"Light & Noir" Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood, 1933-1950

"Light & Noir" Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood, 1933-1950

This is a sponsored post. All opinions my own.

I haven't mentioned, until now, but I directed my first two mini-documentaries this semester. The one I'm proudest of, is the one that was inspired by my treatment of a student History Department thesis about the "dirty business" of the film industry in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Within this thesis I found a rough gem that I wanted to explore further: The Hollywood Production Code, also known as the Hays Code of the 1930's; a morality code and precursor to the TV & Movie rating system.

Although I was already a huge fan of this era, I was ignorant to what went on during this time behind the scenes. Through my documentary research and re-watching films with a new perspective, really brought to light stories that I was completely unaware of.

Another Hollywood behind-the-scenes history lesson is coming in the place of a special exhibit at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles aptly titled "Light & Noir" Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood, 1933-1950 which is open to the public until March 1, 2015.

This exhibit explores how the experiences of German-speaking exiles and emigres who fled Nazi Europe -many of them Jews- influenced classic films of Hollywood's Golden Age, such as Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, Casablanca, to name a few. 

The exhibition will also spotlight acclaimed of actors, directors, writers, and composers, focusing on their impact on American cinema and culture; and through a never-before-assembled selection of film footage, drawings, props, costumes, posters, photographs, and memorabilia.

Light & Noir tells the story of Hollywood’s formative era through the lens of the émigré experience, focusing on genres in which the exiles and émigrés were especially productive: the exile film, the anti-Nazi film, film noir, and comedy. 

The exhibit features costumes worn by Marlene Dietrich, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Joan Crawford; as well as the Max Factor Scroll of Fame, and the original props from the set of Rick's Cafe in Casablanca.

The exhibition will also demonstrate how the experiences of exodus and exile affected the lives and work of emigres in many different ways - just as it does now...and just like my story and my perspective on the past influenced how I viewed the thesis that inspired my first mini-documentary.

In addition, various activities and film screenings will take place to further explore this era through the eyes and experiences of experts. I will be at be at the History of Fashion and Makeup talks on Sunday, December 7, and hope you can join me!

If you are a lover of film and obsessed with history and Hollywood as I am, you will not want to miss the exhibit

READINGS AND TALKS

Kimberly Truhler—The History of Fashion in Film Noir
Sunday, December 7, 1:00 p.m.

Gabriela Hernandez—Bésame Cosmetics*
Sunday, December 7, 2:30 p.m.

*client

FILM SCREENINGS

Somewhere in the Night
Tuesday, January 6, 1:30 p.m.

The Woman in the Window
Thursday, January 8, 8:00 p.m.*

The Stranger
Tuesday, January 13, 1:30 p.m.

Pitfall and Criss Cross—Double-Feature Film Screening
Sunday, January 25, 2:00 p.m.

Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Tuesday, February 3, 1:30 p.m.

Act of Violence
Tuesday, February 10, 1:30 p.m.

The File on Thelma Jordon
Thursday, February 12, 8:00 p.m.*

Cinema’s Exiles:

From Hitler to Hollywood
Sunday, March 1, 11:00 a.m.

______

Admission to this special exhibit is included with your Skirball Cultural Center Admission, or Free to all on Thursdays.

This was a sponsored post. All opinions my own.