American Dream in Hollywood

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Frenchy Faith

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I got an essay on the subject.. the exact question is

The American Dream is best understood as the immigrant's fantasy. Consider this statement with reference to a selection of hollywood films.

So I was wondering what was your opinion on that and most importantly, do you have any titles of movie that I could use... cause I'm running out.. so far I only have in mind The Gold Rush by Chaplin and The Godfather trilogy plus Scarface but like... I would really need more examples.. so if any of you can think of other movies, I'd really appreciate the help! :thumbs_up
 
I think your choice of films depends on whether or not you agree with the statement. But I think American Beauty is a must if you're talking about the American Dream; plus there is a movie version of Death of a Salesman. I don't know if either of those will help you with the immigrants-angle. 2004's Crash is a great film that for parts deals with this topic.
 
Hmm yeah I guess i shouldn't have said American Dream but Immigrant's Dream as the question deals with immigration more than the American Dream itself... though I have to use it still... I'm gonna look up Crash.. thanks for the advise!
 
A recent favorite of mine is Jim Sheridan's "In America", about a poor Irish family coming to modern New York City. A great film about struggle, fear, hope...

http://imdb.com/title/tt0298845/

Seems like so far, most of the immigrant experiences depicted in American movies relate to Italians and Jews and the Irish. The Godfather movies for sure. Also, Once Upon a Time in America touches on it a bit, I think.

Another way you could approach it is by the fact that so many early movie directors actually were immigrants themselves. Frank Capra, for instance"”created some of the most quintessentially American movies ever...

Ooh, just thought of another one. Mississippi Masala, about Indian immigrants in the American South. Good film.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0102456/
 
OK, one more. "Avalon", directed by Barry Levinson. Didn't actually see it, but Levinson's brilliant. It apparently focuses on the conflicts about the American Dream that arise between immigrants and their children...

http://imdb.com/title/tt0099073/


Writer-director Barry Levinson is at his best when exploring his native Baltimore during his formative years: the 1950s and 1960s. This film, drawing upon family stories, tells a compelling, amusing tale about an extended group that came to America one by one, each earning enough to bring the next sibling. The new, American-born generation--represented by Aidan Quinn and Kevin Pollak--see a future in that mysterious machine known as the television, even as the older generation, led by Armin Mueller-Stahl, finds its traditions shattering or being put aside. Funny, tragic, and telling, it's a terrific, multifaceted film that ultimately details the breakdown of the oral tradition in the wake of television's burgeoning popularity. --Marshall Fine

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._1_2/103-6506965-1764660?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130
Click to expand...
 
I found a very very very old movie named The Italian. It dates back to 1915 (see I'mvery ooold!...)
It's about an Italian immigrant that leaves his sweetheart in Italy to find a better life across the sea in the grimy slums of New York. They are eventually reunited and marry. But life in New York is hard and tragedy tarnishes their dream of a better life in the new world.


Other one

The New Americans (but it's a mini...) 2004
America So Beautiful (2001)
Disoriented (1999)

...
 
+ Matt + said:
When I think of the American dream I think of that book, Of Mice and Men. They might have made a film on that...
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The details about the film "Of Mice and Men" can be found here - http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0031742/.
I don't know the story very well but I think it's more about the American Dream as dreamt by Americans in the Great Depression rather than immigrants.

You might also like to check out another of Steinbeck's novels - "The Grapes of Wrath" (film details - http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0032551/ - an absolute classic btw) which explores migration to California during the Great Depression/Dustbowl years. Not exactly what you asked but a fairly similar theme IMO.

For a more modern, comedic take on immigrants in search of the American Dream you could look at "The Guru" (details - http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0280720/), which I found pretty funny...
 
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