How do the Films Pretty Woman and Maid in Manhattan Attempt to Revive the Screwball Genre - Essay Example

? Comedy – A Serious Business Understanding Screwball genre comedies Comedy is indeed a serious business. In this paper we analyze various types of comedy. We understand the screwball genre of comedy. This particular genre is no longer in mainstream but it still rules the romantic comedy genre of movie making and is most desirable format of all times. Comedy – A Serious Business Comedy is a serious business. A serious business with only one purpose -- to make people laugh1 W. C. Fields quotes (American Comic and Actor, 1880-1946) When we think about comedy we think that it is merely there to make us forget our worries, make us laugh and prepare us for a delightful future. However Comedy as truly said in the quote above is a serious business. It is a serious business because unlike a real life business, comedy has only one agenda to achieve and that is to make a people laugh and be merry. In this essay we are going to analyse what is comedy with reference to screwball genre of comedy. After we have a look at various types of genres in comedy we will look into screwball genre with help of two movies ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan’. How do we define comedy? It is basically professional entertainment consisting of jokes to make the audience laugh. It can be in various formats such as plays, films, television shows, etc. Comedy comes in various types. What makes us laugh while we are watching a comedy? We laugh when we find something funny especially when something in front of us is twisted and crooked than our expectations from a situation. For ex: We laugh when we see someone stepping on a banana skin and having a fall. Do we expect people to fall tripping over a banana skin? Yes we do. But what if someone does step on a banana skin and doesn’t fall? Or the person even tries to balance him or herself awkwardly to avoid the fall? The entire gesture of regaining balance and composure becomes hilarious than the actual fall. It is contrary to our expectations of a person tripping over a banana skin. This is one of the many situations which gets funny and causes humour or comedy. There is no definite situation why a person may or may not feel humorous or funny. Comedy hence is very difficult to predict. In literature or other art forms, all other forms are definite, be it tragedy, anger, frustrations, seriousness etc. The audience reaction is predictable because the form is designed with a distinct purpose. For Ex: A tragedy like Othello or Macbeth is definite in its purpose which makes the audience feel strongly about vanity of values and ethics in life. Hence making people laugh or comedy becomes a business seriously done. Although the basic purpose is to make an audience laugh, the shades of humour change from each type. Ranging from a very light effervescent humour to black dark comedies, comedy is a medium used to comment on the paradoxes of society. It is often said that comedy is essentially a good tool to put a point across, because it acts like a fist in velvet glove. Considering this we can state that comedy has different styles and types or genres. Let us have a look at various genres of comedy: 1. Slapstick comedy: Slapstick is a boisterous comedy usually consisting of crude practical jokes and physical humour. The topmost name in slapstick comedy genre is of Charlie Chaplin. Audience ruptured into laughter while watching Chaplin on screen. For ex: He is walking on a footpath looking here and there and without noticing the electricity pole and suddenly bumps into it drives the audience mad with laughter. Slapstick is a form which has stayed longest in all the comedies presented so far. The latest example of slapstick comedy is Jim Carrey in the movie ‘The Mask’. The mask brings out the inner desires and emotions of the person who wears it. No other form of comedy would have done justice to the eccentricity of the character portrayed than slapstick. 2. Parody and Spoof: Parody is deliberate mimicking to cause humour. Although spoof and parody have a very thin line of differentiation, parody deliberately mimics to create humour and spoof could be loosely connected to an original instance, reference of which creates humour. The Hot shot series, Scary Movies, Date all are fine examples of spoof genre. 3. Sarcasm and Irony: Irony is usually the vast difference in reality and the expectations. While reality raises the expectations the situation turns out to be exactly opposite. This difference in expectations and reality is portrayed in humour which has a sad tinge to it. Sarcasm on other hand is wrapping a hurting or injuring comment in humour or otherwise. Although said under the garb of humour or comedy sarcasm usually intends to hurt the receiver. Both the genres are in fact tragic instances but when presented in humorous way they tend to create a humorous situation. People see the failures with a funny perspective and identify with it. They also admit that it is all rather to be taken with good humour and pinch of salt. This identification with irony makes ironic comedies perhaps most difficult to construct and deliver. Sarcasm may create a funny feeling in the overall audience but it usually makes the actual intended receiver unhappy about it unless presented in a generic way. For ex: Sarcastic comments on government policies. The audience identifies with it and actually feels happy and humorous as someone is at least making an attempt to say it on their behalf albeit in humour. 