Judith Mayne Libri

Documents Dorothy Arzner's film career, her work as a film editor, her directorial debut, and her departure from Hollywood in 1943. This book analyzes a number of Arzner's films, and discusses how feminist preoccupations shape them. It treats Arzner's lesbianism and the role that desire between women played in her career, her life, and her films.

Judith Mayne delves into the evolution of spectatorship theories over the past fifteen years, emphasizing the interplay between historical context and theoretical frameworks. By analyzing this dialogue, she reveals how cinema effectively engages its viewers, offering insights into the relationship between film and audience perception.