MovieChat Forums > Paper Moon (1973) Discussion > 1935?

1935?

posted 16 years ago by saginaw1
1 reply | jump to latest

Obviously, 'Paper Moon' takes place during the Great Depression, but has there been any discussion as to the specific year it takes place in?

I've seen some sources place the movie's setting in 1935, with one piece of evidence being the scene where Moze and Addie are eating at the diner. The movie theater in the background clearly shows the marquee displaying the name of the movie 'Steamboat Round the Bend' which, according to information found here at IMDb, was released on September 6, 1935. Also, the scene where Addie tells Moze that they "hadn't been doing anything for a couple of months" since his breakup with Trixie, the trees look to have no leaves on them, which would indicate that it was autumn. Based on these observations, it's conjectural that the movie possibly takes place over the course of a few months, specifically from early September to late November or early December, 1935.

Comments?

[–] quarterbacksneak 16 years ago

I think you nailed it. In the director's commentary on the DVD, Bogdanovich points out the movie marquee as one of the main ways of defining the time line. Your observation of the bare trees is a good one for the season...I hadn't even thought about that. Good Pull! The cars, too.

Now drink yer Nehi and eat yer Coney Island!

PS That director's commentary is really interesting if you are into the "hows and whys" of film making.

QBS

"Man-O-War started rattlin' yesterday and threw a kid on its head".