I have headlined my review this way because, in a nutshell, it perfectly sums up the appeal of this new box set from Flicker Alley. This collection of films will be of interest primarily to those who are already interested in silent films rather than those who have just discovered the medium. It is also true that if you are interested in the work of women filmmakers then EARLY WOMEN FILMMAKERS is not the ideal place to start. The multiple offerings to be found in this set begin in 1907 and run through 1943. While there are a few sound offerings, the bulk of the collection is silent which will not be as appealing to the average movie lover.
The first disc is devoted to the two best known pioneer directors, Alice Guy-Blache’ and Lois Weber. Both of these women have had books written about them and have had a number of DVD/Blu Rays devoted to their movies. Guy-Blache’ is represented by a number of short films including her best known, THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN (1912). Lois Weber has a couple of short films including the ground breaking SUSPENSE (1913) and her last independent feature THE BLOT (1921). Mabel Normand’s 1914 short MABEL’S STRANGE PREDICAMENT, which introduced Charlie Chaplin’s tramp character, closes out Disc 1.
Disc 2 focuses on 3 little known women directors. Although I have been a serious silent film enthusiast for almost 30 years, I had never heard of Madeline Brandeis, Germaine Dulac, or Olga Preobrazhenskaia. American filmmaker Brandeis’ THE STAR PRINCE (1919) tells a fairy tale with all the roles (even the adult ones) portrayed by children. French director Dulac has two offerings. The first LA CIGARETTE (1919) concerns an antiquities professor who believes his younger wife is having an affair while LA SOURIANTE MME. BEUDET (1922) focuses on a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. The disc closes with the real gem in this collection IMO, THE PEASANT WOMAN OF RYAZAN (1927) by Olga Preobrazhenskaia, a powerful story of Russian village life which is stunningly photographed and edited.
The final disc showcases several short sound films by 8 directors. Marie-Louise Iribe’s LE ROI DES AULNES is a live action version of Goethe’s ERLKONIG (The Erl King) ballad. Then there are 3 Lotte Reiniger silhouette pieces including one on Papageno from THE MAGIC FLUTE. Claire Parker’s pinscreen animation version of NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN (before Disney) will leave you breathless. The longest offering is THE WOMAN CONDEMNED, the last work directed by Dorothy Davenport who is billed as Mrs. Wallace Reid. A short piece from the controversial Leni Riefenstahl, two animated works by Mary Ellen Bute, an excerpt from Dorothy Arzner, and Maya Deren’s MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON from 1943 finishes out the set.
As I stated earlier, this collection will have a much greater appeal to those interested in the history of film rather than the general public. A few of the films are in less than ideal condition but then that’s all there is. I found some of the musical accompaniment to be a little lackluster but it was never inappropriate. Ultimately this is an extremely valuable set that will continue to pay dividends for those interested in the history of early cinema and women’s contributions to it. It is also, sadly, the final offering from celebrated film preservationist David Shepard who died earlier this year. For the record the total running time of EARLY WOMEN FILMMAKERS is 653 minutes.
The Capsule Critic 