The Maritorious Melodrama: Film Noir with a Female Detective

Feminist critics tend to disagree whether the parachuting of women into traditionally male roles—for example, that of detective—results in a feminist representation. The female detective of the 1930s, however, can be seen to offer a decidedly positive feminist hero in that she defies the stereotype of the “masculine” (i.e. unnatural) woman—especially when one considers the time in which she appeared and representations of female detectives in contemporary film. Despite popular conceptions of classical film, Hollywood did offer progressive representations of working women, ironically in the decade characterized by economic and social upheaval during the Depression. The prolific female detective of 1930s B-films and series is an independent woman who puts her career ahead of the traditional female pursuits of marriage and a family, and who chases a mystery as actively and with greater success than the men who populate the police department or a rival newspaper’s staff. However, during World War II and especially its aftermath, the representation of the female detective began to change, and the independent woman came to be depicted as all but the criminal herself. In this paper, I explore the representation of the female detective in film noir of the 1940s and the shift from the celebration of the independent and career-oriented woman to her demonization. Critics of film noir have discussed at length the figure of the femme fatale as dangerous femininity but noir’s female investigative protagonists have been ignored. In this paper, I will discuss how the sex of the investigating protagonist complicates the traditionally male noir detective narrative. The result is a hybridization of generic conventions: the narrative is driven forward as much by the female protagonist’s personal desires as with many types of melodrama (specifically the woman’s film) as by her investigation as with a detective film; however, at the same time, the heroine’s independence as a detective poses an undesirable challenge to the masculinity of her husband (or husband-to-be) as with film noir. Just as the maternal melodrama demanded a woman make personal sacrifices to facilitate her daughter’s success in the world, so too do these noir films demand the sacrifice on the part of the female protagonist to see the man she loves returned to his “proper” place as head of the household. Thus, I term these films “maritorious melodramas” as opposed to maternal as they see the female protagonist “excessively devoted” to her husband in the noir films Phantom Lady (Siodmak 1944), Black Angel (Neill 1946), and Woman on the Run (Foster 1950), the heroine is offered simultaneously as a progressive image of femininity—because she occupies the center of, and drives forward, the investigative narrative—and as a contained one—because ultimately she is proven incompetent as a detective and is returned to the prescribed social role of devoted and sacrificing wife

Memorandum Report: Economic Parameters for Free-Standing and In-Park Children\u27s Attractions at Universal City and/or Orlando

This report summarizes the economic parameters of a children\u27s park for Universal City and/or Orlando, Florida. Two pro forma iterations were included, first a freestanding attraction and second an integrated element within the existing studio attractions. Prototypes and comparatives used as references for the free-standing attraction were Legoland in Denmark, Sesame Place in Philadelphia, and Castle Park in Riverside, California. Facilities used in this manner for the in-park children\u27s attraction were Camp Snoopy in Buena Park at Knott\u27s Berry Farm, Capt\u27n. Kidd at Sea World, Pandamonium at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, and Hanna-Barbera Land at Kings Island, Cincinnati. Prepared for MCA Recreation Services Group. Includes tables and appendices. Report no. 489

Spartan Daily, April 21, 1997

Volume 108, Issue 55https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/9130/thumbnail.jp

Briefing Book and Background Data for Regional Attractions and Children\u27s Parks

This report provides market analysis of the regional attractions in the US, background information for children\u27s parks at Universal City & Orlando and gives insights on investment opportunities in regional parks and children\u27s parks at Universal City and Universal Studios, Florida. Includes appendices: Legoland, Sesame Place, Idlewild Park and Castle Amusement Park. Prepared for MCA Recreation Services Group. Includes tables and appendices. Report no. 488

Working toward the center : a collection of poetry

A collection of poetr