Film Analysis Essay on His Girl Friday (1940)

Introduction

When discussing movies in the mid-1940's none emerges better than His Girl Friday (1940). There is every indication pointing to the fact that the fact that this movie is reminiscent of the everyday tribulations that modern society has had to contend with. The awesome style n which the movie plot was developed projecting clearly to the audience exactly what mattered back then in time. Not to mention the importance of gloves, and fedoras as part of decent dressing of its time. while the society seems to have moved on from pretty much of what the society used to adore back in the days, there is sufficient indication of fact that pretty much remains common even in modern times, ranging from the music types, the dimness of the nightspots where deals were made and love was brewed, the typical chatting of the sound cracking laughers, a clear manifestation of life. His Girl Friday (1940) has espoused all under one umbrella thematic expressions to the audience ranging from love and gender; however, the place of justice topic in this movie is clearly unrivaled.

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The movie His Girl Friday (1940) seems quite inclined towards the path if justice delivery. In real essence, there is sufficient fascination with the prospects of justice delivery for the characters under strict pressure for justice. The plot development revolved largely about getting justice for the victims of Earl William's brutal treatment. The producer in his creation of the scenes and advancement of the plot is trying revolving the scenes from one angle to another in an attempt to stop the execution of the Earl. However, the major questions that the audience grapples with throughout the movie is the reasons as to why Walter is so focused on stopping the execution of Earl Williams. The element of justice comes out strongly in the light of challenges and threats to the process of justice provision.

"WALTER: Tell him if he'll reprieve Earl Williams, we'll support him for senator. Tell him the Morning Post will be behind him hook, line, and sinker," (His Girl Friday (1940))

Justice takes many aspects in the context of social justice as well as political light. The movie, His Girl Friday depicts a brutal aspect of the character of Earl William. He is murders who kill a police officer who seems to cross his path. The shooting incident, however, seems to throw the audience into a mix of confusion especially given that William seems to be unaware of where he is or what he is doing. The circumstances surrounding the death of the policeman. The man is under immense distress, coming at a time he lost his job as a bookkeeper and confused with the direction that his life is taking. The character of William is a relatively withdrawn person who seems to succumb to the pressure of life at every turn. While William is undergoing all these challenges, there is indeed a challenge whether the policeman deserves justice through the imprisonment of Earl William.

The movie also gives Earl William a very disgusting tag far from the murder he is. There is a need for justice for the general public concerning the corruption cases that arise in the political scenes. Earl William is a corrupt person who swindles public funds and leaves society at a state of desperation. In other words, there is more than meets the eye in the aspect by which the audience is made to determine the real reason behind the push for execution of Earl Williams. He shot the police officer, however, the motives for the push for his execution y the Sheriffs is to appease the black voters it what will be seen as served justice. However, the major question that the audience for the movie, His Girl Friday would want to find out is whether justice is supposed to be served in the plate of racial justice or on the protection of human rights.

Whereas the political class seeks to gain mileage from the black races following the push for the execution of Earl Williams for all the atrocities committed against the police officer that he shot dear, there is more to learn from in the prospects of the genuineness of justice. The provision of justice in this movie seems to be projected with a hidden vendetta to gain from the execution of Earl Williams. It is quite appalling that even in modern societies; many groups including the civil societies will seem to push for justice with hidden hands seeking to gain public sympathy or love all the same. On the other hand, Walter seems determined to block the execution of Earl William; probably he is seeking to shame the political classes who are focused on benefiting politically from the cases surrounding the push for execution of Earl Williams.

Racial justice is a matter that has been at the core of American history for a long time now. Coming from a period way before the movie was written and produced, the subject of racial justice in the American contexts was initiated by many groups that were opposed to Jim Crow rules. Therefore, it is important for the audience to acknowledge the steam and the determination by the groups pushing for the execution of Earl William to be executed was coming from. By the time of the film production, the Florida laws were explicit that the books used by the black children needed to be stored separately from those used by the white children. Clearly, the racial segregation was a legal process that made it a big issue for the teams pushing for the execution of Earl Williams to succeed in their drive. Therefore, the movie highly dwelt on the aspect of human rights and justice as a big subject of discussion.

"WALTER: It was a coloured policeman. You know what that means," (His Girl Friday (1940)).

This statement is an indication that the clamour for justice will be aggravated by the fact that the killed policeman was a black person.

Earl William isn't just one confused person; he is a racially discriminate person. The extent of his racism tendency makes the entire film is quite scary and matter so concern. The films His Girl Friday, does not only dwell on the aspect of racial justice but about holding the general political class very much accountable for their actions. There is a need for accountability by every elected and appointed leaders to be accountable to the very subjects that they represent. The film unearths some of the underlying roles of media in stifling the process of justice by playing a biased role.

"HILDY: Look, Walter, you get the interview with Earl Williams. Print Egelhoffer's statement. And right alongside it-you know, double column-run your interview. Alienist says he's sane," (His Girl Friday (1940))

Conclusion

The media in the His in the film Girl Friday was racially inclined towards the whites and stood against the blacks who they were seen as lesser people in the whole racial context. From this film, therefore, the audience learns that for justice to be served there is need by the society to stand strong against such vices as favourism and racial contests as a sure step in serving justice for all.

Work Cited

Hawks, Howard. His Girl Friday (1940). Columbia Pictures, United States.