Dawn's top 25 favorite films about strong women.

I thought it would be fun, to post a list of my favorite films about strong women both "good girls" and a few... "bad girls":

Adam's Rib (1949). A film ahead of its time about the battle of the sexes, between two married trial attorneys on opposite sides.  It was written by the husband-wife team of Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin (the recipients of the film's sole Academy Award nomination). The story was inspired by the real- legal case of a husband-lawyer team (William and Dorothy Whitney), who after the divorce proceedings married their clients.

Many film historians consider this sixth film the best pairing of the nine films made by Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

All About Eve (1950). The movie's strength comes from Anne Baxter's performance, as the.. scheming, back stabbing fan, Eve Harrington. An overly helpful young woman who, threatens Channing's career and her relationships.

Australia (2008). Is epic/historical/ romance directed by Baz Luhrmann. Cast: Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. It is the second-highest grossing Australian film, the first being, Crocodile Dundee.

Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat with plenty of attitude, inherits a ranch and joins up with a stock-man to help protect her ranch from a takeover plot. As they drive 2,000 head of cattle, across Australia they witness the bombing of Darwin, Australia.

To Have and Have Not(1944). This was Bacall's first film. She was 19 years old and full of confidence, when she says her famous line, asking Bogart if he knows how to whistle....

Please click here to read past To Have and Have Not movie review.

Double Indemnity (1944). This was Stanwyck's first villainess role, where she played a calculating femme fatale housewife wearing an enticing gold anklet. She and her insurance agent plan cold-blooded scheme to brutally murder her husband for financial gain. Their almost perfect crime leads to guilt, suspicion and finally betrayal.

Please click here to read past Double Indemnity movie review.

Driving Miss Daisy (1989). Is a film about the 25-year friendship between a wealthy, strong-willed Southern matron and her Black chauffeur, Hoke. It is only when Hoke is retired and Miss Daisy is confined to a retirement home that the two realize that they are best friends.

Emma (1996). Emma Woodhouse, is a 20-year old clever, independently wealthy woman who lives with her aging father in the English countryside near the village of Highbury. Although, Emma says that she does not want to get married (as she has no financial need to, having a large inheritance) she finds herself falling in love with her friend George Knightley.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991). Evelyn Couch is having trouble in her marriage and while in a nursing home visiting relatives, she meets Ninny Threadgoode, an interesting old woman, who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode, a strong, young, woman, living in Alabama, in the 1920's. Through Idgie's life story, Evelyn learns to stand on her own two feet.

The Gay Divorcee (1934).. Ginger, plays a strong willed, wealthy, Mimi, a young woman trying to keep her distance from Fred's character while she's planning a divorce.

On TCM: March 16th. The Graduate (1968). Is a groundbreaking film for woman and has influenced film-making ever since.

On TCM: March 23rd. Gun Crazy (1949). This is fast-paced story with a dominant femme fatale, who has an obsession with guns and the deadly sexual attraction to her trigger-happy husband who substitutes guns for sex.

Please click here for past Gun Crazy movie review.

His Girl Friday (1940). Rosalind Russell, plays Hildy, a independent career woman, that pre-dates the major feminist movement of the mid-sixties by 25 years.

On TCM: March 15th. Jezebel (1938). A story about headstrong Southern Belle, who loses her fiance due to her stubborn vanity and pride and vows to get him back.

Please click here to view past Jezebel movie review.

Johnny Guitar (1954). A film about a strong willed, woman saloon owner, who is wrongly suspected of murder and bank robbery by a lynch mob, because she helps a wounded gang member.

On TCM: March 30th. The Lady Eve (1941). This fun film proves.. "good girls" aren't as good as you think they are and "bad girls" aren't as bad.

Please click here to read past The Lady Eve movie review.

Mildred Pierce (1945). After kicking her cheating husband out of the house, Mildred Pierce proves she can become independent, successful woman, but.. can't seem to win the approval of her heartless, spoiled daughter.

Please click here to read past Mildred Pierce movie review.

On TCM: March 11th. Mrs. Miniver (1942). This is a film about a well loved woman, who has to come up with enough strength to face tragedy and destruction of war.

My Fair Lady (1964). This is a film about the transformation of a dirty flower girl Eliza Doolittle, into a grand lady. She puts Higgins, in his place when he takes all the credit for her transformation.

My Man Godfrey (1935). One of Carole Lombard's best performances, playing Irene Bullock, the spoiled socialite, who..  frees herself from the security of her wealthy family.

Please click here to read My Man Godfrey movie review.

