American Dream in film in 40s?

[gipi23]

Hello, I'm doing a research on films that somehow touch on the topic of the American Dream, or would at least express the idea of upward mobility in America. I'm especially looking for films produced by Hollywood during the 1940s, or post-Depression era. Can anyone help, or is it necessary to specify further?
Thanks

[Steve Crook]

Are you including those that point out the people who missed out on the American Dream?

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

So what films are you looking at?

[gipi23]

So what films are you looking at?

That is the thing, I am trying to identify the films that deal or capture the issue...searching

[Nick Dando]

Sullivans Travels? Grapes of Wrath?

You could also try Mister Deeds Goes to Town, Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishops Wife (a favourite), It's a Wonderful Life.

Or are thinking in terms of British films that mention The American Dream? They tend to focus on the brash American coming over here and being bamboozled by the natives, such as The Maggie. There are few that actually celebrate it, the only one that comes off the top of my head is A matter of Life and Death, where the two "lawyers" are trying to prove that the other's heritage is corrupting.


Nick

[gipi23]

Thanks, I'll have a look into it.

[Heinrich]

The American Dream changed in the 1940s. Remember, in the first part of that decade, America was at war. The people dreamed of victory and peace to come. In the second part of the decade, Americans began to live The American Dream, meaning financial security, owning a home and raising a family in circumstances that were greatly improved on what their own parents had known and movies did not treat this but were instead a form of escape and entertainment.
For Americans, the dream was always based on financial materialism.
In 1941, Bogie told us this: