The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era [Hardcover]

With each passing year, their glory fades just a little bit more, but in their heyday they were the most glamorous women the world then knew. They could--indeed, had to-- move an audience to tears with just a gesture, make them laugh with the flick of an eye. Theda Bara, Sarah Bernhardt: these names are legends of Hollywood history; but there were other, equally talented yet lesser known actresses whose contributions to the movie industry have gone largely unheralded--names such as Mae Marsh and Gene Gauntier. Some went from stage to screen; others started out in silent films only to have their careers ended by the "talkies." In an era when women were fighting for the right to vote, these women were among the most powerful in their field, breaking new ground as directors, producers, and screenwriters. With obvious affection and through painstaking research, Menefee brings back to life the women who truly were pioneers of the movie industry. Carol Haggas
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"The First Female Stars pays homage to the lives of fifteen early female stars who made their first movie appearance between 1900 and 1923... Menefee lovingly recounts the qualities of these stars of the silent screen..."-Journal of American Studies

The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era rediscovers the fascinating lives and pioneering achievements of fifteen women who dared to venture into early motion pictures, an industry dominated by men, and who not only succeeded but became the focal points of the industry. Each star earned a position at the height of her profession, and though many are largely forgotten today, made a lasting and significant contribution to early cinema. In this entertaining and informative volume, author David Menefee reveals these women and their signature roles, drawing on many original sources to show us how such actresses as Theda Bara, Sarah Bernhardt, Dorothy Gish, and Norma Talmadge were received in their time, and the many ways in which their influence remains important today.

David W. Menefee is a contributing writer for The Dallas Times Herald and The Dallas Morning News. He is the author of Sarah Bernhardt: In the Theater, Film and Sound Recordings, the first-ever comprehensive study of the actress's recorded work.