Pen Fatale: Classic Film Noir Written and Produced by Women

American film noir of the 1940s and 1950s has attracted a great deal of scholarly attention, especially for its most recognizable elements such as dramatic lighting, dark and moody settings, hard-boiled detectives, and deadly femmes fatales. However, one aspect of film noir that has been less explored is the role of creative women behind these tales of angst, mystery, and moral ambiguity.

In this course, we will focus on women who, through their writing and film production, populated the world of noir with a wide array of women in all kinds of roles, beyond and besides those of wives, mothers, and vamps. We will celebrate the work of established professionals such as novelist Vera Caspary, author of Laura, and film producer Virginia Van Upp, responsible for Gilda, while also investigating lesser known yet intriguing figures behind films like Phantom Lady (Robert Siodmak, 1944), Born to Kill (Robert Wise, 1947), Sorry, Wrong Number (Anatole Litvak, 1948) or Clash by Night (Fritz Lang, 1952).

By examining films written or produced by women and featuring central female characters, we will gain insight into how complex socioeconomical tensions, evolving perceptions of marriage and motherhood, and the role of women in the workforce during the postwar era were presented in popular culture.