1973
shareDidn't the hair/clothes/decor make it look much later?
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What clued me in was the old-school technology: a jukebox using vinyl, a professional writer using a manual typewriter, rotary-dial telephones. Also, Bertie is mourning a man lost in Vietnam, and the music is late 60s-early 70s.
I dunno, I think they made it look like a more low-key version of the 70s. It's not what you're used to seeing in a 70s period piece but I think they did it that way because A, it was small town America and wouldn't be very big on it, and B, it was intended to be some sort of transition period (says the director, although I have yet to decide what he meant).
But there're a lot of things about it that are very 70s; most of them are subtle. Mainly, Joe's clothes are all perfect for that era and the fact that all the realtors looked like used car salesmen is...very 70s. (Although I dunno, oftentimes realtors look like used car salesmen in the 00s.)
Actually, this movie is set in 1966, or so I read in Wikipedia.
shareConsidering the fact that significant numbers of U.S. combat troops were not in Vietnam until 1965 (her husband had been missing three years, remember), 1966 is quite improbable. Wikipedia is not an reliable source and should be used with caution. I agree that the wardrobes and hairstyles could have been brought more in line with the times. The cars and typewriter, along with the music, were the main 1970s clues.
share1. She never referred to the man as her "husband". In fact, in the scene (2nd time) in the post office, Jake asked her a question, she held up her ring finger and said, "See and hardware"? So, there was nothing in the movie to make a person think the "guy" was anything more than a friend/lover.
2. The draft continued through the entire war. The only thing that changed was, I believe it was latter part of 1969, the Lottery (Draft Lottery, that is).
Didn't Susan Sarandon's character mentions she hadn't gotten drunk since 1966? I gues the film's set somewhere in the 70s.
shareSamwiserulesall, the transtition period refers to the people involved going through a transition after losing a daughter and a dear friend. you are never the same afterward.
As for the year it was set in, I was in my 20's during that time and know all the songs very well. The T-Rex song came out in 1973, so I doubt it was set then, possibly mid to late 70's because that music stayed popular for years and still is to many people. I could still sing along to all the songs.
The clothes could have been any time during that period and actually real estate agents were better than they are now..not used car salesman at all. Much more down to earth. I bought my first place in the late 70's. The clothes they wore can still be worn these days and are. It was a great time to be young. If you liked this movie, I suggest you see"The Big Chill"; not quite so sad and slow, but a great story and sound track..some excellent actors, too.
I hadnt twigged it was the 70s until Vietnam was mentioned although I suppose Ben and Joe's clothes did look a bit dated. I'd been puzzled by Bertie asking Joe about why he hadnt been called up. Once I knew, I noticed other things such as the old-fashioned interior decor and phones with dials
shareThe director mentioned 1973 in his commentary, or was it in the extra features. Anyway, one of those.
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Stop global whining!
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It was supposed to be early '70s (1973 or thereabouts).
One of the significant songs in the movie is "Razor Face" by Elton John.
From the Madman Across the Water album (came out in '71 or '72)
Human Beings...Wowshare
Madman across the water did come out in '71...and the US abolished the death penalty from 1973-1976, so since they discussed capital punishment at the beginning of the film, it had to have been from '71-72. Wikipedia is wrong, I'm afraid. Also, the Stone's "Sticky Fingers" album came out in 1971, so my guess is that the film is set that year.
shareThe Rolling Stones album Sticky Fingers (which contained Moonlight Mile) came out in April 1971, and at some point Bertie says the songs on the jukebox are about two years old, so 1973 sounds like the year.
shareWell, I know the song wasn't technically used by the characters in the film, but two songs from Blood On The Tracks were featured, and that's a 1973 album.
Personally, I didn't twig it was even set in the '70s till the barman said the songs were two years old. It didn't bother me, though.
The Apple Scruffs Corps, 05
Making sense? Nope. Having fun? Oh yes.
I'd been puzzled by Bertie asking Joe about why he hadnt been called up.
Once I knew, I noticed other things such as the old-fashioned interior
decor and phones with dials
The music is never the greatest indicator when trying to determine the time period of a film. It's weird though, because it should be. It's incredibly easy to look up the release date of any song prior to using it in a film, so you would think that filmmakers would make that small extra effort to help add realism to a period piece. They often don't though. It's very common to note chronological errors in a movie soundtrack.
In worse cases, they won't even do their research in regard to major U.S./world events portrayed in a movie. Kind of annoying. It's like... why do a period piece if you can't be accurate on the simplest things?