Last Friday we had the privilege of attending a screening of an Ida Lupino film, “The Hard Way,” courtesy of the UCLA film archive. If you’re lucky enough to have learned about Ms. Lupino in film school, or perhaps stumbled upon her vast body of work on your own accord, you’ll know that she is responsible for writing, directing, and playing an astoundingly wide array of badass, complicated, oftentimes ruthless female characters. In the course of more than 50 films, she was a spiteful Cockney in “The Light That Failed” (1939), a crazed wife in “They Drive by Night” (1940), a loyal girlfriend in “High Sierra” (1941), an escaped convict in “The Sea Wolf” (1941), a steely murderer in “Ladies in Retirement” (1941), a depraved warden in “Women’s Prison” (1955), a sob-sister columnist in “While the City Sleeps” (1956), a world-weary mother of a rodeo star in “Junior Bonner” (1972), and so, so much more. In short, she transcended her breakout role as a Hollywood star. She was an ambitious writer, fierce performer, pioneering director, and, dare I say…feminist icon!

She is also celebrated for directing a handful of provocative, socially relevant films, which entertained themes such as illegitimacy, rape culture, prostitution, teen sex, women’s health issues, bigamy, and pathological murder. In order to do so, she and Collier Young, an executive producer who was her husband at the time, founded The Filmakers [sic]— an independent production company for which she directed candid films with feminist themes. Let me ask you this: WHO else was doing this kind of thing in Hollywood in the 50s? Perhaps no one has a legacy quite like hers. So why does it feel like this amazing woman, one of the first truly prolific female directors in American cinema, still exists in the shadow of her male counterparts? This question could not be more apt, given the fact that the 100th anniversary of her birth coincides with an extraordinary shift in Hollywood gender dynamics. As if to say, now is a PERFECT time to celebrate her achievements, and honor the path she blazed for women directors. Which is exactly what the UCLA film archive aimed to do by screening “The Hard Way,” a film that follows a complex relationship between a pair of talented and driven sisters as they navigate stardom and excess.

As I sign off today I cannot help but feel lucky. Lucky that I am entering the entertainment industry when I am, during such a seismic shift in Hollywood. Lucky that I’ve already had the opportunity to work with inspiring female mentors, professors, and peers (here’s looking at you, my 99% female thesis class!!!) And of course, lucky that people like Ida Lupino came before me, fearlessly yet humbly, with rich talent and amazing stories to tell.

-Mari

Ah, the Hollywood Heritage Museum. Nestled behind the parking lot of the Hollywood Bowl, it looks like the little house from that depressing conservationist picture book…you know, the one that came out in 1942 as a critique of urban sprawl? The museum looks like this because it is extremely under-funded—a fact that astounds me, given the nature of The Academy and its self-masturbatory…errr self-congratulatory…tendencies (Jill?! Are you reading this?! What I meant to say is unchecked self-admiration). One can’t help but wonder: what does it mean that this organization, which loves to celebrate itself, hasn’t bothered to honor such a fundamental part of its history? What does that say about the Academy’s priorities? This wayside gem—within which resides a cache of archival photographs, movie props, historic documents, wax figures, and TWO functional kinetoscopes—is somewhat neglected, yet a must-see. 

The building that would eventually become “The Lasky-DeMille Barn” was constructed in 1895, back when Hollywood, California was populated by avocado farmers and well-dressed rancheros. In 1913, however, it was purchased by two men who began renting it as a film location. In December of that same year, Cecil B. DeMille leased the barn and studio facilities for $250.00 a month to begin filming The Squaw Man: the very first feature film EVER EVER EVER produced in Los Angeles. And everything thereafter was sunshine and rainbows and equal representation! KIDDING! The sexual-violence obstacle course known as Hollywood was born, becoming more than just the nucleus of an industry…it was a concept, a way of life—nay, AN EMPIRE.

Eventually, the barn was moved to where present-day Paramount was later built. It lived several lives as a film set, research library, conference area, and even the Paramount gym before Hollywood Heritage, Inc. acquired it and converted it into a museum in 1983. So, even if Hollywood history puts you to sleep in class, I  recommend you stop by this under-appreciated spot. Go meet the quirky ex-union tour guide who tells tales about the age of Valentino; or try a kinetoscope and remind your anxious, overstimulated brain that before Avengers there was “Boxing Cats.” It’s well worth the visit 🙂

Until next time,

-Mari