Fogarty & Evans/Movies, Moves and Music, 9. Zoot Suit Mayhem: Swing Dance and the Skewed History in Steven Spielberg’s 1941

This chapter analyses the nature and representation of Lindy Hop/Swing dancing and its accompanying music in Stephen Spielberg’s 1941 (1979). In particular, it compares the subcultural contexts of the ‘zoot suit’ phenomenon in early 1940s’ US society with the nature of the scenario and narrative presented in the film. In order to provide historical context, the chapter details the origins of Lindy Hop/Swing dancing styles in the 1930s; the nature of the Mexican-American pachuco culture that was central to zoot suiter oppression in California (and other areas of the US) in the early 1940s; and aspects of the cultural climate of late 1970s’ North America relevant to the film’s production . The chapter also analyses aspects of the production team interviews included in the feature length ‘Making Of’ documentary (1995, Laurent Bouzereau), illuminating and extending our textual analysis of the original film through analysis and critique of the producers’ discourse on the film and its critical reception.