"Marty" and "The Wild One"

I just finished watching 2 iconic 50's films, both of which show a 1950s perspective in characterization that makes you ponder how much things have changed. 

"Marty" won the Oscar for best picture in 1955 and was the most popular picture in America. It's a very simple love story about a lovable 34 year old loser finally finding love. It's filled with old-fashioned politeness, and you can't help but pull for Marty. It's great to watch the way the characters relate and socialize, so different than today. It's such a simple movie- but it works really well. 

I also watched "The Wild One" with Marlon Brando from 

1953. This movie was highly controversial at the time for depicting the antics of an outlaw biker gang. It was even banished in the UK. I found the movie hilarious. These bikers are supposed to be dangerous (in 1953 they were), yet they joke around and use phrases like daddy-o. They wear silly leather jackets and act juvenile. It's impossible to watch the film and not see the absurdity in it. Still, it shows what "outlaw" meant to the 1950s. The film was so popular that Brando started the fashion trend of black biker jackets and created an iconic image of the "rebel without a cause", even though the movie by that name was made 2 years later. 

I have 2 paintings at about 80% complete- I will post those images soon (hopefully).