i think i've read most of this book.
>>> I wish to God I had some idea what will happen to you
as an actor. You're a born one, certainly. Even our Bessie knows that.
And surely you and Franny are the only beauties in the family. But where
will you act? Have you thought about it? The movies?
If so, I'm scared stiff that if ever you gain any weight you'll be as victimized as the next young actor into contributing to the reliable Hollywood amalgam of prizefighter and mystic, gunman and underprivileged child, cowhand and Man's Conscience, and the rest.
Will you be content with that standard box-office schmalz?
------ J. D Salinger, Franny and Zooey p. 60
--------- victimized ------- by Howard Hughes
mystic... like T.E.Lawrence?
gunman ... Gary Cooper, Fonda, ...
Man's Conscience -- makes me think of
Henry Fonda in [The Grapes of Wrath] and
Jimmy Stewart in [Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]
and that other Capra film.
Hollywood amalgam of prizefighter and mystic,
My point is... a good reader at the time KNEW exactly
what cultural references were being made.
The Western Hero: The lone cowboy facing
down injustice is a classic archetype. Think characters
like John Wayne in westerns like "Stagecoach" (1939) or
"The Searchers" (1956).
The Tough Guy with a Heart of Gold: The gruff exterior
masking a surprising sensitivity is another common trope.
Think Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca" (1942) or James
Cagney in "Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938).
Boxing Films: Boxing movies were (and still are) a
Hollywood staple. While some explored deeper themes, many
relied on predictable storylines of overcoming adversity.
Films like "Rocky" (1976) or earlier ones like "The Champ"
(1931) could be seen as examples.
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