Elyce Rae Helford
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- January 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813179292
- eISBN:
- 9780813179308
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813179292.003.0001
- Subject:
- Film, Television and Radio, Film
The introduction argues the value of greater attention to the films of Hollywood director George Cukor than has been published to date. A brief Cukor history for the uninitiated leads into the chosen ...
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The introduction argues the value of greater attention to the films of Hollywood director George Cukor than has been published to date. A brief Cukor history for the uninitiated leads into the chosen focus of the volume, based on the label of “woman’s director” that he was given during his prolific studio years in the early days of sound film. Exploring this combination of praise (for his work with strong, independent actresses) and derogation (for his homosexuality) leads into an overview of the book project, from its focus on gender and sexuality to its use of diverse feminist and queer studies approaches. The chapter concludes with an overview of each chapter.Less
The introduction argues the value of greater attention to the films of Hollywood director George Cukor than has been published to date. A brief Cukor history for the uninitiated leads into the chosen focus of the volume, based on the label of “woman’s director” that he was given during his prolific studio years in the early days of sound film. Exploring this combination of praise (for his work with strong, independent actresses) and derogation (for his homosexuality) leads into an overview of the book project, from its focus on gender and sexuality to its use of diverse feminist and queer studies approaches. The chapter concludes with an overview of each chapter.
Brent Phillips
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780813147215
- eISBN:
- 9780813151502
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813147215.003.0022
- Subject:
- Film, Television and Radio, Film
In this chapter, Walters’ life in Palm Springs is explored, including the launching of “Chuck Walters Presents,” a men’s clothing store that sold the director’s personally designed fashions. Walters ...
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In this chapter, Walters’ life in Palm Springs is explored, including the launching of “Chuck Walters Presents,” a men’s clothing store that sold the director’s personally designed fashions. Walters begins a new personal relationship with Jimie Morrissey. The popular decline of the movie musical is discussed, and Dore Schary is removed from M-G-M. Walters typecasting as a “woman’s director” is his key reason for directing the military comedy Don’t Go Near the Water (1957), a financial success. Walters re-shoots portions of Vincente Minnelli’s Oscar-winning Gigi, and the two directors are compared.Less
In this chapter, Walters’ life in Palm Springs is explored, including the launching of “Chuck Walters Presents,” a men’s clothing store that sold the director’s personally designed fashions. Walters begins a new personal relationship with Jimie Morrissey. The popular decline of the movie musical is discussed, and Dore Schary is removed from M-G-M. Walters typecasting as a “woman’s director” is his key reason for directing the military comedy Don’t Go Near the Water (1957), a financial success. Walters re-shoots portions of Vincente Minnelli’s Oscar-winning Gigi, and the two directors are compared.
Patrick McGilligan
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- August 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780816680382
- eISBN:
- 9781452948843
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816680382.003.0005
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Media Studies
This chapter examines how George Cukor developed his reputation as a “woman’s director” in Hollywood while working for MGM. In various published interviews and the newspaper and magazine articles ...
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This chapter examines how George Cukor developed his reputation as a “woman’s director” in Hollywood while working for MGM. In various published interviews and the newspaper and magazine articles about Cukor, the first one to take stock of his “woman’s director” reputation occurs just as he arrived at MGM. That was MGM’s publicity thrust, and Cukor went along with it. At times, especially in the early 1930s, the “woman’s director” advertising was to serve the director well. Other times—when it typecast him, when its meaning was narrow and demeaning—it hurt him, professionally as well as psychologically. Many people who knew Cukor or worked with him were not aware of his homosexuality, entirely uninterested in his sexual orientation, while to most others in Hollywood it seemed obvious, a kind of open secret. Cukor’s sexual orientation was manifest in his lifestyle and personality, but it was also, in the collective psychology of the film colony, linked to his films.Less
This chapter examines how George Cukor developed his reputation as a “woman’s director” in Hollywood while working for MGM. In various published interviews and the newspaper and magazine articles about Cukor, the first one to take stock of his “woman’s director” reputation occurs just as he arrived at MGM. That was MGM’s publicity thrust, and Cukor went along with it. At times, especially in the early 1930s, the “woman’s director” advertising was to serve the director well. Other times—when it typecast him, when its meaning was narrow and demeaning—it hurt him, professionally as well as psychologically. Many people who knew Cukor or worked with him were not aware of his homosexuality, entirely uninterested in his sexual orientation, while to most others in Hollywood it seemed obvious, a kind of open secret. Cukor’s sexual orientation was manifest in his lifestyle and personality, but it was also, in the collective psychology of the film colony, linked to his films.
