Funny Ladies

Winner of numerous awards, including a Blue Ribbon at the American Film & Video Festival, a CINE Golden Eagle, and a Golden Apple at the National Educational Film & Video Festival, Pamela Briggs' Funny Ladies aims an inquisitive eye into the not-very-highly-populated world of female cartoonists. Narrated by Jean Stapleton (forever Edith), Funny Ladies opens with an overview of the brief history of female cartoonists, touching on such early pioneers as Rose O'Neill's 1909 "Kewpie" doll characters, Fanny Cory's "Little Miss Muffett," and later artists such as Jackie Orms, who drew "Torchy Brown," before focusing on the first of four contemporary artists: Dale Messick, creator of the long-running (1940-1983) strip "Brenda Starr." Originally named Dalia, Messick changed her name to the more androgynous Dale after hitting one blockade after another in the newspaper world. She offers some interesting reminiscences about the old days, and confides that she's currently writing her autobiography, tentatively titled "Still Stripping at 80." Next, Cathy Guisewite talks about her creation "Cathy," the widely syndicated mainstream strip that landed in hot water over cartoons dealing with the issues of day care and presidential elections. Nicole Hollander ("Sylvia") and Lynda Barry ("Ernie Pook's Comeek"), both Chicago-based friends, are interviewed separately and together. Hollander, whose feminist strip "Sylvia" was poorly marketed, decided to syndicate herself and now enjoys a wide and loyal readership across the country. Barry, who openly professes love for "white-out" ("I can't spell") talks about where she gets her ideas, and how she handles the dreaded cartoonists' block. Just like their creations, these ladies are funny too, and Funny Ladies is highly recommended. (Available from: New Day Films, 121 West 27th Street, Suite 902, New York, NY 10001.)