MovieChat Forums > The Children's Hour (1961) Discussion > A Product Of Its Time

A Product Of Its Time

posted 18 years ago by FloatingOpera7
12 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this film and all I have to say is "Oh please!". No women today would lose their teaching job if they were accused of being lesbian, especially not in today's "civil rights/gay rights" America, unless the private school was run by Catholic nuns. It's a movie that, although was taboo and ahead of its time for 1961, is so laughably silly by today's standards. I don't know anyone today that would give a damn about being called a lesbian, especially if it's just a rumor or lie that could easily be disproven.

The part about Audrey Hepburn's character's boyfriend leaving her is not very sensible by today's standards. Today's modern straight male would love it if his girlfriend were accused of bein a lesbian because the straight man today loves lesbians!!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] FloatingOpera7 18 years ago

I am a straight female who is a freethinker and I'm sorry that you had to be so rude and offensive. All I was gettin at was that in today's democratic, tolerant America being accused of being lesbian is not a big deal, especially when it's not true, like in the case of Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Mclaine's chararacters. Listen, I am well aware that some parts of this country are very backwards in their thinking and not progressive in the least. The "Bible-belt" that is the Mid-West and the South remains mired in old-fashioned, ultra conservative idealogy which shuns anyone who is a free spirit. Back then, the issue of being gay was a really really big deal. Not today. And I know for a fact that most of the heterosexual men I know are sexually attracted to lesbian women, which is why the sell of lesbian pornography is so big. Straight men consider a bisexual woman to be ideal. At the same time I know that not everyone thinks so.

[–] TheRonco5000 18 years ago

"All I was gettin at was that in today's democratic, tolerant America being accused of being lesbian is not a big deal, especially when it's not true, like in the case of Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Mclaine's chararacters"

Well Audrey Hepburns character might not have been gay, but Shirely Maclaines was. I think I understand what you're saying though, dhe didn't know at the time that she was.

Anyway I kind of agree with your post. When I was watching this movie with my older brother he was like "Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine gay together teaching a school. I would send my kid there in a heartbeat with a friggin' video camera." To be fair he is a rather immature 20 year old.

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Rock and roller cola wars, I can't take it anymore

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lyimn 18 years ago

What is the point you're trying to make?

No women today would lose their teaching job if they were accused of being lesbian

Uh...duh? This movie wasn't set in present day. It's about the way the world was "then". Where did you get the idea that anyone was implying this should be representitave of the way things are 40+ years later?

Do you think that movies involving issues that don't affect people (to the extent portrayed in the movie) in your present time and location are irrelevant?
There is still a lot of stigma attached to accusations of homosexality in other places in the world and in the US.
Especially if it's a serious accusation and not just some offhand insult.

Today's modern straight male would love it if his girlfriend were accused of bein a lesbian because the straight man today loves lesbians!!

They like seeing lesbian sex and will press the idea of having a threesome.
But there are still a lot of men who are totally unaccepting of women who are exclusively lesbian.
Men being titillated by the thought of two women having sex isn't exactly a stride forward for ideals of tolerance.

[–] Jake_Fratelli 18 years ago

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but the film isn't set today.

*/\*Goonies never say die!*/\*

[–] sweetjulep 18 years ago

>>Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but the film isn't set today. <<

Amen.

And if you're lucky enough not to live in "backwards bible-belt" states, then hurrah for your not being able to understand this movie, just because it "couldn't have happened today." (I wish I lived in your state...of delusion)

It just tends to leave an even more unsettling feeling in my stomach when people try to ignore the fact that some people don't have just a hunky-dory time being gay or ethnic, or *different*, no matter where they grew up.

[–] s272163-1 18 years ago

the time period it was written in, 1932, it was a taboo thing. and so it does make sense, you crackhead!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jfcharles-782-247545 9 years ago

Lesbians are still losing their teaching jobs in 2015 because of their sexuality. This film is not really all that dated.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Expecting every film in history to fit neatly into 'modern standards' is criminally stupid.

'Of it's time' is to be expected. History is very interesting. This would have been taboo at certain points of history (and still is in certain parts of the world). Broaden your horizons.

[–] TheArgentinian (7186) 2 years ago

This movie hasn't dated at all. Look at what Republicans are doing with the "Don't Say Gay" bill!