One of my favorite films about the Golden Age of Hollywood is Elia Kazan's The Last Tycoon (1976). Robert DeNiro plays the larger-than-life movie producer Monroe Stahr. I found the script online here. There is a great scene where he meets with one of his writers who hasn't been doing so well. The writer admits that he doesn't go to the movies very often. Here's Stahr's response:
"Stahr: Suppose you're in your office. You've been fighting duels all day. You're exhausted. This is you. (sits at desk with head in his hands.) A girl comes in. She doesn't see you. She takes off her gloves. She opens her purse. She dumps it out on the table. You watch her. This is you. Now...
She has two dimes, a matchbox and a nickel. She leaves the nickel on the table. She puts the two dimes back into her purse. She takes the gloves - they're black. Puts them into the stove. Lights a match.
Suddenly, the telephone rings. She picks it up. She listens. She says, "I've never owned a pair of black gloves in my life." Hangs up. Kneels by the stove. Lights another match. Suddenly, you notice...there's another man in the room watching every move the girl makes.
Writer: What happens?
Stahr: I don't know. I was just making pictures.
Writer: What was the nickel for?
Stahr: Jane, what was the nickel for?
Jane: The nickel was for the movies."
