off the street, we've come a long way

[sergebroom]

1968's "Bullit" was on Turner Classic Movies last night and it was quite fascinating to watch. Except on the street, the absence of women and minorities was glaring, especially as this was set and filmed in San Francisco, for goodness's sake. The only such characters who made any contributions to the plot were one male black doctor, and one white nurse sporting the old-style skirt-and-funny-hat outfit. That's pretty much it. Nobody with dark skin and/or with breasts was seen around the police dept.

Yes, we have come a long way.

That being said, I got a big laugh whenever a scene included Simon Oakland and Don Gordon. What? You don't remember their being together in The Outer Limits's episode "Second Chance", with Oakland playing an avian alien?

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I believe that current police procedurals display MORE gender diversity than you'd be likely to see in an actual police department. Yes, there are a lot more black cops than there used to be, and some of them have positions of genuine authority -- but it's still very much a Boys' Club, especially at the upper levels.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

At least things have truly improved in hospitals. Nurses are are both sexes. Come to think of it though... It seems like all the doctors I've met are men.