Sunday, December 16, 2012

50 Million Frenchmen

50 Million Frenchmen was a hit Broadway show in 1929 with music by Cole Porter. In 1931 Warner Brothers released a movie version starring the comedy team Olson and Johnson and Broadway musical star William Gaxton. Olson and Johnson were one of the most successful comedy duos of that era. They starred in several films and Broadway shows and are most famous for starring in the Broadway revue Hellzapoppin which ran for three years 1938-1941. I DVR'd this film from TCM last week. I was curious to see one of the most famous early 20th century comedy teams and a man who starred in several great musicals. My regular readers know I love old movies and love film history. Imagine my disappointment when, ten minutes into the movie, I realized I could not stand it. Ole Olson's signature high pitched laugh was more annoying than funny. The gags hadn't ripened with age, they had soured. Gaxton may have moved audiences on stage, but on on film he came across as stiff and old. Warner Brothers had cut the songs out of the movie, having decided in 1931 that the era a of musical films were over. But why am I telling you this? Not just to help you avoid watching 50 Million Frenchmen in the future. it's to point out that tastes change. What was popular in one generation will not necessarily endure. It's only the rare works of art and extraordinary artists whose works last. That's why you shouldn't worry about the legacy of what you're creating. Perhaps it will be Casablanca, and perhaps it will be 50 Million Frenchmen. You can't control how future generations will feel about your work. You can only control what you're doing now. Focus on making each piece of content as good as you can, and let the future take care of itself.