Dorothy Arzner: Pioneer, Queer, Feminist (2023) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language

2023 · 53 mins · English

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Directed by

Clara Kuperberg, Julia Kuperberg

Starring

Tony Maietta, Shelley Stamp, Emily Carman

Budget

$100K

Dorothy Arzner rose to become a powerful figure in Hollywood, despite being largely overlooked by history. Starting at just 19 as a “cutter,” she steadily advanced through the studio system, eventually becoming the first woman to direct a talking picture starring Clara Bow at Paramount. A true pioneer, she was the sole female director at a major studio during the 1930s and 1940s, known for her avant-garde films exploring the lives of women, and openly identifying as lesbian while dressing in masculine attire. She mentored Francis Ford Coppola, who considers her one of Hollywood's most significant female directors.