American movies have been a draw towards the U.S. which is generally depicted as a land of impossible privilege. That’s the impression a lot of immigrants I knew had in the late 70s/early 80s. They were surprised that money wasn’t lying around in the street.
“American movies have been a draw towards the U.S. which is generally depicted as a land of impossible privilege. That’s the impression a lot of immigrants I knew had in the late 70s/early 80s. They were surprised that money wasn’t lying around in the street.”
_______________________________________________________________
Hee! Hee! Even we seem to have to find that out for ourselves with every generation that goes out into the world.
I still can’t figure out how all those struggling youngsters in the ads/sitcoms/MTV find and afford those glamorous apartments.
Especially that gargantuan Georgetown pad Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy had in “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
That impression of America long pre-dates the movies. There's a joke from about 1900 about an immigrant just stepping off the boat. As he walks away from the docks he sees a $20 gold piece lying on the ground. He starts to pick it up, then stops. "My first day in America. Why should I work?"