" It will interest you, as a phenomenon. You see, the fihn studio of today
is really the palace of the sixteenth century. There one sees what Shakespeare saw: the absolute power of the tyrant, the courtiers, the flatterers, the jesters, the cunningly atnbitious intriguers. 111ere are fantastically beautiful wo1ne11, there are incompetent favorites. There are great 1nen "vho are suddenly disgr aced. There is the nlost insane extravagance, and unexpected parsimony over a few pence. There is enormous splendor, "vhich is a sham; and also horrible squalor hidden behind the scenery. There are vast schemes, abandoned because of so1ne caprice. There are secrets which everybody knows and no one speaks of. There are even t\;vo or three honest advisers. 111ese are the court fools, ,;vho speak the deepest wisdotn in puns, lest they should be taken seriously. They gritnace, and tear their hair privately, and weep. "

― Christopher Isherwood , Prater Violet