Spinsters, Widows and Chars: The Ageing Woman in British Film

The book explores the enduring appeal of the ageing actress in British film,from the 1930s to the present day,arguing that the prevalence of various iterations of the character actress is essential in understanding the nature of British cinema. It analyses a broad range of films and the work of selected actresses,considering them within the context of historical factors that impacted on ageing femininities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Actresses like Maggie Smith, Cicely Courtneidge, and Sybil Thorndike have played a significant role in establishing the enduring appeal of the ageing actress in British film. In her book, the author aims to historicize and contextualize this archetypal figure, creating a taxonomy of female ageing in British cinema from the 1930s to the present day. The book argues that the prevalence of various iterations of the character actress is essential in understanding the nature of British cinema, particularly in its development as a distinct entity from Hollywood. By employing archetypes that draw on well-established mythologies regarding ageing femininities, the author seeks to explore how British cinema has defined itself against its American counterpart.

The book centers on the analysis of a broad range of films, including Blithe Spirit (1945), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968), and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012). These films are chosen to represent different periods and genres within British cinema and are considered within the context of the broader historical factors that impacted ageing femininities, such as the Second World War, the post-war settlement, the Welfare State, and the implications for the women's movement as a whole.

Through a detailed examination of these films and the work of selected actresses, the author seeks to shed light on the complex and multifaceted nature of female ageing in British cinema. She explores how these actresses have portrayed older women on screen, challenging traditional stereotypes and providing nuanced and complex portrayals of ageing femininities. The book also examines the societal and cultural attitudes towards ageing and women's roles in the past and how these attitudes have been reflected in the films studied.

Overall, the book offers a valuable contribution to the study of British cinema and ageing femininities. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of the character actress in shaping the representation of older women on screen and explores the broader historical and cultural factors that have influenced the portrayal of ageing femininities in British cinema. The book will be of interest to scholars and students of film and gender studies, as well as anyone with an interest in the history and evolution of British cinema.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 164 x 243 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474452823