Grand Prairie library unveils film collection featuring female directors

by Kirk Dickey of of Grand Prairie TODAY

Grand Prairie librarians hope their newest collection will shine a light on the role of women behind the camera.

Library officials and actress Janine Turner, of Northern Exposure and Friday Night Lights fame, unveiled Grand Prairie Memorial Library's Lois Weber Film Collection, featuring more than 160 films directed by women. The collection has films from around the world, from as early as 1914.

Some of the featured films in the collection include Ocean Waif by Alice Guy-Blanche, the first major female movie director, Olympia by Leni Reifenstahl about the 1934 Berlin Olympics and Not Wanted, a controversial 1949 film by actress Ida Lupino about a young woman dealing with an unwanted pregnancy.

The collection also features a film by Weber, the collection's namesake. Weber directed more than 130 films and was, until Barbara Streisand made Yentl in 1983, the only woman to write, direct and star in her own major motion picture. She had a long career, but it has mostly been forgotten.

“We have named our collection after her to restore her to her rightful place as one of the most important American film directors in history,” Senior Library Aide Peter Sime said, introducing the collection.

Sime said the library hopes to build the world's most extensive collection of films directed by women.

After the dedication, Turner screened her own film, Trip in a Summer Dress, about the emotional struggle between a mother and daughter over a child born out of wedlock. Based on a short story, Turner said the story just spoke to her.

“It was so heartfelt and so Texas,” she said. “The writing was really delicious. There was a lot of sentiment and a lot of heart to it.”

The film is part of the Lois Weber Collection, which Turner said she was glad to see Grand Prairie had created.

“I think it looks fantastic,” she said. “I want to watch every one of them. I'm not joking.”

Turner recently wrote a book called Holding her Head High, focusing on single mothers who “championed their children and changed history.” The book shows these strong women over several centuries.

“This is what they've done, starting in the early 1900s,” Turner said. “It's great that they have such a wide variety of history. I would love to see what Grand Prairie did and her vision back then.”