MovieChat Forums > Dennis the Menace (1993) Discussion > Was it supposed to have a 50s atmosphere...

Was it supposed to have a 50s atmosphere?

posted 10 years ago by EightiesKid
5 replies | jump to latest

It didn't seem very 1993 other than some subtle things like the mid-late 80s/early 90s cars everyone was driving, or teenage babysitter Polly. She and the dude Mickey she was making out with seemed like typical early 90s teens.

But besides that, when I think about it, there weren't any pop culture or music references (the only music was the jazz Mr. Wilson was playing in the attic) and I wonder did they intentionally make it more old school/innocent 50s-like so it would seem more like the old Dennis The Menace cartoon strip?

I know some little kids aren't much into fashions/pop culture and stuff as teens and younger adults are, but Mason Gamble sure came off WAY more old fashioned than a 5-7 year old of 1993. I mean more interested in a slingshot, building a treehouse, and being read stories than playing Game Boy and Super NES, lol.

[–] Broncho_Knight 10 years ago

I think they were trying to recapture the essence of the 1950s TV show kind of like the 1990s Leave It to Beaver movie.

[–] Quicksilver1900 10 years ago

They were trying to stay true to the original comic strip without making a complete 1950s period film. I really think they succeeded.

[–] blbbg1 10 years ago

A lot of kids films from the 90s sure had a 50s backdrop feel to them like The Little Rascals and Leave It To Beaver films. Hell even Matilda felt like it took place either during the 50s, 60s, or 70s.

[–] Timburrr 10 years ago

The main problem with inserting too many pop culture references is it dates the movie.

[–] thething42011 9 years ago

I think it added to the charm. Me and my brother noticed how everything looks especially green, like a cheerful atmosphere. They were clearly aiming for the White America look of the 1950s from which the original Dennis came from. Even the night-time scenes went for bright bursts of blue and yellow, probably something Nick Castle learned from John Carpenter.

Also, the scene where the parents call babysitters indicated 90s tech but with 50s fashion. You'll notice how they threw in a lot of old fashioned looking phones, which makes sense since they were calling elders, as well as teenagers living at home. Also, the mother dressed like a 50s white woman. It's almost cosplay obvious.

Not to mention the gender role discussion Margaret brings up. The 50s often saw woman at home and men working: Woman being the mothers tending to children, and men being the providers bringing security. In the movie, both parents work and Margaret belittles the boys, very unlike the culture norm of the 50s. So, while they clearly went for a 50s look and feel, they made an effort to abandoned the 50s gender culture.

Whatever they were going for, it worked. Because it seems to resonate a lot of people who saw this as kids and now have nostalgia.