The Bride Wore Red
In the beginnings of what many refer to as the Golden Age of Hollywood, Dorothy Arzner was a trailblazer as the only woman directing films in the studio system during this male-dominated period. She was also openly lesbian. The Bride Wore Red was her only film collaboration with queer icon Joan Crawford, with whom many folks fearful of openly identifying with their sexuality in the early 20th century could find a kindred spirit. Crawford plays cabaret girl Anni Pavlovitch, whose social status is briefly changed by Count Armalia (George Zucco) in an experiment to prove that luck is based on chance.

Christopher Strong
Director Dorothy Arzner was known to tackle stories with complicated female leads and Christopher Strong was no exception. In her first leading role, Katharine Hepburn stars as aviatrix Lady Cynthia Darrington, who enters an illicit love affair. Though not an overtly queer storyline, when interpreted through a queer lens, Cynthia’s taboo romance with the married Sir Christopher Strong (Colin Clive) and her strained yet sentimental relationship with Christopher’s wife, Lady Elaine Strong (Billie Burke), take on new, layered meaning. A rare opportunity to see this archival 35mm print!

Preceded by
Home Movie: Boating with Dorothy Arzner and Billie Burke