The Golden Twenties

The Golden Twenties

Year: 1950

Runtime: 68 mins

Language: English

Documentary

The fabulous decade when we came of age! Feature-length compilation of 1920s newsreel footage, with commentary about news, sports, lifestyles, and historical figures.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Golden Twenties (1950)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Golden Twenties (1950). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1920s

The Roaring Twenties were marked by rapid modernization, urban growth, and a booming consumer culture. Prohibition reshaped social life and organized crime, while new mass media began to shape public opinion. The decade culminated in the 1929 stock market crash, signaling the end of an era.

Location

New York Public Library, United States

A frame story centers on a student at the New York Public Library, who uses period footage to traverse the decade. The film compiles newsreels and archival material to trace the 1920s from 1920 to 1929 across the United States. The library setting anchors a scholarly approach to a vibrant, fast-changing era.

🏛️ Archive Setting 🗺️ 1920s United States

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:01

Main Characters – The Golden Twenties (1950)

Meet the key characters of The Golden Twenties (1950), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Babe Ruth

A defining sports icon of the era, Ruth embodies the rise of professional baseball and the era's national sports culture. His record-breaking performances and public persona helped elevate baseball to a centerpiece of American entertainment. Ruth's fame reflects the era's appetite for spectacle and mass fandom.

⚾️ Baseball Icon 🗽 1920s Legend

Charles Chaplin

Chaplin was a defining film star whose silent comedies shaped global cinema and popular humor. His work represented Hollywood's creative energy and the international reach of American entertainment. Chaplin stands as a symbol of the era's cinematic influence and cultural impact.

🎬 Silent Film Icon 🕴️ Comedy Legend

Enrico Caruso

Renowned opera tenor whose voice carried across the Atlantic, Caruso symbolized transatlantic cultural exchange. His performances drew audiences into new media and recording technologies that helped spread European art song to American listeners. Caruso epitomizes the era's cosmopolitan tastes in entertainment.

🎤 Opera Star 🎶 Voice of an Era

Douglas Fairbanks

A leading man of adventure cinema, Fairbanks embodied the daring spirit and blockbuster spectacle of early Hollywood. His swashbuckling persona helped popularize action-packed storytelling and elevated film as a national pastime. He stands for the era's exuberant, large-scale cinematic entertainment.

🎬 Action Star 🕺 Hollywood Icon

Al Capone

Infamous gangster of the Prohibition era, Capone illustrates the criminal underworld that flourished amid new laws and urbanization. His notoriety highlights the social and political complexities of law, order, and illegal enterprises in American cities. Capone's presence in archival footage marks the era's darker underside.

🚔 Prohibition Figure 🕵️‍♂️ Crime Icon

Irving Berlin

A prolific composer and songwriter, Berlin helped shape the era's popular music landscape. His work contributed to the soundtrack of the Jazz Age, bridging Broadway, radio, and recording venues. Berlin epitomizes the era's musical innovation and enduring cultural influence.

🎼 Composer 🎤 Songwriter

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:01

Major Themes – The Golden Twenties (1950)

Explore the central themes of The Golden Twenties (1950), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💫 Prosperity and Change

The decade is depicted as a period of rapid economic growth and urban transformation, with cars, radios, and electricity reshaping daily life. A rising consumer culture and technological innovations defined everyday experience, while entertainment and leisure industries expanded dramatically. Yet the era's fragility hinting at later economic collapse is also suggested through social tensions and uneven prosperity.

🎭 Culture and Entertainment

The Jazz Age and Hollywood popularity transformed American culture, turning film, music, and celebrity into mass phenomena. Archival footage showcases iconic stars and performances, reflecting a society hungry for spectacle and new forms of leisure. The period's cultural vibrancy is framed as both creative peak and a mirror of social change.

⚖️ Politics and Law

The decade features pivotal political and legal developments, including the creation of the League of Nations and the United States' decision not to join. Prohibition reshapes social life and crime dynamics, while the 19th Amendment expands voting rights for women. Major trials and policy shifts highlight tensions between progress and controversy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:01

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Unlock the Full Story of The Golden Twenties

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Golden Twenties in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Golden Twenties is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Golden Twenties Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Golden Twenties, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Golden Twenties Summary

The Golden Twenties Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Golden Twenties with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Golden Twenties Timeline

More About The Golden Twenties

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Golden Twenties: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Golden Twenties