Post-war Hollywood is an interesting topic. We tend to see a lot of media around this time of history but I, for one, rarely see it concerning Hollywood before the 50s. We know films were being generated more than ever there but films like 'Hail, Ceaser!" generally centre around the golden age of the 50s and 60s rather than the late 40s.
I am a huge Ryan Murphy nerd as are most TV buffs who have any layer of sense! Shows like 'American Horror Story', 'Pose' and 'The Politcian' have really paved the standard for the way television is made in the 2010s. In fact, Ryan Murphy reached 2020 with his great writing far quicker than anyone else. So, obviously, when I heard that his next show 'Hollywood' was going to be hitting Netflix today I was more than ready to race to my laptop as soon as the sun came up.
Davis Corenswet is the star of the show. I knew that he was familiar and that is because he was river Barkey in 'The Politician'. His chiselled jaw, dimples and deer in the headlights look is perfect for portraying a budding actor in the midst of Hollywood's heydays. The episode starts with Jack (Davis Corenswet) alone in a cinema with a hand full of popcorn watching an infomercial about Hollywood. He is zoned in on the content and it seems to outline his life. The footage shows the ambition of hundreds of people in Hollywood waiting outside the gates of a movie studio. They all have hopes and dreams of being an extra. And Jack is one of them.
The advert transitions into real life and Jack is now within the crowd, cutting through to the front to join his friend. We get the impression that he does this everyday and the scene is painted so well with bright colours, desperation and a lot of trilby hats. The process of a woman with large cat eye glasses pointing people out of the crowd to walk through the gates is daunting. It seems as rigorous as an army and it is designed to come across that way as many people in the crowd have recently come home from war and trying their luck in Hollywood. How seriously people take it is shown to us through Jack's friend who uses lingo like "lensing" and corrects Jack that they are "producing a movie" not "making a movie". It's the detail like that that makes you fascinated as people are chosen and the rest leave like a bizarre enactment of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
Jack has a lot of pride about being an extra. He has dimples and a "can-do" attitude. But he can't get a loan for him and his pregnant wife. He is watched by a silver-haired man at the bar every night and being bought drinks by him. This man is brought to life by Dylan McDermott. (Although no longer wearing a latex suit from his American horror story days.) It is typical Ryan Murphy casting. He recycles actors and actresses in such a thoughtful way. Dylan McDermott's character is called Ernie and he is a brash, and open person to enter Jack's life. He wants him to pump gas at his gas station. He wants someone good looking to do it as this brings good business. Jack agrees, and follows him to the gas station the next day. The gas station brings great nostalgic Americana in its appearance however there are signs that make it seem slightly sexual and innuendo-y. The name of the gas station is "golden tip". And, boy, I am certain that means some things, ya know?
The shots of the show are very clever and sneaky "Lubrication service" behind Ernie when Jack walks out in his new work uniform donning a yellow cap. We find out that the gas station offers male prostitution and Jack is very against it at first but decides to try it because the money is so good. We see themes of masculinity and the pressure to provide in his actions. The music is jolly and familiar when the outrageous act happens and Jack is driven away by an older woman to a hotel. It shows the stark reality of Hollywood but has that "movie magic" glaze over it that makes it seem romantic. I liked that. The woman turns out to be very interesting. She was in silent films but didn't make it into "talkies" because she was a Jew. Jack opens up to her too and says all he had back home were his good looks. Jack's innocence and starry eyed view is apparent in my favourite quote of the episode:
"Movies? you think they matter?" "You kidding? I know they do"
When Jack gets back he is moved on to a man. Not just any man. It's Cole Porter. But Jack recoils and leaves to the anger of Ernie who says he must bring back a replacement or he receives no money for the day. Jack re-joins his wife and they discover they are having twins. Jack faints. There is a little bit of ludicrousy in that but in the best way. It's classic and fun storytelling. Jack knows he needs to do something about the gas station so he dresses as a police man and walks into a gay film with a couple of men watching and masturbating each other. Jack pretends to arrest one of the men who he plans to get to fill in for him at the gas station so he can still get his money.
We discover his name is Archie. He was also in the service and wanted to be a scriptwriter but no one wants to hire a contracted black man. He jumps on board with the idea and becomes a natural at the gas station. There is a whole scene of him tenderly getting to know the first man who picks him up. Gay themes are spot on and treated beautifully. It seems like it will be a humorous mixture of male friendship and sadness sprinkled in. Ernie's isn't well so trouble is definitely brewing and I think that there is only so long that the gas station can stay under the radar. It all seems to be going well....until the end of the episode happens. But I don't want to spoil it for you!
Let me know what you think of it too. Who else can't wait until Darren Criss comes along in the next episode?
Catch the entire season of 'Hollywood' on Netflix now!
Sincerely, The Serial Television Watcher
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