Out of Africa (1985). In this period film Streep, is perfect for the role as Karen Blixen, a strong woman, who on her own runs a plantation in Africa.

Please click here to read past Out Of Africa movie review.

Out of the Past (1947). Jane Greer, is perfect for the part of the Femme Fatal, who had stolen $40,000 from her gangsta boyfriend and falls in love with the man, who is sent to find her..

Please click here to read past Out Of The Past movie review.

Pat and Mike (1952). This film showcases Katharine Hepburn's athletic ability. Had she not decided to pursue a acting career, Hepburn could have gone into either tennis or golf. Later, her aging health problems slowed her down.

Steel Magnolias (1989). This is a film about the supportive friendships of six Southern women, living in a small town in Louisiana.

Sunset Boulevard (1950). Swanson, maybe playing herself in this film, as she too was a silent star whose career faded after talkies became popular. Her obsession with her past combined with Holden's desperation to make a living, gives us one of the most amazing films... If someone were to ask me which two classic movies are a must have for their DVD collection. I would have to say...Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Vertigo.

Please click here to read past Sunset Boulevard movie review.

Thelma and Louise (1991). Two girlfriends bored with it all, decide to go on a road trip. Their journey, however, turns into a living nightmare, when Louise, kills a man who tries to rape Thelma. They decide to run to Mexico, but.. they find themselves hunted by the law.

My Man Godfrey(1936).

My Man Godfrey (1936). Comedy. Directed by Gregory LaCava. It was adapted from the novel 1101 Park Avenue by Eric Hatch and Morrie Ryskind. Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer and Alan Mowbray. The 1957 remake starred June Allyson and David Niven.

The story is about two New York socialites Cornelia and Irene Bullock, both on a scavenger hunt to find a "forgotten man". At the city dump they find a down on his luck, Godfrey Parke. Insulted by Cornelia handing him five dollars, Godfrey pushes her to the ground. But, he is charmed by her sister Irene and decides to play along. Godfrey does not care for attitude of their friends and says it is a pleasure to return home to his friends. Irene not wanting him to go back to where she found him, hires Godfrey as the families butler.

Video: Scavenger hunt

 

During a tea party one of the guests, Tommy Gray, recognizes Godfrey as an old college mate. In order to keep his past a secret, Tommy claims Godfrey was his valet and is married with five children. Irene, is heartbroken and out of spite, suddenly announces her engagement to Charlie Van Rumple.

Meanwhile, when everything she does to make Godfrey's life miserable falls short, Cornelia sneaks into his room and plants her pearl necklace under his mattress. She then calls the police to report her "missing" jewelry. To Cornelia's surprise, the pearls are not where she planted them. Mr. Bullock realizes his daughter has made up the whole thing and sees the policemen out. Godfrey, takes it upon himself to help the Bullock family, even with everything they put him through.

The actors are wonderful. William Powell, plays the the straight man very well. Carole Lombard, also gives a wonderful performance. Gail Patrick, plays the part perfectly as Lombard's conniving sister. Eugene Pallette is great as their father. Alice Brady, steals the show as the mother. Look for cameos by Franklin Pangborn and Grady Sutton.

Fun Fact: Jane Wyman has an uncredited part.

William Powell suggested his ex-wife 'Carole Lombard' for the leading role with the explanation that his real life romance with Lombard had been much the same as it was for the characters of Godfrey and Irene.

Alice Brady (November 2, 1892 – October 28, 1939). Her father, William A. Brady, was an important theatrical producer, and her mother was Rose Marie Rene who died in 1896 when little Alice was four.

Alice first went on the stage when she was 14 and got her first job on Broadway in 1911 at the age of 18, in a show her father was associated with. She continued to perform there for the next 22 years.

In 1931 she appeared in the premiere of, Mourning Becomes Electra.

Her step mother was the Broadway star Grace George (1879–1961). Her half-brother was William A. Brady Jr, the son of her father, Grace George.

Brady's father moved into movie production and presentation in 1913, with his World Film Corporation, and Brady soon followed along after him, making her first silent feature appearance in, As Ye Sow (1914). She appeared in 53 films in the next 10 years.

In 1923, she stopped appearing in films to concentrate on stage acting, and did not appear on the screen again until 1933, when she made the film, When Ladies Meet, her first talking picture. From then on she worked frequently until her death, making another 25 films in seven years. Her final film was, Young Mr. Lincoln (1939).

Brady was married to actor James Crane from 1919 to 1922, when they divorced. They co-starred in three silent films together His Bridal Night(1919), Sinners(1920) and A Dark Lantern(1920).