Hard, Fast and Beautiful: The Films of Ida Lupino

The legacy of determined and dedicated actress, writer, producer and pioneering director Ida Lupino (1918-1995) remains untouchable in the annals of cinema history.  Beginning her career at the age of 13 in British productions for the likes of Twickenham Studios, Lupino was discovered and imported stateside to Paramount Pictures in 1933, performing in several dozen films through the late 1940s during a new apex of filmic innovation in Hollywood.  Primarily cast as headstrong, urbane characters in lauded roles for heavy-hitters like Raoul Walsh, Michael Curtiz, Jean Negulesco and Nicholas Ray, the ambitious Lupino was never singularly focused on acting—though she keenly understood the sway of her star power.  Observing on-set mechanics and cutting room intricacies to learn the craft of filmmaking for herself, Lupino was inspired to found her own independent production company, The Filmakers (along with her second husband, Collier Young), creating a space for herself to tackle projects with complicated, at times controversial, subject matter in a naturalistic, hard-nosed documentarian style uncommon for mid-century American filmmaking.  She would take advantage of this newfound independence to helm six features, ranging thematically from kidnapping to bigamy to rape, making her the first consistently-working female director since early talkies maven, Dorothy Arzner.  In celebration of Ida Lupino’s 100th birthday, the Archive presents three pairings, each featuring Lupino shining both on screen and stunning behind the camera, in a tribute to her unyielding talents and unwavering eye.