Smoking?
Imagine nowadays having a heart condition and smoking as Dorothy McGuires character does in this movie? The tobacco companies did a good job of hiding the health risks of smoking.
shareI caught that too.
shareHeart condition or not, smoking in the movies of old, still catches your eye. Even in modern day, don't you catch your self looking at people who are smoking? Maybe it's just me since I quit a two-pack-a-day habit in 1981.
shareI don't think Van Johnson smoked, he does a good job in movies hiding it. Notice how in this he goes in to Mr. Bowker's office and is told what Ellen's dad wants him to do. He picks up a cigarette, lights it, takes a small puff and then just holds it before he puts it in an ashtray. Smoking was so common in society and in the movies.
I've watched a couple of movies recently in TCM's Film Noir series where in a couple of scenes you can barely see the characters the cigarette smoke is so thick. Of course, Humphrey Bogart smoked like a factory onscreen and off, leading to an early grave.
Smoking and drinking are rampant in old movies. I do neither so I tend to notice it a lot more. I assume people continue to drink just as much today. I am always amazed at the smoking and drinking that is often depicted in hospital scenes; not only did the patients smoke and drink but so too did everyone around them. The doctors would often say it was good for their health.
In this movie Dan smoked right in his wife's face even though she supposed had a serious illness that left her only months to live. Speaking of her illness, I was surprised Ellen was shown running outside when she heard the car and thought it was Dan. She basically sprinted out after him but never seemed to pant, lose her breath, or collapse afterwards.
She had never exerted that much energy her entire life and was, at that point, the sickest she'd ever been. How did they forget and leave that scene in the movie?
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]