The Reality Show of Hollywood

Hollywood as a concept has always had a certain allure. Although this district of Los Angeles does have geographical boundaries of sorts, it is more of a metonym, allowing a lot of leeway when speaking of anything Hollywood.

The glamour of the 1920s to the 1950s is perhaps the most interesting when most stars did, indeed, live within miles of Hollywood and most studios were also within this small section of L.A. Today, fewer shows are shot on sound stages (mostly TV series that need static sets), so many movies choose to go "on location" for added reality.

Today's movies are still of good quality; in fact the cinematography of most films is excellent capturing scenes and views beyond the long shot. Some is not an improvement, ala "Public Enemies," the newest Johnny Depp vehicle, but much is still intensely interesting and captivating. (See a future post on "PubEnemy).

Most older films with the stars of yesterday like Cary Grant, Bette Davis, and William Holden would draw guffaws from the young folk. Corny lines and cornier plots abound, but there was a certain esprit in those movies that grabs you when you happen to pass one as you surf the 150+ channels for something to watch. To hear Bette say "Fasten your seat belts, it gonna be a bumpy night" is still exhilarating.

There are plenty of stars still living in the Hollywood area: Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood, and, of course, the "valley", so there is still the mystique and draw of that reality that was, and is, Hollywood. I can't wait to return to absorb more of the Hollywood state-of-mind.