For Women’s History Month: Documentaries
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 8:00 am
Jennifer Merin has a terrific list of great documentaries by and about women. It includes the Joan Rivers story “A Piece of Work” and “A Film Unfinished” by Yael Hersonski. I’d also add Laura Waters Hinson of “As We Forgive,” Madeline Sackler of “The Lottery,” and the upcoming “Triangle: Remembering the Fire” on HBO.
What are your favorite documentaries for, by, and about women?
I’d also like to suggest any documentary about Mary Pickford,the very first “movie star”.There are several out there but one of my favorites would have to be “Mary Pickford American Experience” by PBS Home Video.I realize that there are more important women in history but imagine what film would be like if there had been no Mary Pickford.This was a woman who supported her family from the time she was a child.Then with no education,became the highest paid woman in the US,if not the world.She formed United Artists with then husband Douglas Fairbanks Sr.,Charlie Chaplin….her only competition in films,and DW Griffith.And more than held her own with so-called business men and moguls,all men.Today,people may smirk at her films but she is definitely worthy of mention.Thank you.
What a wonderful comment, kimd! Many thanks. She was a remarkable woman and transformed the industry. Before Mary Pickford, there were no real “movie stars.” Many of them had no names and were just known by the names of their studios: “The Vitaphone Girl.” And what a life she led!
I love those women of the silent era, including Edna Purviance and Mabel Normand.
I agree with you 100%.I cannot get enough of these ladies.Ms’s Pickford,Purviance,Bow,Swanson,Gish etc.I don’t think they get get the credit they deserve.They all were…along with their male counter parts….pioneers in a brand new industry.Lucky for us they were.