When it comes to film directors, we often think of male directors, but in the early stages of the film, women are the key players, so what happened? This article will take you through the untold stories behind the early film pioneers. They should not be forgotten!
Do you know Cleo Madison (Cleo Madison)? If you ask the people around you, most of them will probably shake their heads.
It is true that her name is rarely known now, but if you go back to 1916, you will find that she is a very popular actress and is transforming into a screenwriter and director. When
a few years later, when she was asked if she was afraid of directing, she replied generously: "Why should I be afraid? I found that men’s heads are not very bright sometimes." Although this sentence is very famous. , But obviously Madison is not the most talented person of her time. Why do you say that? The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) did a survey-selected 100 best films directed by women, and Madison did not get a single vote. Among the 100 films voted by
, 63% were from the 90s and a quarter were from 2010, while only 3 of Madison's films from that period appeared on the list.
In an era when movies are so trendy that everyone can participate, Madison’s transformation represents the choice of many filmmakers, but why are only 3 movies on the list? What is the story behind her contemporary film pioneers?
01, which 3 films are on the list?
Surprisingly, the three films on the list are each produced by three female directors.
In Lois Weber's 1916 film "Shoes" (No. 79 on the list), a young working-class woman was willing to be seduced by a wealthy rogue in order to get some fashionable shoes . It is worth mentioning that Weber did not teach morality in the film, but the film’s reflection of social reality and moving storyline make it still influential.
movie "Shoes" stills
in chronological order, followed by the 1926 film "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" by German director Lotte Reiniger. This is the world's first animated feature film, adapted from a story in "The Thousand and One Nights". The general idea of the story is that Prince Ahmed was deceived by a wizard and was forced to leave his home. He eliminated disasters along the way. Later, he met the princess of the enchanted island. After a series of twists and turns, the two of them became successful. The film is saturated with the charm of Eastern culture.
movie "The Adventures of Prince Ahmed" stills
and French director Germaine Dulac's 1928 "The Seashell And the Claryman" (No. 71 on the list) is a fantastic super Realistic short film. The film tells the story of a pastor who is fascinated by the general's wife, who has a sacred duty but struggles with sexual desires, and produces bizarre fantasy.
movie "Shell and Priest" stills
02, why only 3 on the list?
Seeing this, you might as well consider the question mentioned above: Why were there only 3 movies on the list in that era?
First of all, for a very simple reason, the times are different. In other words, this is a survey of the current era, which represents the views of today's audiences, not those of that era.
Frankly speaking, watching early movies sometimes feels like doing homework, boring. Of the three films on the list, perhaps only the emotionally rich "Shoes" can attract contemporary audiences.
American director Alice Guy Blaché (1873-1968) was the first female director in film history. She directed some good films and even founded her own film studio.
Alice Guy Blaché (Alice Guy Blaché)
However, she did not make the list and only got 7 votes. With the top two vote-winners Agnès Varda and KaiserCompared to Kathryn Bigelow's hundreds of votes, 7 votes are indeed pitiful.
However, it should be noted that today's audience tends to be more recent films, which is also related to the marginalization of women in the entire film history. In the late 1920s, men discovered that movies could make a lot of money and took over the film industry.
For the next 70 years or so, it was considered weird for women to make movies. To make matters worse, these pioneer women have been ignored by scholars and historians for a long time.
Even in their own time, female directors often fail to get the honor they deserve, and often share honor or credit with their male partners. Lois Weber and her husband Phillips Smalley shared the "credit" of the 1913 movie "Suspense", even though everyone knew that she had completed the creation at that time.
Lois Weber (Lois Weber)
03, strong women who fight for movies
Although since the 1960s, when people think of directors, they think of film directors, but women also do other aspects of movies. Made a huge contribution.
screenwriter Frances Marion (1888-1973) was one of the most important figures of her time, not only because of her excellent script, but also because she inspired other women in the film industry. She has a famous saying: "I have been looking for a man who can look up without falling." This famous quote became the source of the title of a book called "Don't Fall: Frances Marion and Early Hollywood "Powerful Women" (Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Powerful Women of EarlyHollywood).
In 1917, Frances Marion (right) discussed the script with her colleagues
In 1915, Margaret Booth started her editing career, which lasted until 1982, when she was the film "Annie". Editing guidance. Also in 1915, Anne Bauchens started her 41-year editing career, during which she was the director Cecil B. DeMille (Cecil B. DeMille, representative work "Cleopatra" "Ten Commandments" etc.) video editing work.
Lotte Reiniger
Lotte Reiniger may be the first, but not the only early female animator.
is in the new book "Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed" by author Nathalia Holt (Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed). In the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History), many women who have created many classic animation works with their male colleagues are mentioned. Although they have made great contributions, they were all ignored at the time.
Lotte Reiniger is not only a director, but also a silhouette animator
Now, more and more pioneering women in the film industry are re-entering people's horizons. Their work has been restored and can be watched. If you are interested, you can search Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers on Netflix. Regardless of whether
is recognized or not, these pioneers paved the way for the development of film, and today's film achievements cannot be separated from their contributions. Thank them for their efforts and pay tribute to them.
Reference materials :
Cleo Madison – Women Film Pioneers Project
The world’s first female film director
The bold pioneers of cinema who paved the way
Lois Weber: the female thinking in movement
