Smokers in films

[Feraud]

I don't think it necessarily reflected reality.

Good point. I think smoking and drinking in film have to be kept in the context of the film itself. It does not necessarily reflect real life.

 

[Clyde R.]

Thanks, Feraud. I also think another thing that makes that point very well is all the times you see an actor light a cigarette in the old movies and take a drag and throw it away. Somebody made that point earlier in regards to John Wayne. That's something that doesn't happen often in real life. After all, cigarettes cost money and who wants to just throw it way?

The cigarette is often a prop- just ask an actor about bits of "business" or what they do in a scene- and many will tell you that what you do with your hands is often one of the most vexing problems...especially for novices.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Speaking of smokers on film, the film project I'm currently producing, a film-noir send-up (comedy) set in the late '40s, calls for most of the characters to smoke as part of the gag. I don't smoke cigarettes and never have, so I've never paid much attention to styles and brands. What should I look for that would be period correct for the era? We'll probably do our own fictitious brand packaging, or possibly revive a brand that no longer exists. Also, I have heard that Hollywood films are now required by law to provide actors with herbal cigarettes because smoking tobacco is forbidden in any California workplace. Where would one buy these cigarettes in other parts of the country?

 

[1961MJS]

Hi Matt

I used to live behind the Mall in Decatur, so I've been by Town Creek on the way back to the ex in-laws in Kansas a few times.

In the 1940's, many cigarettes wouldn't have had filters yet. Lucky Strike, Chesterfields, Camels, and Pall Mall were popular brands. I'm not sure they have un-filtered herbal cigarettes, but you might look at the local cigar stores. You can also carefully tear off the filter so it looks right. An old friend used to just pull the filters off the cheaper brands instead of buying the un-filtered ones. If you do close ups of the packages, remember that the huge cigarettes cause 18 kinds of cancer warnings didn't show up until after your time period. There were a lot of match books used, but I'm betting that the silver lighters were the most popular way of lighting up.

have fun with the filming.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Thanks much for the info and suggestions, Mike. I lived in Decatur for 10 years before moving to Town Creek. Small world.

Yes, I'm sure we'll create our own packaging for the smokes, and make sure it is period correct without the warning labels. Ha! We'll probably go as far as to create matchbooks which will advertise one of the fictitious stores or clubs in our story. But I'm sure at least one character, probably the hero, will have to carry a silver zippo. I think I may still have one of my father's old zippos around somewhere.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Ladies didn't smoke. I had 1 or 2 female relatives as a child who smoked cigarettes, they were considered "fast". This was in a family that frowned very strongly on drinking too. Don't let the movies fool you. In the Golden Age a lot of ordinary people were very suspicious of smoking and drinking.

However, many people did smoke and drink, no doubt there were more smokers then than now, most of the smokers were men. Pipes and cigars were common, especially among older men. You hardly ever see a pipe or cigar smoker today.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Though I've never smoked cigarettes, I have on very rare occasion been known to enjoy a fine cigar. Never tried a pipe, though my father did from time to time and I still have a few of his somewhere. I did always like the smell of pipe tobacco.