On The 20th Century: Read, Watch, Do

Immerse yourself in the world of the madcap musical, On the Twentieth Century, with our recommended listening, reading and doing lists!

TO READ

Twentieth Century
by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, adapted by Ken Ludwig

The musical On the Twentieth Century is based on the 1932 version of this play-which is in turn based on Napoleon of Broadway, an unproduced play by Bruce Millholland. In 2010, playwright Ken Ludwig adapted the play into a streamlined two-act version (staged in a 2004 Roundabout Theatre Company revival directed by Walter Bobbie and starring Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche).

The Hollywood Studios
by Ethan Mordden

The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era
by Thomas Schatz

These two studies of the Hollywood studio system cover everything from the mechanics of vertical integration to the demands of the star system to the aesthetics of individual movie studios, providing a glimpse into the gilded-cage careers of On the Twentieth Century movie stars Lily Garland and Bruce Granit.

Night Trains: The Pullman System in the Golden Years of American Rail Travel

In June of 1938, the Twentieth Century Limited was redesigned by Henry Dreyfuss and the Pullman Company into a new, streamlined train that would travel from Chicago to New York in 16 hours of art deco luxury. The redesign also prompted the custom of "walking the red carpet" when exiting the train in New York. Passersby gathered to watch the illustrious passengers disembark, leading to the red-carpet tradition that is now synonymous with celebrity culture. This book offers photographs, maps, and an in-depth look at the history of Pullman cars in the US.

TO WATCH

"Flight of the Century"

This 1935 promotional film traces the journey of the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York. The exceptional period footage includes behind-the-scenes glimpses of the work put in by the train's porters, maids, and chefs.

Twentieth Century

This 1934 film based on the 1932 play was adapted directly by Hecht and MacArthur. Howard Hawks directs; John Barrymore and Carole Lombard star.

It Happened One Night and Bringing Up Baby

Two shining examples of 1930s screwball comedy, these films both feature oddball couples drawn together in bizarre circumstances. An irresistible alchemy of romantic tension and zany comedy puts these two titles at the top of an iconic list --- and offer insights into the genre Comden, Green, and Coleman were tapping into when they wrote the 30s-set On the Twentieth Century.