“At this moment [United States] stands at the summit of the world,” quoted by Winston Churchill, it was not hard to decipher what he was trying to convey. America was booming and at this point, making great strides; its economy was back on track and it was flexing its muscles as a world power. Movies during the 50’s were also doing very well, they were making hit after hit and pushing the boundaries in cinematography. However, this was still during the time at which the Hayes Commission was in business, so while the movies pushed on there was still the looming guidance of this review board. Regardless there were still movies that came around that would pass the Commission, one such movie was The Tender Trap.
To better understand the culture and motivation behind this eye-catching movie, there must first be an understanding of the era it was filmed in. Relatively speaking World War II had just ended and people from all over the world were flocking back to the states. This large influx of people had great effects on the nation, exemplified by an increase in the GDP between 1945 and 1960, the economy doubled between those years (insert history citation here). There was also the communally held idea that there was nothing ahead but peace and prosperity, much like the roaring 20’s. This same idea was also supported by the idea that average family income tripled during the fifties, in fact this euphoric sensation of a growing nation was so palpable many said it was an “economic miracle” and that [the United States] …is crossing into a new divide in the history of humanity (Gilder Lehrman citation here).
Around this time many US citizens were moving to the suburbs for the first time as a result in this new-found wealth. People began to buy more and more land because of the G.I. Bill which helped returning soldiers buy these homes in the suburbs that were for the most part cheaper than what was in the city due to the govt. subsidizing the cost. During this time, the civil rights movement was gaining large amount of traction all over from the Brown V. board of Education case to a Montgomery activist by the name of Rosa Parks. One last major climate shaping factor of the 1950’s was the Cold war. This was the name given to the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. According to History.com between the years 1945 and 1952 Congress held 84 hearings in an attempt to dispel any “un-American activities” in the federal government, in universities, in public schools, and even in Hollywood. The creation of this critically acclaimed film was prompted by many of these above-mentioned issues influencing and molding the fifties. However, I believe that it was the move to suburbia and the citizens of the United States new found wealth. These ideas make sense because The Tender Trap was a movie about finding love and doing everything you can to live the American dream. However, from other characters perspectives it was about the allure that the city provided whether it be from a new love or a fast lifestyle. These were all ideas that people moving to suburbia or already living there wanted to see, people wanted to see what life was like on the “other side” or they wanted to relive the glory days from when they lived in the city and could move from girl to girl just like Sinatra. The creation of this movie was also prompted by the increased wealth of people because the movie showed Sinatra going out often and indulging in a lavish lifestyle from his big apartment to his fancy dinners. Although nothing in the movie was too lavish and this was done because the director of this movie wanted Sinatra’s lifestyle to seem just within grasp to play more on people’s emotions. For example, if this movie was about a wealthy aristocrat living fast and fancy in NYC then I don’t believe that the movie would’ve done as well because the people going to see it would’ve felt too removed and disinvested in the film.
The Tender Trap was one of many great successes by the Director Charles Walters. Before he became the hit director he is know well known for he was employed by MGM as the lead dance director, working with stars like Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly. After that he decided to try his luck at feature films. He was also known for movies such as Annie Get Your Gun, High Society, and Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. Charles Wrote this movie because he wanted to highlight the times in which this movie was made. He wanted to show the contrast between what people thought about city life and suburbia and how the occupants of each can become infatuated with the other. So, in that regard it’s also a commentary on the perceived needs and wants of a society with the main idea being the grass is greener on the other side. As for finances the movie it was financed by MGM with a budget of $1,274,000 and a box office success of $4,495,000. This was Sinatra’s big triumphant comeback after his earlier film From Here to Eternity. So of course, MGM was happy to fund the movie, with a top billed cast list and an accredited Director MGM was happy to oblige (Find a citation for here maybe TCM). The actors themselves generally helped promote the movie but since all of the were quite famous and adored there wasn’t much extra promotion needed.
