Outspoken Women

Whatever happened to those witty gals who weren't just verbose, but smart and even dangerous -- and knew something about love and life?

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"Outspoken women," if you don't mind me saying so, is a term that speaks to the wounded feelings of men who never quite grew up or got over the first time a woman told them "No," "Nuts" or "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night." Yes, that's Bette Davis as Margo Channing in the classic All About Eve, one of those happy movies in which most of the characters speak as if they'd actually been to school and read a few books when the bed was otherwise empty--or full with some tired male. Released in 1950, it arrived close to the end of that thrilling 20-year period when the best American films revolved around all the things smart and un-self-pitying that women were inclined to say.

In other words, "outspoken women" are not just women who have started saying too much. No, they're the ones who have woken up to the way men break out in fits when one of the "fair sex" starts explaining the facts (or the secrets) of life. For there is a kind of man for whom anything more challenging than "Yes, Master!" from a female rates as outspoken. In silent pictures, women either screamed or sighed, depending on whether they were on the receiving end of a loathsome scoundrel or a wonderful gentleman. Beyond that, their sole duty was to look pretty and be the object of desire. They had no real place in society other than to be photographed, adored, pursued, undressed, raped or kissed fondly. It was a dog's life. And while men got their kicks when the talkies made it big--they could snarl and say things like "You dirty rat!"--women got so much more, including the rare chance to occupy the central seat of intelligence. Yes, there was a moment in American films--and even in American life--when intelligence was valued more than money, looks, celebrity and shopping. (I'll say as little more about it as possible, for fear of disturbing you.)

The films that really gave women voice were not Westerns or adventure, crime or horror pictures-- screaming, shouting and "Yep" tended to rule the day there, as they do today. But it was in the genre known as comedy--or, more precisely, comedies of words and situation (invariably marital or sexual--not always quite the same thing). Romantic comedies, screwball comedies or those apparent action films or thrillers such as Howard Hawks made that are actually comedies--comedy noirs, if you like that term.

Mae West was an important maternal figure in this line. In the years between sound and the first ghastly reactions of censorship, West--who was a great deal too much woman for most men--had a terrific line in teasing banter for pretty boys. Things like, "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?" or even the world-famous, "Why don't you come up and see me some time?"

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