners. I recommend this book for anyone who has even a slight interest in secondhand goods. If you want to sell treasures from home or rent/buy a secondhand store, this book covers it all. I found it easy to read and I picked up many useful tips for secondhand buying.

Start and Run a Profitable Secondhand Store.......2000-05-10

The book not only gives great business information but it gives the fun side of selling secondhand items, such as meeting new people and making money. After reading this book, it gave me the inspiration to continue with my dream to open a secondhand or resale shop which I'll be opening summer of 2000!

Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business

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Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business
Michael M. Coltman
Manufacturer: Self-Counsel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0889088527

Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business: A Step-By-Step Business Plan (Self-Counsel Series)

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Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business: A Step-By-Step Business Plan (Self-Counsel Series)
Michael M. Coltman
Manufacturer: Self-Counsel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0889085706

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