Costumes of Edith Head

Edith Head

Since I'm going back to the boonies in a week-ish, I want to appreciate civilization and society a bit. Perhaps if I cram enough class in my mind, I'll be able to survive a winter of colossal cold without turning into a down jacket derelict (I think we all know that would never happen).

Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in "To Catch a Thief"

My plan of action? Going to see these movies:

http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=9538

The Costumes of Edith Head, 1941-1958 Edith Head (1897-1981), one of Hollywood's most influential costume designers, worked on more than 400 films, but her work with Paramount Studios was the most illustrious. This series celebrates the storyboards and sketches she brought to life to create some of Hollywood's most memorable moments. Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:30 am Film The Heiress As soon as Catherine’s receives her father’s entire estate, her former fiance suddenly reappears, but she refuses to fall in love with him... Saturday, December 26, 2009, 1 pm Film Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond, a forgotten silent picture star, hires Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter to help her back into the spotlight.... Saturday, December 26, 2009, 3:20 pm Film The Lady Eve The rich but naive Charlie Pike meets con artist Jean Harrington on a ship. They fall in love, but a misunderstanding causes them to end on bad terms.... Sunday, December 27, 2009, 11 am Film A Place in the Sun George works obsessively to get ahead, and when he starts dating Angela, a beautiful socialite, he notices his professional status rise. But the press... Sunday, December 27, 2009, 1:30 pm Film Vertigo In this Hitchcock classic, Jimmy Stewart plays a detective who becomes dangerously obsessed with his latest case.... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 2 pm Film To Catch a Thief A former cat burglar is wanted in a recent string of robberies along the French Riviera, so he decides to go after the real culprit to prove his innoc... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 4:30 pm Film Rear Window Jeff passes time by watching the actions of the residents in an apartment across the street, but his hobby takes a dangerous turn when he claims to ha... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 7 pm Film Vertigo In this Hitchcock classic, Jimmy Stewart plays a detective who becomes dangerously obsessed with his latest case.... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 10:30 am Film A Place in the Sun George works obsessively to get ahead, and when he starts dating Angela, a beautiful socialite, he notices his professional status rise. But the press... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 1 pm Film Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond, a forgotten silent picture star, hires Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter to help her back into the spotlight.... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 3:20 pm Film The Lady Eve The rich but naive Charlie Pike meets con artist Jean Harrington on a ship. They fall in love, but a misunderstanding causes them to end on bad terms.... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 10:30 am Film Rear Window Jeff passes time by watching the actions of the residents in an apartment across the street, but his hobby takes a dangerous turn when he claims to ha... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 12:50 pm Film To Catch a Thief A former cat burglar is wanted in a recent string of robberies along the French Riviera, so he decides to go after the real culprit to prove his innoc... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 3:10 pm Film This Gun for Hire Veronica Lake befriends a killer in order to form an alliance against a corrupt nightclub owner....

Which ones should I make priorities?

Women Directors

I'm studying film from 1960-present and am currently focusing on the 60's and 70's for a research paper.
Anyone who's studied cinema can name-drop the movie brats, the guys who all went to film school at around the same time and revamped the studios in America during the late 60's/early 70's: Coppola, Scorsese, Lucas, Spielberg...the list goes on.

What's notable is that it was a boy's club. The guys made movies about male fantasies, but there really wasn't a counterpoint of women directors who were able to make films about women's goals and aspirations. They existed in Europe, particularly in Germany, but why not in America?

This discrepancy continues today: just try and name 1 female filmmaker. Other than Coppola.

Am I right, or am I right? You probably can't name more than 3. Maybe.

What is it about America that makes women directors not as famous? Is it there a lack of female interest in the field, or do their films just fail? Is it a feminist issue?