CO-SPONSORED EVENT | Film Series: We Can Do It! Trailblazing Women of Hollywood’s Golden Age: Adam’s Rib
Michigan Theater Screening Room, 603 E Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI
Film Series: We Can Do It! Trailblazing Women of Hollywood’s Golden Age
CEW+ is sponsoring a series of classic films at the Michigan Theater by some of Hollywood’s most influential women. This series aims to feature women who broke down barriers to diversity and equity in early Hollywood, clearing the path for those who followed.
Join us after the film for a panel discussion on the impact and influences of these trailblazing women.
During Hollywood’s Golden Age of Film female actors, directors, and production staff had to fight against mainstream traditional gender roles while working within the studio system. Women in Hollywood had to tread carefully to be able to advocate for their rights while avoiding being branded “difficult”, a moniker that could end a career. While often imperfect, each movie in this series has something interesting to say about gender, race, and sexuality.
Adam’s Rib (1949) 1 hr 41 min
Adam’s Rib was written specifically for Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey as a “battle of the sexes” style comedy, where two married lawyers are opposing each other in court. The movie deals with the double standard for women and men regarding adultery, and while not a perfectly feminist film, puts Heburn’s character on equal footing with Tracey in the courtroom.
Katherine Hepburn was known for starring in movies that put women on the same footing as men, and was outspoken about her progressive views when it came to women’s equality.
Full Film Series Schedule:
- His Girl Friday (1940) – Starring Rosalind Russell – Monday, March 4th
- Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) – Dir. Dorothy Arzner, starring Lucille Ball – Monday, March 11th
- Adam’s Rib (1949) – Starring Katherine Hepburn – Monday, March 18th
- All About Eve (1950) – Starring Bette Davis/Anne Baxter/Marilyn Monroe – Monday, April 1st
- The Hitch-Hiker (1953) – Dir. Ida Lupino – Monday, April 8th
- Carmen Jones (1954) – Starring Dorothy Dandridge – Monday, April 15th
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1956) – Starring Liz Taylor – Monday, April 22nd