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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I Is For Ida Lupino

Thank God it's Hump Day. This week has just been kicking my ass. I think I've gotten 10 hours of sleep total in the last three days. Oy! Anyway, I've been out and about in the A to Z as much as I can, which is definitely a lot less than I want,still I am seeing some really great themes. Like Mina Lobo's Aphrodisiacs at Some Dark Romantic, Gwen Gardner's The Paranormal Case Files of Indigo Eady and Melissa Sugar explaining interesting legal terminology with awesome examples over at Have You Heard.

I'm going back old school yet again with my choice for letter I. My pick is Ida Lupino. She was an actress, writer and director back when a woman doing any of these things in the film industry was almost unimaginable. Ida got her start in 1931 and often referred to herself as the "poor man's Bette Davis" acquiring a number of roles that Davis had turned down. She starred opposite major stars like Humphrey Bogart in High Sierra and Steve McQueen in Junior Bonner. Ida was also famous for spending a lot of time on suspension for turning down roles she felt were "beneath my dignity as an actress. High five, Ida, you tell 'em.

While on one of these numerous suspensions in the late 40's, Ida started to think about directing films. To that end she and her husband Collier Young formed an indie film company The Filmmakers. The company produced twelve feature films, six of which she directed or co-directed, five she wrote or co-wrote and three she acted in. She made low-budget, hard-hitting films about issues like 1950's Outrage, about a rape and its aftermath, Ida also stepped up to direct Not Wanted after director Elmer Clifton suffered a mild heart attack. She earned high praise for the film and was even invited to the White House by Eleanor Roosevelt. to discuss this feature at length. Lupino also became the first woman to direct a film noir with 1953's The Hitchhiker.

Her directing began to focus more on television as her career behind the camera progressed and she directed episodes of popular shows like The Twilight Zone, The Rifleman, and The Fugitive.My girl has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to film and television. She also won the inaugural Saturn Award for Best Supporting actress for her work in The Devil's Rain.

19 comments:

  1. She has two stars? That is impressive. She was definitely a 'you can't tell me what to do' kind of woman.

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  2. She's a hell of a woman! I had a feeling you were going to pick Ms. Lupino for "I" - she's a great talent to spotlight! Cheers Ms. B!

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  3. Terrific spotlight Melissa!

    I always appreciated her acting. But I had no idea she wrote and directed too!

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  4. ooh, didn't know there were female directors back in those days

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  5. A woman who could write, act, direct, and stand her ground...hate to differ with you, Ida, but poor man nothin'. You were tops in your field.

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  6. The first time I saw Ida Lupino was on the old Batman t.v. series. She was older then, but still a looker.

    I've seen her since, in her older films, and think she's a fantastic actress.

    Left and Write

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  7. We need more like her, a brave and talented woman.
    Silvia @ Silvia Writes

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  8. Wow, I didn't know Ida did all that! I love watching her in movies.

    Thanks so much for the shout-out, Melissa. I'm glad you're enjoying my theme :)

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  9. As women, we owe a lot to those like Ida Lupino and Bette Davis.

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  10. Stopping by from the A to Z Challenge. Incidentally, you have also been honored (cursed?) with nomination for the famed? Liebster Award. Feel free to ignore this if you are not into chain Blogging Awards, but if you feel like having some fun with it, take a peek over at http://taochild.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/atozchallenge-it-is-i/ for details and explanations. Keep up the good work! :D

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  11. Anther fascinating woman on film history. I can tell shes an inspiration for you Melissa

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  12. 1. Atta girl, Ida!
    2. Thanks for the props, Lady! <3 <3 <3
    3. For the love of GAH, GET MORE SLEEP!

    I'm having a rough work week, too. Boo. Need. More. Time!
    Some Dark Romantic

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  13. How unusual to find an actor with that kind of integrity, willing to suffer suspension for a belief. Nowadays, it seems like most actors will suffer through any role as long as a paycheck is attached.

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  14. She was quite a talented lady and ahead of her time
    glad you took the time to remember Ida

    hope your computer comes back up / a good day to take a bit of a break

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  15. Ha, Craig also did a post about her! This woman had an awesome and also very interesting career, unfortunately I've only seen 2 of her movies: Devil's Rain and Food of the Gods :)

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  16. Ida Lupino was strong, talented, principled and intelligent-a rare combination of qualities for women in that business at that time..

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  17. I had no idea Ida Lupino had such a broad range of talents! Thank you for enlightening me.

    Happy A to Z!

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