4. Farce and Black comedy: Farcical comedy is created through the exaggerated actions of the presenter. The exaggeration also comes from extreme characters that are created. For ex: In the film, Maid in Manhattan, The character of Chris Marshall’s assistant in the film is another exaggerated character that wants to keep a tab on every movement of Chris and keeps sending him notes about the time he has in hand. Although we understand the purpose of his actions, we are amused by the way he takes his role of playing a watchdog to Chris very seriously. It is hilarious to see him following Chris everywhere, not leaving him alone even in the washroom. Black comedy is actually a tragedy presented with a tinge of comedy. It is the most difficult genre of comedy. It is a mixture of tears and laughter and a concoction very difficult to swallow. Comedy evolved from mere comical physical movements to intelligent scripts with the help of the genres mentioned above. As the medium of expressions changed from literature to play, then to movies and now television series too, comedy blossomed. It also got affected by the changing times and the society surrounding it. With this reference we are going to consider screwball genre of comedy which became a symbol in the history of comedy and influence of which is seen even today. What are screwball genre movies? Screwball as the name suggests is all about unconventional factors travelling in different directions, behaving in the most unexpected way and creating humorous situations in the plot. Screwball fades into opposite direction the hitter is expecting. Unlike a curveball which is predictable for hitting, screwball simply travels away in an opposite direction. If the same concept is to be applied to this genre then one understands very easily what the genre is all about. In conventional stories the plot is predictable. The viewer of the film can complete the story in his mind. However in screwball genre the viewer is simply unaware of what is going to happen next. The unpredictability of the plot keeps the viewer on the edge and creates several situations which are funny and at the same time are convincing. History of screwball genre movies Screwball genre started in 1930s and lasted till early 1940s. This was considered to be typical American genre and it was. If we see the era in which screwball genre thrived we understand the premises that has gone into making of these films. Since 1929, after World War 1 America was going through a period of great depression. The society was in gloom over financial landslides and was suffering acutely the after effects of the war. The war continued to be ‘European’ war in the minds of American people. Although the country was victorious, the economy had suffered a severe setback. The stock markets had crashed and there were signs of hunger and unemployment everywhere. Entertainment then came in the form of movies. Ticket prices at all-time low, movies proved to be an escape from reality. Americans in this decade watched movies as if it was a societal duty. Screwball genre was born during this time. The genre got people back in theatre and allowed them to dream about a wonderful future full of happiness. As the societal conditions were not good it was necessary that films carried people’s sentiments. Hence there were distinct two classes in the films. One which was rich and prosperous and the other was working class or the upcoming so called middle class and coming together of these classes did not result into clashes. In fact in the films the middle class or working class who is not rich seemed to have all the common sense and intelligence and which in fact teaches a thing or two to the rich society. If we take a look at all the films in this genre such as My Man Godfrey, It happened one night, Bringing up Baby etc. this trend is evident as a characteristic of this genre. Success of Screwball Genre What made these movies so popular? The answer lies in amiable existence of all juxtaposing classes in the films. The working class or middle class people identified with the film. It dispensed the gloom that was shrouding to a large extent. It gave hopes and happiness of better future. The films did not promote anti-rich messages but presented them as the dreams the middle class or working class can achieve. In fact this served as a trigger for many to come and watch movies. Making a film which preaches, or is serious would have been infinitely easy in the circumstances. However when the society around is not happy, it would not be looking for a preaching material to spend money on. It would expect the entertainment to make them forget their worries and woes. That’s the reason comedy worked beautifully. Another reason why people watched these movies was the presentation of rich and money bearing class in the films. People came in to watch what they wanted to become. They were curious about the lifestyles of the rich people. The big mansions, liveried servants, the casual and cool approach with which this class treated problems of life were all