every single person in this movie wakes up in the morning and says “what’s the most dramatic thing i can get away with today?”
Mitch Wayne is a geologist working for the Hadleys, an oil-rich Texas family. While the patriarch, Jasper, works hard to establish the family business, his irresponsible son, Kyle, is an alcoholic playboy, and his daughter, Marylee, is the town tramp. Mitch harbors a secret love for Kyle's unsatisfied wife, Lucy -- a fact that leaves him exposed when the jealous Marylee accuses him of murder.
Where to watch
2Written on the Wind is showing in 1 cinema in Los Angeles — next screening Thursday 3 September at 19:00 at Los Feliz 3 Theatre.
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Saturday, 5 September
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Cast & crew
6What people say
It struck me while watching this that the homophobic nature of Hollywood/the explicit homophobia of the Hays Code that forced directors to turn queer characters into mere subtext had the unintended effect of turning every close male friendship into a gay relationship in hiding, thus in the modern era, erasing male camaraderie (to those who look for this sort of thing) instead of erasing homosexuality, as they had done in the past. This is just an extension of the patriarchal/heterosexist power, which extinguishes masculine vulnerability, emotional honesty, and, of course, LGBT all at once, but it stood out to me as a notable side effect in pop culture.There's a few strong moments that stood out to indicate that the connection between Mitch and Kyle is more than friendship, at least emotionally, but the one that struck me (perhaps because it was most blunt) is Marylee's declaration that Kyle stole Mitch from her. From there, her character's role as a sexually frustrated/liberated woman becomes clearly an intended contrast to the buried sexuality of the two men (especially Kyle) and an externalization of their sexual desires, a symbol of what was between them. Both leading women in this film take that role at times, with Bacall's Lucy. That's why, ultimately, both women have their roles in the dissolution of the connection between the two men. It's an easy step from there to take Kyle's desire to have a family as a desire for acceptance and assimilation. I was glad that the film depicted Kyle's violent outburst as wholly unacceptable. Certainly, the damage it wrought would have been seen as vile even by the standards of the time, and violence like that has always been frowned upon. But sexism has also allowed for certain kinds of violence in pop culture for a long time, using it as comedy at times, and the contrast here is appreciated, even if it's the bare minimum I would expect of human beings.
NOW IN TECHNICOLOR: I’M ALWAYS MAD AT MY ONE FRIEND
Common questions
What is Written on the Wind about?+
A geologist becomes entangled in the turbulent lives of a wealthy Texas oil family, navigating his secret feelings for a friend's wife amidst a web of jealousy and alcoholism.
Who directed Written on the Wind?+
The film was directed by Douglas Sirk, a German-American filmmaker renowned for his mastery of 1950s Technicolor melodramas.
Has Written on the Wind won any awards?+
Yes, Dorothy Malone won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Marylee Hadley.
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