Moxie: The Daring Women of Classic Hollywood

From the 1920s through the mid-1950s, the dominated Hollywood studio system was dominated by men and often denied actresses fair treatment, leaving some afraid to speak up for fear of losing work. The women featured in this volume risked everything to challenge these magnates with courage and perseverance—in a word, moxie—paving the way for those who followed. From Katharine Hepburn to Marlene Dietrich, they won equal status and became artistic and industry innovators. Resnick (The Seventies: A Photographic Journey) and Bretaña (Shoes) analyze the struggles and achievements of 15 iconic film stars within the context of the era and their individual lives and careers. To name a few, Lillian Gish fought for creative control, Louise Brooks for equal pay, and Bette Davis for better roles, while Anna May Wong contested racial discrimination. A generous selection of stunning studio portraits, movie stills, and lobby cards—accompanied by particularly informative captions—conveys the unique essence of each woman and fittingly complements the absorbing narrative.