Blog # 2

Ida Lupino was one of the first and influential female film and television director. She started out as an actress and then started to direct and write letter in her career during 1949-1954. She was very interested in controversial and ground breaking issues as topics for her films. Some of these topics included: rape, bigamy, runaways and un-wed mothers. She herself was a powerful and successful business women which was very unique and controversial during the 40's and 50's.
During class, we viewed her film, The Bigamist (1953) in which she both stared and directed. The movie is about a man who is telling a first hand account about how he is living a double life with 2 wives who are unaware of his habit.
Even today, television and films are still trying to cover ground breaking and controversial topics. One such television series that deals with polygamist is on HBO called, Big Love. This television show is directed by Tom Hanks and centers on a mans point of view and his experience with his 3 wives. The mans name is Bill Henderson (Bill Paxton) and his wives names are Barb (1st wife), Nikki (2nd wife) and Margie (3rd wife). This show vividly depicts three versions about how men could view/fantasize about women. Barb is his favorite, who is the strong leader and Bill’s confidante. Nikki is his "Good girl" wife and Margie is his "Naughty/bad girl" wife.
Pertaining to films, another controversial issue that had become rather modern to center on is homosexuality. The movie, Brokeback Mountain (2005) was one of the most controversial movies of all time and was based upon the gay relationship of two socially different cowboys. This movie won many awards including an Oscar for best director. Big Love has become both a critical and popular success and has also been nominated for many prestigious awards. Although Ida Lupino’s movies were box office successes she did not receive as much acknowledgment for her accomplishment pertaining to her work. Could it be because she is a women?????????