I love the look on the shop guy's face when he says: "Oh, sir, here's where you need the room...Such a muscle!" Thank you for posting this neat clip! (Plus, the guy sitting in the chair is really cute! Love the hat and the little dark bow-tie.)
Yes. One of the earliest ways that Hollywood -- especially American -- cinema dealt with homosexuality was through depicting very prissy effeminate men and very angry masculine women. These stereotypes were in place that early on in the culture. Their were a entire crew of 'sissy' characters. The Hays Code forced much of this to vanish or be buried in subtext.
This tailor IS supposed to be gay. Before the Hays Code was enforced for movie censorship starting in 1934, there were gay characterizations like this one, as well as fairly open acknowledgment of any kind of sex, in addition to scanty costumes on young women, and all kinds of good stuff. This kind of thing wouldn't be present in Hollywood films again till censorship fell apart in the 1960s.
@FakeID81390 "French feminism joke" my Aunt Fanny. Of course the character is meant to appear gay. Gay characters during the pre-code era were extremely common in movies. Often they were played for laughs or to contrast with some really "masculine" character like Cagney here. I don't doubt that a lot of real life "men's fashion" experts were just like the stereotype in this and other movies, and in TV shows like "Are You Being Served" decades later.
@stammlager5 So were Greenstreet's and Elisha Cook Jnr 's characters, or didn't you notice? Bit more subtle those two lads, but queer as a thirteen-quid note the both of 'em.
Movie floorwalkers in stores often were portrayed as fussy, slightly effiminate, and wore carnations in their button holes. The clerk in the men's store was portrayed this way because he was an expert in men's fashions. It would have been the same as if he were a dress designer.
See welll: the most "feminine" moments in this scenes came from a dupe print, as the image hace too much contrast, more grain lower definition of details. this is a almost clear indication that these "feminine moments" were cut off, censured, from many prints and from the negative. They found theses cuted scenes in some lower quality print..
@aglewi41 Most likely, however, one can't deny that in the modern world, it reads as homosexual. It most likely wasn't intended to be, but it's original intent isn't why I posted this video. (Hehe, and come on, feminine French men always seem gay :p jk -NOTE: I have several straight fem-French guy friends and several macho French guy friends, so I know its just a stereotypical thing- )
@FakeID81390 oh no, i'd say that this character was definitely meant to appear gay to the audience. this was before the hays code came into effect, and seeing more risque stuff in films was quite common.
The 'extra' space Cagney wanted 'right here' was for his gatt. Or was it??lol
bigstink9 2 days ago
LOL....TOTALLY gay. The man being measured looked extremely uncomfortable too!!!
jacobbenmichael 1 month ago
@jacobbenmichael "The man being measured"?! Please say someone has already smacked you for that one! James Cagney!!!
jimjimmyjames59 2 weeks ago 2
I love the look on the shop guy's face when he says: "Oh, sir, here's where you need the room...Such a muscle!" Thank you for posting this neat clip! (Plus, the guy sitting in the chair is really cute! Love the hat and the little dark bow-tie.)
eldritch1985 1 month ago
Yes. One of the earliest ways that Hollywood -- especially American -- cinema dealt with homosexuality was through depicting very prissy effeminate men and very angry masculine women. These stereotypes were in place that early on in the culture. Their were a entire crew of 'sissy' characters. The Hays Code forced much of this to vanish or be buried in subtext.
PrairieOasos 1 month ago
This tailor IS supposed to be gay. Before the Hays Code was enforced for movie censorship starting in 1934, there were gay characterizations like this one, as well as fairly open acknowledgment of any kind of sex, in addition to scanty costumes on young women, and all kinds of good stuff. This kind of thing wouldn't be present in Hollywood films again till censorship fell apart in the 1960s.
hebneh 1 month ago 2
"Why don't you two mo's get an adding machine." XD
Foofighter18 2 months ago
He's not gay just better than you.
hardmous 2 months ago
Um yes it is gay...i mean the guy who's measuring James....so what?
whats the big deal?
Hollywood has quite often portrayed homosexuals in films...even in the "olden days"
FilmNoirFreak 2 months ago
This is a clip from when homosexuals didn't die from AIDS. Just embarrassment.
logicalMeta 3 months ago
@FakeID81390 "French feminism joke" my Aunt Fanny. Of course the character is meant to appear gay. Gay characters during the pre-code era were extremely common in movies. Often they were played for laughs or to contrast with some really "masculine" character like Cagney here. I don't doubt that a lot of real life "men's fashion" experts were just like the stereotype in this and other movies, and in TV shows like "Are You Being Served" decades later.
squeapler 3 months ago
I think the character Joel Cairo in Bogart's "Maltese Falcon" was also gay.
stammlager5 3 months ago
@stammlager5 So were Greenstreet's and Elisha Cook Jnr 's characters, or didn't you notice? Bit more subtle those two lads, but queer as a thirteen-quid note the both of 'em.
therealjoebloggs 3 months ago
so swittttttt
sastraAlexander 3 months ago
Hahahahahaha love the attitude.
dirtynuke 6 months ago
Movie floorwalkers in stores often were portrayed as fussy, slightly effiminate, and wore carnations in their button holes. The clerk in the men's store was portrayed this way because he was an expert in men's fashions. It would have been the same as if he were a dress designer.
MrFrontrowkid 6 months ago
00:40 starts
missuniworld 9 months ago
Things never change.
MEATYOKERRable 9 months ago
I am totally hetero but I love camp guys
jnmklo9 9 months ago
See welll: the most "feminine" moments in this scenes came from a dupe print, as the image hace too much contrast, more grain lower definition of details. this is a almost clear indication that these "feminine moments" were cut off, censured, from many prints and from the negative. They found theses cuted scenes in some lower quality print..
jerryaltman 1 year ago
Now the whole WORLD knows James Cagney's measurements! Diabolical...
VanillaSwirlsOfDoom 1 year ago 7
@VanillaSwirlsOfDoom Haha
FakeID81390 1 year ago
i think this was more a french feminism joke.
aglewi41 1 year ago
@aglewi41 Most likely, however, one can't deny that in the modern world, it reads as homosexual. It most likely wasn't intended to be, but it's original intent isn't why I posted this video. (Hehe, and come on, feminine French men always seem gay :p jk -NOTE: I have several straight fem-French guy friends and several macho French guy friends, so I know its just a stereotypical thing- )
Thank you for watching!
FakeID81390 1 year ago 2
@FakeID81390 then guess what?
you and everybody else in the modern world is wrong.
its the thought that counts.
french feminism.
thephenom86 1 year ago
@FakeID81390 Where the hell are you guys getting the French connection from.....and I aint talking Gene Hackman either!!!!????
NYJALB 9 months ago
@FakeID81390 This is nothing. Search YouTube for "1930 He's My Secret Passion - Danny
Yates Orchestra".
Gayness was virtually celebrated back in the day in jazz music.
GooglFascists 7 months ago
@FakeID81390 oh no, i'd say that this character was definitely meant to appear gay to the audience. this was before the hays code came into effect, and seeing more risque stuff in films was quite common.
saridout 5 months ago