Back in the 1930s, things were pretty grim. A global economic downturn known as "The Great Depression" was precipitated by the American stock market crash of October 29, 1929. This triggered problems in other countries, so that between 1929 and 1932 the worldwide GDP fell by an estimated 15 percent.

    Into this bleak environment came Hollywood with a genre known as the "screwball comedy." These films were typified by a female lead showing herself to be as strong as (or stronger than) a male central character. The plots often led to marriage or at least a solidification of an on-again off-again relationship after a "battle of the sexes." Along the way the two engaged in fast-paced, witty repartee; escapism (such as a millionaire heiress in the midst of the Depression); and situations bordering on the farcical (like a socialite falling in love with the butler she hired).

    Although the genre was pioneered by earlier directors, notably Frank Capra, it reached its height under Preston Sturges, writer and director of such films as "The Great McGinty" (1940), "The Lady Eve" (1941), and "Sullivan's Travels" (1941).

    "The Great McGinty" is a political satire about a homeless man who becomes a popular but unscrupulous politician. His downfall is brought about by "one crazy minute" of honesty.

    In "The Lady Eve," Jean Harrington is a con artist (like her father) who is out to fleece a rich man--with whom, of course, she falls in love. When he discovers the plot and dumps her, she comes back to torment him as "Lady Eve Sidwich."

    "Sullivan's Travels" is my favorite of the bunch. In it, a movie director named Sullivan is told that he should stick to comedies, though he longs to make a film that has social relevance. He decides, then, to travel as a tramp to get material for just such a movie. The title is a play on "Gulliver's Travels," another satire, by Jonathan Swift.

    The "screwball comedies," direct ancestors of today's romantic comedies, are still highly enjoyable.

    Vocabulary: Which word above means:

    1. hopeless, depressing

    2. person who cheats others through gaining their confidence

    3. eccentric, whimsical

    4. cheat, defraud

    5. humorously absurd

    6. caused; brought about

    7. socially prominent person, especially a young woman

    8. decline, downward trend

    9. conversation with quick replies

    10. sporadic, coming and going, usually quickly

    ANSWERS: 1. grim (or bleak) 2. con artist 3. screwball 4. fleece 5. farcical 6. precipitated 7. socialite 8. downturn 9. repartee 10. on-again off-again