extremely appealing. The working class making the upper class see some practical sense also appealed to the masses. It united money from one class with common sense from other. The light tone, fluid stories and supreme performances of the actors made the movies extremely watchable. The unpredictability made the movies engaging. Do screwball genre movies exist even today? Although the trend diminished on the verge of World War 2, the movies still continue to influence today’s films. In the typical Rom-Coms or romantic comedies as they are known today we see screwball genre characteristics very clearly. Pretty woman starts when Richard Gere aka Edward brings his car to a halt at an obscure corner of Beverley Hills where Julia Roberts playing Vivien, who is a prostitute is looking for a prospective customer. She offers him to show the way to his hotel and ends up being in penthouse with him. He needs a female company for a business dinner which is crucial and hence asks her to stay for a week or so immediately agreeing to exorbitant charges she quotes. Eventually Edward speaks and shares to her things which he has not spoken to anybody. Vivien on her part is shares her story and eventually falls for him. He however initially is unable to take questions regarding her but respects her for her intelligence, beauty, and most importantly for her compassionate heart. The twists and turns in the movie make the Vivien and Edward conscious of deep feelings they have for each other. While she is being fairly frank about it he is reluctant towards commitment. After having a talk with Vivien Edward decides to not to buy and strip off a company but instead suggests investment in the same. He and his lawyer have been working on the deal for a year and his lawyer doesn’t take this change of decision kindly. He abuses Vivien at the penthouse and gets physically rough with her. Edward hits his lawyer and throws him out. Vivien decides to leave the city and take up a job elsewhere to start life afresh. Edward too wants to fly back to New York but turns around and proposes to Vivien instead realising his love for her. Maid in Manhattan starts with single mom Marissa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) struggling to drop her son at school on time and reaching on time in the hotel where she works as a maid. She doesn’t even read the newspaper in which detail chronicle of an ugly fight between Chris Marshall the senatorial candidate and his girlfriend is published. She concentrates on her day to day job, giving her best and managing to reach on time for her son’s first speech at school. She has to cope with divorced husband who doesn’t want to take any responsibility of their son. She is fighting for her day to day happiness. One day on insistence of her colleague she tries an expensive designer outfit of a customer which is against the hotel rules. Her son, whom she has got with her at work sneaks out and crosses path with Chris Marshall and his dog in the lift. Twists and turns happen when Chris meets Marissa when she is wearing the branded expensive outfit that doesn’t belong to her. He falls for her the moment he sets his eyes on her. He even invites her for an important dinner. She on her part is not ready to carry this deception further, but her friends and son push her saying that it’s no harm having fun for one day. She falls for him but eventually the whole farce is pulled off. The customer whose outfit she has worn discovers her secret and Marissa loses her job and Chris as well. In the time that follows she picks up another job at a different hotel, the same where Chris comes back to stay. Her son sneaks into his press conference and gets them together. Both films have clear elements of screwball genre. Even when we read the plot we realise the Cinderella elements that were so characteristic of screwball genre. In both the films, the women are working, albeit not a very respectable job. They understand that they have to work to survive. Marissa is even considered for a promotion to manager’s post as the seniors are happy with her work. Vivien understands her responsibilities of paying rent etc. and also puts up with her roommate’s brash behaviour of blowing the money she has saved towards paying rent. Vivien also ends up paying for her roommate’s dues as she is kind, compassionate and protective about her. She also gives the money she has earned from Edward to her roommate. Marissa is acutely aware of her responsibilities towards her son and fights and struggles for giving better life to her son. She has to work and she has got no choice. This is a trait common to screwball genre in which women are shown fiercely independent and practical. They might dream but they have their feet on ground. The class differences are clearly present in both the movies. Edward is rich, successful, ruthless businessman who leaves in penthouse of the hotel. He is afraid of heights but stays in penthouse because that’s the best the hotel can afford. Vivien has never been inside the place like the hotel in which Edward stays. She is not welcome in the posh shops where she goes to buy an evening dress. She is in fact thrown out of every place which claims to be upper class. Marissa has no illusions about herself. She clearly understands and accepts that the world she serves in is