I just realized this morning that it is International Women’s Day and I wanted to have an impromptu celebration.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite flicks with fascinating female relationships—be they strong and mutually supportive, comical, complicated, toxic or all of the above:
The Great Lie (1941) Mary Astor and Bette Davis
The Member of the Wedding (1952) Ethel Waters and Julie Harris
Old Acquaintance (1943) Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins
The Women (1939) Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, Virginia Weidler, Butterfly McQueen, Marjorie Main and many more
Millie (1931) Helen Twelvetrees, Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman
Stage Door (1937) Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Eve Arden, Gail Patrick, Andrea Leeds, Constance Collier and many more
Mildred Pierce (1946) Joan Crawford, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable
Three on a Match (1932) Bette Davis, Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak
All About Eve (1950) Bette Davis, Thelma Ritter, Celeste Holm, Anne Baxter
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers
Night Nurse (1931) Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell
Red-Headed Woman (1932) Jean Harlow and Una Merkel
The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932) Joan Blondell, Ina Claire, Madge Evans
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe
I Remember Mama (1948) Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes and family
Dark Victory (1939) Bette Davis and Geraldine Fitzgerald
Auntie Mame (1958) Rosalind Russell and Coral Browne
So Proudly We Hail (1943) Claudette Colbert, Pauletted Goddard, Veronica Lake and many more
These Three (1936) Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins
Hmmm—lots of Bette Davis and Joan Blondell on this list! Do you all have any other favorites?
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An overlooked classic get's my vote: "True Confession" starring Carole Lombard. Her best pal is Una Merkel. Their relationship is Lucy and Ethel years before "I Love Lucy" was even thought of.
ReplyDeleteThat title sounds vaguely familiar to me, but I didn't know what it was about. Sounds good. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeletewow! That's an impressive list of films KC. Might I add Imitation Of Life (1959) with Lana Turner and Juanita Moore. I haven't seen the 1934 version but the 59 version is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteGood addition Monty. You must see the 1934 version of this flick! Fredi Washington and Louise Beavers are both amazing. That one really belongs on this list as well.
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