Cine's Honorary Star Spot
Featuring Pioneer Filmmaker
Alice Guy-Blache
First Woman Director, producer,
and first female studio CEO
July 1, 1873 - March 24, 1968
Featuring Pioneer Filmmaker
Alice Guy-Blache
First Woman Director, producer,
and first female studio CEO
July 1, 1873 - March 24, 1968
Where is Alice Guy-Blache's Walk of Fame star?
by Paulette Reynolds
July 1, 2018
July 1, 2018
Why is there no walk of fame star for the first female director?
This intrepid woman began directing films in 1896, producing and directing over 600 silent, single reel length films. Alice also worked for Gaumont Chronophone as a director and producer, creating over 150 synchronized sound films.
In 1910 she started her own film company, called Solax, located in New Jersey, becoming the first woman to own and operate her own film studio. After her divorce from husband and company partner, Herbert, in 1920, she relocated to France. There she turned her attention to writing and lecturing on film for the next thirty years.
This intrepid woman began directing films in 1896, producing and directing over 600 silent, single reel length films. Alice also worked for Gaumont Chronophone as a director and producer, creating over 150 synchronized sound films.
In 1910 she started her own film company, called Solax, located in New Jersey, becoming the first woman to own and operate her own film studio. After her divorce from husband and company partner, Herbert, in 1920, she relocated to France. There she turned her attention to writing and lecturing on film for the next thirty years.
Alice McMahan notes in her profile on the prolific filmmaker that
“Alice Guy Blaché directed for and worked at the companies owned by other female film pioneers. She directed Flora Finch in The Great Adventure (1918) written by Agnes Christine Johnston. She directed Olga Petrova in 1915 for The Heart of a Painted Woman, The Vampire, and My Madonna; in 1916 for What Will People Say?, The Scarlet Woman, Extravagance, and The Black Butterfly (screenplay by Lillian Case Russell); and in 1917 for Bridges Burned and The Secret of Eve. She was the assistant director for The Divorcée (1919), co- written by June Mathis Finally, she was assistant director on The Brat (1919) and Stronger than Death (1920) directed by Herbert Blaché for Alla Nazimova’s Nazimova’s Productions and starring the actress.” 1
“Alice Guy Blaché directed for and worked at the companies owned by other female film pioneers. She directed Flora Finch in The Great Adventure (1918) written by Agnes Christine Johnston. She directed Olga Petrova in 1915 for The Heart of a Painted Woman, The Vampire, and My Madonna; in 1916 for What Will People Say?, The Scarlet Woman, Extravagance, and The Black Butterfly (screenplay by Lillian Case Russell); and in 1917 for Bridges Burned and The Secret of Eve. She was the assistant director for The Divorcée (1919), co- written by June Mathis Finally, she was assistant director on The Brat (1919) and Stronger than Death (1920) directed by Herbert Blaché for Alla Nazimova’s Nazimova’s Productions and starring the actress.” 1
Ms. Guy-Blache went on to publish her own autobiography, The Memoirs of Alice-Guy Blache in 1976.
I ask this question again...
Why is there no walk of fame star for the first female director?
...more out of pure shock, given the renewed attention that this cinematic pioneer is finally getting from cinephiles, women film historians, filmmakers and Turner Classic Movies channel. All of Hollywood needs to honor Alice Guy-Blache by nominating her and donating the funds to maintain her place along
the Walk of Fame.
Why is there no walk of fame star for the first female director?
...more out of pure shock, given the renewed attention that this cinematic pioneer is finally getting from cinephiles, women film historians, filmmakers and Turner Classic Movies channel. All of Hollywood needs to honor Alice Guy-Blache by nominating her and donating the funds to maintain her place along
the Walk of Fame.
1 McMahan, Alison. "Alice Guy Blaché." In Jane Gaines, Radha Vatsal, and Monica Dall’Asta, eds. Women Film Pioneers Project. Center for Digital Research and Scholarship. New York, NY: Columbia University Libraries, 2013. Web. September 27, 2013. <https://wfpp.cdrs.columbia.edu/pioneer/ccp-alice-guy-blache/>
2 Mc Mahan, Alison. Alice Guy Blaché, Lost Visionary of the Cinema. 2002 Bloomsbury Academic. July 15, 2018.
3 Alice Guy-Blache, Roberta Blache, Simone blache, Anthony Slide. The Memoirs of Alice Guy-Blaché. 1976/ May 7, 1996 Scarecrow Press. July 11, 2018.
2 Mc Mahan, Alison. Alice Guy Blaché, Lost Visionary of the Cinema. 2002 Bloomsbury Academic. July 15, 2018.
3 Alice Guy-Blache, Roberta Blache, Simone blache, Anthony Slide. The Memoirs of Alice Guy-Blaché. 1976/ May 7, 1996 Scarecrow Press. July 11, 2018.
Cine understands that stars and Hollywood notables nominated for the Walk of Fame are individual artists from the entertainment industry. However, creating a new tradition is sometimes a wonderful thing.
To nominate a candidate for the Walk of Fame does take money, but I'm sure that someone like TCM's Trailblazing Women Pioneers Project could easily find the funds to maintain a star along the Walk of Fame for our first female director.
To nominate Alice Guy-Blache, please visit:
Walkoffame.com
To nominate a candidate for the Walk of Fame does take money, but I'm sure that someone like TCM's Trailblazing Women Pioneers Project could easily find the funds to maintain a star along the Walk of Fame for our first female director.
To nominate Alice Guy-Blache, please visit:
Walkoffame.com
COPYRIGHT 2012/2018. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
