Screen queens
AMY C CHAMBERS recommends a new title examining women in the film industry, and how their myriad achievements – both on and off-camera – have been sorely overlooked
There is a battle going on in Hollywood; women directors are on the rise and they want Hollywood back. Film critic Helen O’Hara’s newest book is part of a wave of women-written work uncovering the forgotten histories and triumphs of women filmmakers throughout film history. Women vs Hollywood tells a story that establishes women as long-term creators rather than just objects of the cinematic gaze. It explores the contributions of hidden figures of American cinema, such as Tressie Souders (the first black female director of a feature film), Lois Weber (one of the most prolific silent movie filmmakers), and Ida Lupino (one of the most prominent female directors in 1950s Hollywood).
O’Hara provides a detailed history of women’s participation in the industry from Alice Guy-Blaché to Ava DuVernay, which leads into a series of thematic critical essays responding to Hollywood’s lingering institutional misogyny. The stories of these pioneering women directors are well-researched and enthusiastically told here through archives, scholarship, and where possible, interviews
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The historical chapters tell an infuriating tale that begins with the emergence of an industry where male dominance was not inevitable. Between 1907 and 1920, women were central to early cinema. If you remove their contributions, moving pictures might never have moved beyond the fairground. When filmmaking was an apparent frivolity, women made it theirs. But once filmmaking became accepted as both an art and profession, men were quick to erase the contributions of their female forebears.
The essays cover subjects including the male-dominated realm of classic film theory, and the development of the canon. The prevalence of the “male gaze” also comes under scrutiny – showing how most films have been made for a viewer assumed to be male. They also cover contemporary issues including #MeToo, equal pay and the challenges of improving diversity on and off-screen.
Helen O’Hara gives a much-needed perspective and her book could be split into two parts: women’s history and feminist fury. Women vs Hollywood is a great introduction to the fight women have on their hands if they want to work in the movies. As O’Hara remarks: “The men of Hollywood find it hard to let go of privilege.”
But time’s up, gentlemen. Women have always been part of the story and now their voices are being heard.
Amy C Chambers is a senior lecturer in film and media studies at the department of English at Manchester Metropolitan University