Hello there, everyone! How is it going? Spring has finally arrived (yay!). I must say I actually enjoyed watching the film Radio Days because of its witty remarks and how it depicted each character’s viewpoint on a particular topic. When comparing the ethnic family in Goodfellas to that witnessed in Radio Days, we observe some salient differences. For example, in Goodfellas deception, violence, and unfaithfulness described the typical family. When Henry Hill cheats on his wife Karen in Goodfellas, we notice an act of infidelity. Also, the film did not center too much on the family as Radio Days did. I mean we definitely know that Henry tried to support his family, even though done illicitly and that Henry barely interacted with Karen’s family. In fact, Henry lost touch of his own family once he joined the gangster business and primarily focused on his illegal activities. On the other hand, Radio Days displayed a family that was close together. There were certainly problems and minor instances of violence in Joe’s (Seth Green) family, but not as much when compared to the family seen in Goodfellas. For example, we see a genuine family connection when Ruthie’s father and uncle join her in dancing and singing. Also, even though Joe’s father and mother were not too sure why they married each other in the first place, they were always there for one another. The parts of the film where we see the family having dinner together and the father teasing Aunt Bea about her love life reveals to us a close knit family.
In Radio Days, the ubiquitous presence of the radio plays a crucial role in the film. I say this because the radio provides each family member a cathartic release from the daily hassles of life. For instance, the frequent game shows, talks about celebrities, and broadcasts of sports legends allows each family member to open up a little more about how they feel about something. With Joe constantly listening to the radio about the Masked Avenger (secret decoder ring) rather than focusing on schoolwork, tells us the important role the radio played in this family. In addition, the radio was essential in those times because it was an important source of disseminating information to others besides the television. The radio also allowed the family to connect closely to one another. When a young girl named Polly Phelps falls into a well and perishes, families are seen close together feeling the pain of this tragedy vicariously. The father tightly clings onto his son and the depressing environment the radio broadcast generates shows us the profound family bond. In a sense, the radio provides the family with a sense of unity and enables them to express their thoughts better. With the Masked Avenger inspiring Joe, Ruthie dancing to music, and the broadcasting of the affluent and glamorous people on the radio, we can see that the radio has a large impact on this family.
Also, the community seems to be predominantly white and we learn about Joe’s adventures with his friends, his aunt’s desperate attempts to find a suitable partner, and the everyday arguments that occur in family households (especially, the arguments of the father and his wife over trivial matters). Another scene I would like to mention is the one where the mobster kidnaps the celebrity Sally White and takes her to his mother’s house. This scene was reminiscent of the scene in Goodfellas because it described the typical Italian household and Mafia business of violence. I found it interesting how the old woman was petrified when she saw a young woman smooching an African American man in Radio Days. The way she reacted illustrated how surprised she was to see a white woman with a black man. Alas, the shock claimed her life and this scene vaguely gave a racial feel, since it was atypical for a white woman to be with a black man during the 1940s.
Overall, I liked how the family in Radio Days showed support for one another, especially in encouraging Aunt Bea’s hope of finding a decent husband. It was funny how Aunt Bea’s first date left her due to the alien invasion hoax and how the Uncle drastically changed after visiting their neighbor’s house rather than succeeding in getting the neighbors to shut down their music. We see how the radio brings the family together and allows them to express their opinions more thoroughly. I was also glad when Joe finally found out his father’s occupation. What a coincidence! Finally, I enjoyed this movie because it was comical and was not as solemn as the other movies watched in class.
