MovieChat Forums > The Wild Party (1929) Discussion > Female Pioneers in Film

Female Pioneers in Film

posted 18 years ago by mem35
5 replies | jump to latest

This film, directed by Dorothy Arzner, was the first to use an improved overhead mic. They would hang the mic with fishing poles! The first boom pole...

Luckily I have seen this film, but it saddens me that so many other early films are unavailable for the public to see. As a female in film myself, and as a lover of film history, I would love to be able to see more of Dorothy Arzner's work. Or films by Alice Guy Blache, or Lois Weber. I've read the plots of many of these films and I love that not only were these females able to direct them so soon after barely even receiving the right to vote! - but they also handled such controversial/taboo subjects. AND they were pioneers of techniques and technology.

Anyone else interested in discussing this or have any suggestions where I might be able to veiw more of these forgotten films, or even read more about these fabulous females?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Xcalat3 13 years ago

agreed

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mbrindell 10 years ago

An excellent, must-have reference book on women film pioneers is "Reel Women: Pioneers of the Cinema, 1896 to Present," written by Ally Acker and published by Continuum in 1991. Many rare pictures are included.

[–] Popcorngal (4320) a year ago

Lucky for us silent film buffs, many silents have been found and restored. You can find them in the library on DVD or websites specializing in the the genre. Many are on YouTube now. I like Ms. Weber's films. Although I have only seen a few. Some theatres even have Silent Film nights.