Louisa Presents Screwball Comedies of Hollywood (1934 to 1942)

Jacquie's Email Notice

Dear Literary Ladies: With all the crazy that we've been witnessing over the past weeks since last we met, I think an afternoon of hearing Louisa present to us " The Writing Behind Screwball Comedies" is just the remedy we need! 

So, we will be meeting this Wednesday, October 21st on Zoom at 1pm. Christine will be hosting the Zoom, so expect to receive the link from her. Connie will be hosting the meeting virtually, (I'm trying not to think of the delicious poached salmon we will not be eating together at her home this year... sigh...) as Fran is unfortunately unable to be with us that day.

I apologize for the lateness of this email, but members, so Louisa can assign readings, please let Louisa know if you will NOT be able to attend. Associate members, please let Louisa know if you WILL be joining us and would like to read. Louisa will be sending readings to download and print out. Laura has volunteered to deliver printed texts if you are unable to download and/or print them out, so please contact her if you need any assistance with the readings.  Louisa has asked me to "tell our lovely members that I look forward to seeing them Wednesday." As do I! Best, Jacquie

Below: Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday

Barbara's Minutes 

First the credits: Jacquie Weitzman illustrated the meeting reminder with a picture from His Gal Friday; Christine Lehner sent out the Zoom invite; Connie Stewart acted as President and led the meeting; Barbara Morrow’s minutes were accepted as read; Associate Member Jennie Goodrich was warmly welcomed back. We decided to give a book to the Hastings Library in memory of May Kanfer, perhaps a volume of Louise Glück’s poetry. We will also make sure a kids’ science book goes to the library in memory of Susan Korsten.

Then the action began, with Louisa Stephens presenting a talk on the writing behind screwball comedies.

Goofy, wacky, zany, effervescent, fun, witty, high jinks, implausible, uninhibited—these were some of the adjectives Louisa used to describe screwball comedies, a film genre that flourished from 1934 to around 1942. She used as examples two of her favorites, Ball of Fire, written by Billy Wilder, and My Man Godfrey, written by Morrie Ryskind. She noted the rapid-fire dialogue, the verbal comedy, and the high energy of these films. Screwball comedies also drew from slapstick and vaudeville, with sight gags and quick timing.

These movies acted like a tonic during years of Depression, Prohibition, and censorship. They were an endorsement of love, but, as Louisa pointed out, they contained subversive subtexts as they revealed social and economic inequities, corruption, and greed. They could be subversive in their view of sexuality as well, and in their realignment of traditional hierarchies.

Louisa focused on three screenwriter/directors, the prankster Ben Hecht, who created the Hollywood we know; Preston Sturges, who knew how to push a story as far as it needed to go; and Billy Wilder, whose films ranged from Double Indemnity to the romantic comedy Ninotchka. We then read excerpts from Pat McGilligan’s Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood’s Golden Age as well as from other books and articles.

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Morrow, Recording Secretary