"Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "When Harry Met Sally"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the 1936 film "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and the 1989 movie "When Harry Met Sally", examining their historical, contextual and social significance. As the author says, the classic film and the contemporary blockbuster may appear to have little in common. However, the paper shows that both movies relate to feelings of worthlessness that result from the inability to fulfill societal expectations and adhere to cultural norms during particular eras in history.

From the Paper:

"In the time of The Great Depression, when "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" was released, men spiraled into despair, some to the point of committing suicide, because the stock market crash left them unable to fulfill their historical role as a family provider. Comparably, in the modern age of "When Harry Met Sally" both men and women often feel worthless and dejected because they are unable to fulfill their contemporary role as spouse/parent/successful career-person. In both cases, these issues are presented through characters that embody these doleful emotions in a way that anyone who has ever experienced them can soulfully relate."

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