It is often said that "Films reflect the time in which they are made."
How far is this true for Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1956)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is set in 1950's America, where at the time there was a heightened panic of nuclear annihilation with USSR. Nuclear annihilation was not the only thing that people feared after WW2. During WW2 ,the fear of 'Alien' invasion's grew. The government passed the 'Smith Act' that required all non American Citizens to register with the government. There was a heightened hate for Homosexual people as well as he Black Race.
The first thing to be revealed in the opening of the films are police sirens. The police sirens portray an unusual view of America as it is not what the audience would expect due to the police officers and Doctor looking quite rushed and impatient.This reflects the change in society at the time the film was made. It shows the fear of others and nuclear annihilation, the panic of communist trials and the paranoia of being labelled as a communist or a homosexual. 1950's America saw the rise in racial tension , increasing need to 'rid' of all homosexuals and also the main threat , communist trials ran by Joseph McCarthy accusing politicians and the public of being communists.
From the start of the film there is a narration form Miles ( Joseph McCarthy) 'Everything looked normal but...'. This narration shows us that he did have his suspicions about what was happening from the very start. The town is considered 'normal', however there are hints all around that this is not the normal town that he is used to. We see the heightened fears of relatives not being relatives and friends not being the people other's know. The vast majority of the town are conforming to the status quo due to the fear of punishment and consequences if they don't. For example ,in the film the first police officer we see in the town is a friend of the Doctor's. He does however come across as cold and distant. Straight away it is clear to the audience that this police officer has been turned by a pod. From the use of the officer we can see that authority is used in order for people to conform. This is similar to 1950's America at the time of Joseph McCarthy.
This also links into the fear of communism and the fear of others. The paranoia of the people in the town the film is set and also in 1950's America was seen a psychological problem. Those that stood outside the Status Quo (in the film , believing people were not their relatives) were seen as a minor problem, this reflects McCarthy's early followers when he set up his campaign against communists. However,as the film progresses any that are against the pods are confronted and forced into conforming. This is much like the McCarthy hunts and trials as those accused of being communists and homosexual were punished.
The film highlights The social impact theory in conforming. The three components needed are Number, Strength, Immediacy. A high number of people present that support the conforming means a higher level of conformity. We see this in the film as more and more of the friends that live in the town are turning into pods. The more important people are to an individual, the higher the levels of conformity. This is also supported in the film with Uncle Ira and Becky's cousin. Her cousin at first is worried about Uncle Ira but eventually turns into a pod as well. These problems were present in the time this film was made due to the fear of being accused of being different or a communist.
The town in which the movie is set in ,Santa Mira, is not actually a real town in America. The use of a fictional town represents the small towns situated all around USA. It shows that this national threat can reach even the small parts of USA and that anybody can be affected. It has an underlying meaning that nobody can hide and that all American's are being monitored and supervised.
The main protaganist Miles, is portrayed as a normal , relatable, everyman who has strong relationship with plenty of people in the town he lives in. By presenting the main male character as a relatable person, it relates to the audience and hints that any body is capable of fighting this off.
This also links into the fear of communism and the fear of others. The paranoia of the people in the town the film is set and also in 1950's America was seen a psychological problem. Those that stood outside the Status Quo (in the film , believing people were not their relatives) were seen as a minor problem, this reflects McCarthy's early followers when he set up his campaign against communists. However,as the film progresses any that are against the pods are confronted and forced into conforming. This is much like the McCarthy hunts and trials as those accused of being communists and homosexual were punished.
The film highlights The social impact theory in conforming. The three components needed are Number, Strength, Immediacy. A high number of people present that support the conforming means a higher level of conformity. We see this in the film as more and more of the friends that live in the town are turning into pods. The more important people are to an individual, the higher the levels of conformity. This is also supported in the film with Uncle Ira and Becky's cousin. Her cousin at first is worried about Uncle Ira but eventually turns into a pod as well. These problems were present in the time this film was made due to the fear of being accused of being different or a communist.
The town in which the movie is set in ,Santa Mira, is not actually a real town in America. The use of a fictional town represents the small towns situated all around USA. It shows that this national threat can reach even the small parts of USA and that anybody can be affected. It has an underlying meaning that nobody can hide and that all American's are being monitored and supervised.
The main protaganist Miles, is portrayed as a normal , relatable, everyman who has strong relationship with plenty of people in the town he lives in. By presenting the main male character as a relatable person, it relates to the audience and hints that any body is capable of fighting this off.
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