New York theatrical agent Charlie Y. Reader, a bachelor and all-around ladies’ man, is paid an unexpected visit one day by his old childhood friend, Joe McCall, from Indianapolis. Joe, who has decided to take a "vacation" from his family which consists of his wife and his three children. Upon arriving at Charlie’s, Joe is impressed by the attractive women constantly parading through Charlie's apartment. After one of Charlies numerous female companions promises to prepare a special whitefish for Charlie, she leaves the apartment, only to be replaced by Jessica Collins who has come to deliver a prized cheese she has bought for Charlie. At this point the viewers have come to realize just how many girls Charlie has managed to wrap around his finger. Later that night Charlie attends a date with yet another one of his companions, Sylvia Crewes, however this particular lady has caught the eye of his friend Joe. At an audition the following day, Charlie is intrigued by the talented Julie Gillis, a new comer in the theatrical world, and invites her to join him for coffee along with Joe and Sylvia. At a café, Julie single-mindedly asserts that marriage, and not a career, is her goal in life and outlines her plan for obtaining a husband. All throughout coffee Charlie becomes more and more infatuated with Julie falling further and further into her charm. Once coffee has come to an end Charlie cordially invites Julie out to dinner with him, she declines, stating that he does not fit into her "marriage plan" because there is no chemistry between them. During this entire ordeal, we begin to see just how Charlie treats the women in his life because he has already lost interest in Sylvia. One day, when Julie has failed to appear for rehearsal, Joe and Charlie switch on the television and see her in the audience of a homemaking show, scrutinizing furniture arrangements for her future house, really sticking to her plan and demonstrating that this is truly what she wants. Later, at rehearsal, Charlie, unimpressed by Julie's rendition of a song, demonstrates how it should be sung. Charlie's performance makes an impression on Julie, and she accepts his invitation to dinner. While Charlie dines with Julie, Joe begins to spend time with Sylvia. One night, when Charlie discovers that Julie's parents are out of town, he takes her home early to "neck." After ordering Charlie to stop seeing other women, Julie declares she has fallen in love with him, even though he is "too selfish, arrogant and old." When she mentions marriage, he disabuses her of the notion of matrimony and she throws him out. Later, when Sylvia comes to Charlie’s apartment, Joe asks her why she endures Charlie's mistreatment. Previous to this Charlie and Joe had argued over the very topic that he subjected to Sylvia. She replies that there are few single men available for women of her age, and even though does not necessarily love Charlie, she still wants to marry him. Charlie then emerges from the bedroom and stutters a proposal to Sylvia. She accepts, after they all pour themselves strong drinks and Charlie decides to throw a party to celebrate his engagement and copious number of friends to attend. Needing food Charlie exits the apartment in a flurry hurrying to go get some. Once outside he runs in to Julie and the two exchange apologies as the two finally realize that they truly love each other and want what other does. Seeing Charlie’s guest begin to arrive for his other proposal party he sends Julie off with an excuse of an early morning rehearsal. Once morning rolls around Charlie, Joe, and Sylvia are left cleaning up the wreckage from the previous night party, however it is at this precise moment that Julie decides to show up. This is when all the threads of Charlie’s start to unwind, however Sylvia realizes that Charlie isn’t the one for her and unfortunately Julie doesn’t fancy the idea of Charlie marrying two separate women. Thus, ends both of Charlies most important relationships. After all the crazy has subsided, Joe begins to pack his suitcase to return home to Ethel after realizing that Sylvia wants the opposite of what joe wants, a rejected and lonely Charlie begins to envy Joe's life as a married man. Needing some time away from his fast life and hoping for better luck Charlie decides to go to Europe for a year and set up talent agencies. Returning home just in time to attend Sylvia's wedding to Loughran, a man she met in the elevator leaving Charlie’s apartment after the “great breakup.” At the ceremony, Sylvia tosses Charlie her bouquet in quite a personal moment between the two of them. After most of the guests depart, Charlie is left alone with only one other guest, Julie. The two realizing that even after all this time apart they still cannot live without one another, Charlie proposes, and finally the two of them get married and are happily in love.