The Great Depression?
This is based in the 30s and from what I could tell there was no mention of it. Seems like it would have at least been in the back drop at some point. Good film though.
shareAfter Bobby got to Hollywood there was a scene where a clip from The Woman in Red (1935) with Barbara Stanwyck was playing. Near the end when Ben Dorfman was arrested, there was a blue 1940 Ford parked near the curb. Those years were the dust bowl years and may be considered part of the great depression, but it began in 1929 and was not needed to depict the high life that Hollywood and New York are known for.
Even though Vonnie came to Hollywood from Nebraska to be a star, she did not tell about her life back home. So it could have been the same dream millions of others from middle America had.
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Books and movies are usually better than real life.