Hollywood Heroines : Women in Film Noir and the Female Gothic Film

The endangered and dangerous female figures of “Rebecca”, of “Jagged Edge” and “What Lies Beneath” have a deserved and endures fascination. Helen Hanson re-examines these gothic heroines of Hollywood and their meanings, in two of Hollywood’s key generic cycles, film noir and the female gothic film. Starting at the beginning, with the origin of these cycles and the ways in which they represented women in the American film industry and culture of the 1940s, she traces their revival in neo-noir and neo-gothic films from the 1980s to the present. She also places the female figures of the femme fatale, female investigator and gothic heroine within the shifting contexts of the film industry and debates in feminist film criticism. Hanson examines a wide range of films from both periods, including ‘Suspicion’, ‘Gaslight’ and ‘Pacific Heights’, and gives particular attention to their presentation of female stories, actions and perspectives. She reveals a diversity of female figures, representations and actions in film noir and the female gothic film, and argues that these women are part of a negotiation of female identities, desires and roles across a long historical period. “Hollywood Heroines” therefore offers us new ways of thinking about classic and contemporary Hollywood heroines, and about the interrelationships of gender and genre.

the Endangered And Dangerous Female Figures Of rebecca, Of jagged Edge And what Lies Beneath Have A Deserved And Enduring Fascination. Helen Hanson Re-examines These Gothic Heroines Of Hollywood And Their Meanings, In Two Of Hollywood's Key Generic Cycles, Film Noir And The Female Gothic Film. Starting At The Beginning, With The Origin Of These Cycles And The Ways In Which They Represented Women In The American Film Industry And Culture Of The 1940s, She Traces Their Revival In Neo-noir And Neo-gothic Films From The 1980s To The Present. She Also Places The Female Figures Of The Femme Fatale, Female Investigator And Gothic Heroine Within The Shifting Contexts Of The Film Industry And Debates In Feminist Film Criticism. Hanson Examines A Wide Range Of Films From Both Periods, Including suspicion, gaslight And pacific Heights, And Gives Particular Attention To Their Presentation Of Female Stories, Actions And Perspectives. She Reveals A Diversity Of Female Figures, Representations And Actions In Film Noir And The Female Gothic Film, And Argues That These Women Are Part Of A Negotiation Of Female Identities, Desires And Roles Across A Long Historical Period. hollywood Heroines Offers Us New Ways Of Thinking About Classic And Contemporary Hollywood Heroines, And About The Interrelationships Of Gender And Genre.

The Endangered And Dangerous Female Figures Of 'rebecca', Of 'jagged Edge' And 'what Lies Beneath' Have A Deserved And Enduring Fascination. Helen Hanson Re-examines These Gothic Heroines Of Hollywood And Their Meanings, In Two Of Hollywood's Key Generic Cycles, Film Noir And The Female Gothic Film. At The Margins Of Film Noir : Genre, Range And Female Representation -- Reviewing The Female Gothic Heroine : Agency, Identification And Feminist Film Criticism -- Narrative Journeys Of The Female Gothic Heroine -- Men In The Woman's Film : The Gothic Male, Representation And Female Discourse -- Professional Investigators And Femmes Fatales In Neo-noir -- Reworking The Woman's Film : The Neo-gothic Heroine In Contemporary Cinema -- Conclusions: The Currency Of Hollywood Heroines -- Appendix: The Female Gothic Cycle Of The 1940s By Helen Hanson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-244) And Index. Includes Filmography: P. [225]-230. Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Introduction: Hollywood Heriones: Women, Feminism and Film......Page 14 1. At the Margins of Film Noir: Genre, Range and Female Representation......Page 22 2. Reviewing the Female Gothic Heriones: Agency, Identification and Feminist Film Criticism......Page 54 3. Narrative Journeys of the Female Gothic Heroine......Page 84 4. Men in the Woman's Film: The Gothic Male, Representation and Female Discourse......Page 118 5. Professional Investigators and Femmes Fatales in Neo-Noir......Page 154 6. Reworking the Woman's Film: The Neo-Gothic Heroine in Contemporary Cinema......Page 194 Conclusions: The Currency of Hollywood Heroines......Page 220 Notes......Page 222 Appendix: The Female Gothic Cycle of the 1940s......Page 246 Bibliography......Page 252 Index......Page 266 The endangered and dangerous female figures of "Rebecca", of "Jagged Edge" and "What Lies Beneath" have a deserved and endures fascination. This work re-examines these gothic heroines of Hollywood and their meanings, in two of Hollywood's key generic cycles, film noir and the female gothic film. It also traces their revival in neo-gothic films.