beyond her reach. Chris Marshall is rich, successful and in limelight being a politician is beyond even dreams for Marissa. Typical twists and unpredictable turns make these two classes come together in both the movies. The only differentiating characteristic of these films is the open sexuality shown in both the films. While Chris and Marissa’s relation is romantic but well within limits in the film it also goes ahead suggests that they spent a night together because of the passion they share, while pretty woman in known for open and bold scenes of the relation between Vivien and Edward. Screwball genre doesn’t get into explicit romantic and physical scenes as it was meant to be in lines of codes and regulations designed to control outrageous scenes in films. In both films the low end background characters reason and advice the upper class counterparts. It is on Vivien’s suggestions and talks Edward decides to not buy the company and strip it off. She shows him that he can take a day off and spend some time not doing business. She fills the void in him and he relates to her. Marissa questions Chris when he says that he is going to meet people in Bronx. She wants to know if he knows anything about life and people in Bronx and gives him practical advice twice in the film. Both films have warm, sentimental and romantic moments which are true symbol of screwball genre. Vivien goes for shopping with Edward and it seems he wants to buy the world for her. He is not ashamed when she walks side by side to him and in fact respects her intelligence, wit and beauty. He doesn’t treat her as an object at all. His initial scepticism towards her melts, after he sees her honesty. Chris talks to Marissa’s son about stage fear and talks to him about holding on to a paper clip before a public speech. He actually talks to the child as father and has one to one talk with him. This shows that Chris in fact is a very gentle person at heart. It also has values wrapped when Marissa’s manager tells her, “We may be serving them, but we are not their servants and someday you will be a great manager”, upholding the dignity of the working class. Both movies like typical screwball genre come to a point when neither character is willing to admit the love they feel for the other. Vivien suggests to Edward by narrating the story of prince charming coming to her and taking her away. Marissa questions Chris that had she not dressed up and pretended to be upper class would he even have looked at her? When viewers of the film want these couples to unite the on screen admittance takes a little while. Eventually a fairy-tale ending typical of screwball genre happens when both couples get together and live happily ever after. Although both the films do not belong to screwball genre typically they certainly have too many similarities to ignore the influence of screwball genre. If we compare ‘Pretty woman’ and ‘It happened one night’, we see the same romantic element with humour and light hearted storyline. The understanding that these situations do not happen in everyday life gives a fairy tale tinge to the films. Similarly in ‘Bringing up baby’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan’ the class differences are so large that the characters understand and accept that walking across is beyond efforts. In both the films one clash after the other happens for the main characters to realise the love they feel for each other. Screwball genre has all other genres of comedy included. It has irony when Vivien confesses that she left school and now can’t go back even if she wants to. It has farce when Chris enters into Caroline’s room only to discover Marissa dressed in Caroline’s clothes and doesn’t know where to hide. It has slapstick when the entire hotel staff keeps rushing and trying to not to get into each other’s way while serving the guests to the best of their capacity. It makes fun of the upper class when two sisters who are posh guests are caught stealing and sneaking things from the hotel. Screwball genre provided an escape route to dreamland when it was needed the most in American society. It gave classic films like ‘My man Godfrey’, ‘His girl Friday”, ‘The awful truth’, ‘It happened one night’ and ‘Duck soup’ etc. We are attracted to the impossibility factor because we believe that this can happen with us as well. Technically the period of screwball genre is over but the films have stayed as bright light of hopes and laughter. The success of the genre lies in the fact that we all have Cinderella and Peter Warren in us and we all want justice to be done to them and their dreams. Hence irrespective of the generations the genre seems to hold ground even if it is now explicit in format. References: 1. Home of the Screwball, 2001. Available at [Accessed 05th May 2012]. 2. Screwball Comedy. Available at [Accessed 04th May 2012] 3. Screwball comedy, Available at http://www.moderntimes.com/screwball> [Accessed 03rd May 2012] 4. Rickman Gregg, Screwball Comedy. Available at [Accessed 02nd May 2012] 5. What is comedy and what makes something funny? [Accessed 02nd May 2012] 6. The Role of Women in Screwball Comedy Films. [Accessed 02nd May 2012] 7. Shumway David, Decline and reinvention. [Accessed 04th May 2012] 8. Berardinelli James, Maid in Manhattan, 2002. [Accessed 04th May 2012] Read More