# Smooching in old flicks--explain! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540 "2005-06-30T16:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/1 "2005-06-30T16:21:05Z")
Teeming Millions, While watching an old time movie last night, I found myself laughing out loud during several rather hammy romantic scenes. We had a leading man & lady in the throes of “passion”, but the kissing…man. Their lips were pursed together like a couple of uppity librarians (no offense to any librarians round these parts). I’m not saying I need tongue or anything, but the way they kiss in these old movies strikes me as really cold. Get to the point, you say. Alright. I wasn’t alive in the black & white movie days, so I’m really just wondering: What’s the deal? People didn’t REALLY kiss like this right? Maybe this was a time where sexuality was just a little more subdued in the movies…So, it follows, when did actors really start kissing realistically? Is there perhaps a hallmark film? I am in your hands. -birdmonster ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/2 "2005-06-30T16:22:58Z")
Different times…different times. You didn’t hear swearing or see casual nudity back then, either. Open-mouthed kisses were a no-no under the Hayes Code. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/3 "2005-06-30T16:25:50Z")
Yes, people really did kiss like that back then. There wasn’t any color, either; everything was in black and white. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/4 "2005-06-30T16:28:11Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Yes, people really did kiss like that back then. There wasn’t any color, either; everything was in black and white. …uphill, both ways, in knee-deep snow… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/5 "2005-06-30T16:30:56Z")
I can’t help but visualize that bit of Steve Martin’s where he starts licking his date’s face… ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/6 "2005-06-30T16:32:16Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Yes, people really did kiss like that back then. There wasn’t any color, either; everything was in black and white. But what about color paintings? If the world was in black and white, wouldn’t the paintings be in black and white too? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/7 "2005-06-30T16:33:55Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > But what about color paintings? If the world was in black and white, wouldn’t the paintings be in black and white too? In the words of Calvin’s Dad (from Calvin & Hobbes, of course): “No, the paintings were in color. A lot of artists were insane.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/8 "2005-06-30T16:34:15Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > But what about color paintings? If the world was in black and white, wouldn’t the paintings be in black and white too? They were. They changed to color when the world did, back in the 30s. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/9 "2005-06-30T16:36:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by audiobottle > But what about color paintings? If the world was in black and white, wouldn’t the paintings be in black and white too? > > They were. They changed to color when the world did, back in the 30s. Unfortunately, the kissing didn’t turn more passionate at the same time, so we’re left with fossilized cold kisses. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/10 "2005-06-30T16:37:07Z")
So when did the romantic scene actually become romantic? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/11 "2005-06-30T16:37:18Z")
The world is a complicated place, Hobbes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/12 "2005-06-30T16:39:24Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > So when did the romantic scene actually become romantic? **Deep Throat** , 1972. 😃 (or maybe :eek: is a better visual) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/13 "2005-06-30T16:41:05Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > So when did the romantic scene actually become romantic? Define “romantic.” Lotsa folks thought those scenes were plenty romantic. I, for one, need more, like her getting a “money shot” in the face, to think it’s romantic. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/14 "2005-06-30T16:44:24Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Deep Throat** , 1972. 😃 > > (or maybe :eek: is a better visual) Actualy, I’m pretty sure :o is the recognized smilie for a blowjob, as chronicled in the book, _Smilies and You: An Introspective Look_. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/15 "2005-06-30T16:45:03Z")
Yeah…clarification’s a wonderous thing. Basically, when did love scenes get hot? In what year would seeing one of these with your Mom make you uncomfortable? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/16 "2005-06-30T16:48:44Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Actualy, I’m pretty sure :o is the recognized smilie for a blowjob, as chronicled in the book, _Smilies and You: An Introspective Look_. Ordinarily that would be so, but if you recall, Miss Lovelace experienced her first orgasm as a result of said blow job. Thus, the look of surprise and wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/17 "2005-06-30T16:53:03Z")
Look how far we’ve come. Now, even our emoticons are sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/18 "2005-06-30T16:54:36Z")
Did you ever see Greta Garbo and John Gilbert go at it onscreen? Or Jean Harlow and Clark Gable? Nothing prissy and closed-mouth about _them!_ ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/19 "2005-06-30T17:13:00Z")
Well, before we get too high-and-mighty about the old days, perhaps we should explain why in cable softcore porn, there are so many scenes where the guy is clearly humping the outside of the woman’s thigh … ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540/20 "2005-06-30T17:50:38Z")
No one can possibly explain that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooching-in-old-flicks-explain/310540.md?page=2)