Description
Women's work, ambition and desire take centre stage in Dorothy Arzner's Dance, Girl, Dance (1940), a rare classic Hollywood film directed by an openly queer woman. Starring Maureen O'Hara and Lucille Ball as performers pursuing contrasting ambitions, it offers a sharp perspective on entertainment, sexuality and marriage.
Drawing on previously unexplored archives, Matthew Solomon uncovers the film's complex production history and the overlooked contributions of its women filmmakers. Exploring its stars' screen images and its irreverent take on the comedy of remarriage, he reveals how Arzner navigated the studio system and censorship to bring her distinctive vision to the screen.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1. 'Go ahead and stare'
2. Vicki Baum, 'One of Six Girls'
3. Tess Slesinger and Frank Davis
4. 'Back Page Story'
5. 'Have It Your Own Way'
6. Arzner: Having It Her Own Way
7. Folk and Fairy Tales
8. Working Women: Stooge, Strip-teaser, Secretary
9. Ways of Looking
10. American Ballet
11. Censoring Burlesque
12. An 'American comedy'
Notes
Credits
Select Bibliography
1. 'Go ahead and stare'
2. Vicki Baum, 'One of Six Girls'
3. Tess Slesinger and Frank Davis
4. 'Back Page Story'
5. 'Have It Your Own Way'
6. Arzner: Having It Her Own Way
7. Folk and Fairy Tales
8. Working Women: Stooge, Strip-teaser, Secretary
9. Ways of Looking
10. American Ballet
11. Censoring Burlesque
12. An 'American comedy'
Notes
Credits
Select Bibliography
Product details
| Published | 10 Jun 2027 |
|---|---|
| Format | Paperback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 104 |
| ISBN | 9781839028861 |
| Imprint | British Film Institute |
| Illustrations | 60 bw illus |
| Dimensions | 190 x 135 mm |
| Series | BFI Film Classics |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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