The subject of body image has been a taboo and sensitive subject for some time. Film has explored every topic under the sun but the subject of body image has had a slow start. There are only a few Old Hollywood films that address body image such A Woman's Face (1941) and The Enchanted Cottage (1945) but they address the topic so beautifully.
Its not always comfortable to talk about your looks, your weight, how feel when you look in the mirror and all the fears, anxieties, and vulnerability that comes with it. But when I look back at the few Old Hollywood films that did address the topic of body image, I think about the cast that dared to portray these characters so honestly with their "imperfections" all out for the world to see. I also think about the crew and those who helped make such daring films because without these types of films there would be less dialogue and awareness about these subjects.
When I first watched some of these I didn't know what to expect. Some of the body image issues are subtle like in The Old Maid (1939) and The Heiress (1949) but some were very blatant and up front like in Marty (1955) and Georgey Girl (1966). Today we can find the topic of body image more openly addressed and spoken about but it is a topic that I believe will always have need to be explored and shared.
Here are a few classic films that delve into the delicate topic of body image. Have you seen any of these?
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