Kino Lorber follows up its landmark release Pioneers of African-American Cinema (VL-9/16) with an even more expansive six-disc set devoted to the pioneering women filmmakers of the silent era, a major step in correcting film histories that have generally overlooked their important contributions to cinema. The discs are organized by theme rather than strict chronology. The American films of French director Alice Guy-Blaché, who directed the first narrative film and ran two major film studios, are featured on disc one. Lois Weber, one of the most respected and ambitious filmmakers of the 1910 and early 1920s, tackled social issues in sophisticated and often provocative dramas and was one of the most financially successful directors of her era. Her films are featured on disc two as well as two additional discs devoted to social commentary. Another disc presents "Pioneers of Genre" such as comedy director Mabel Normand and ethnographic filmmaker Zora Neale Hurston. The collection features Westerns, thrillers, action pictures, romantic dramas, comedies, "artistic productions," and cliffhangers from women directors and producers, presenting a vast range of productions while also showcasing the work of Francis Marion, Dorothy Davenport Reid, and superstar actress Alla Nazimova, as well as forgotten artists Cleo Madison, Ruth Ann Baldwin, and Marion E. Wong, who directed the first American film with an all-Asian cast: The Curse of Quon Gwon (1916). While some of the 50-plus films compiled here only exist in fragments, most have been remastered and are presented with high-quality musical scores. Extras include interviews with historians and archivists, and a booklet with essays and notes. An essential addition to any serious collection of landmark films and cinema history, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers
Kino Lorber, 6 discs, 1,320 min., not rated, DVD: $79.99, Blu-ray: $99.99 Volume 34, Issue 2
Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers
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