Movies About Gender Roles

From Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm
Rated Passed

All About Eve is a classic 1950 drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, and Celeste Holm. It tells the story of a young, ambitious actress, Eve Harrington (Baxter), who schemes her way into the life of an established Broadway star, Margo Channing (Davis). Along the way, she manipulates the people in her life, all of whom are taken in by her seemingly innocent and naive nature. Margo soon realizes that all is not as it seems and must battle to protect her career and personal life from Eve's machinations. The film is considered a classic of the genre and won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film's themes of ambition and power, and its exploration of backstabbing and deception, remain relevant in modern times.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel
Rated PG-13

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, and scored by Clint Eastwood and starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. It tells the story of an underappreciated boxing trainer, Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), and the journey he and his protegée, Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank), take as she works her way up in the world of female boxing. Along the way, Frankie struggles with his own demons, including his troubled past and a strained relationship with his estranged daughter. In the end, both Frankie and Maggie must face difficult choices as they try to find a balance between ambition, loyalty, and love.

From Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels
Rated PG

The Graduate tells the story of Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who is trying to find his place in the world and figure out what he wants to do with his life. He is seduced by Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, and eventually falls in love with her daughter, Elaine. Benjamin follows Elaine across the country and attempts to win her over, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that her parents disapprove of the age difference between the two. In the end, Benjamin and Elaine are reunited and married, proving that love can conquer all.

From Michael Curtiz, starring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden
Rated Approved

Mildred Pierce is a 1945 film noir directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan Crawford. The film follows Mildred, a divorced mother of two, who sacrifices everything to give her youngest daughter a life of privilege. After her husband leaves her, Mildred is forced to take a job as a waitress to support her family. She eventually opens her own successful restaurant, but her daughter Veda's snobbery and neglectful attitude cause them to become estranged. Eventually, Mildred discovers that Veda has been involved with a married man and decides to confront her. Mildred is later accused of murdering her lover, and must try to prove her innocence in court. The film is acclaimed for its strong female character and for Crawford's Oscar-winning performance.

From Irving Rapper, starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper
Rated Passed

Now, Voyager tells the story of repressed spinster Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis). Living in an oppressive family atmosphere, she is unknowingly on the brink of a nervous breakdown until a family friend (Claude Rains) recommends a stay at a health resort. There, she meets Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains again) who helps her become a more confident and assertive woman. On a cruise, she meets Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid) and falls in love. Though married, he falls for her too, but things are complicated when his wife (Ilka Grüning) appears and demands he return home. Charlotte must decide whether to let him go or follow him. Ultimately, she chooses to follow her own path in life and embrace her newfound independence.

From George Cukor, starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey
Rated Not Rated

The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 romantic comedy film starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart. The film follows the story of high-society socialite, Tracy Lord (Hepburn), as she prepares to marry wealthy executive George Kittredge, despite still harboring feelings for her ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant). However, her plans are disrupted when two journalists, Macaulay 'Mike' Connor (Stewart) and Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey), arrive to cover her wedding for the tabloid magazine Spy. As Tracy contemplates the consequences of marrying Kittredge and getting back together with Dexter, she must also deal with the presence of her disapproving father, Seth Lord (John Halliday). In the end, Tracy must decide if Kittredge is the right match for her or if she should pursue the life she truly wants.

From Elia Kazan, starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
Rated PG

A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 American drama film, adapted from Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 play of the same name. Directed by Elia Kazan and written by Oscar Saul and Williams, the film stars Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. The plot follows Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle, as she makes her way to the French Quarter of New Orleans to stay with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski. Initially charmed by Blanche's poise and beauty, Stanley quickly discovers her past is filled with secrets and lies. As Blanche and Stanley's volatile relationship intensifies, the dark tragedy of her life begins to unfold. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Leigh), Best Supporting Actor (Karl Malden), Best Supporting Actress (Kim Hunter), Best Director (Kazan), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design. Leigh won for Best Actress and Hunter won for Best Supporting Actress.

From Arthur Penn, starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman
Rated R

Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 crime drama film directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the title characters Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Set in the Great Depression, the film follows the couple's criminal exploits as they travel across the country, robbing banks and avoiding the law. Along the way, they pick up others to join their gang, including C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard) and Buck Barrow (Gene Hackman). The film's iconic ending, with the couple gunned down in a hail of bullets, is one of the most famous scenes in cinema history. The film was a major commercial success and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, taking home two for Best Supporting Actress (Estelle Parsons) and Best Cinematography. It was also a critical success, helping to spark the New Hollywood movement and usher in a new era of film-making.

From Ward Serrill, starring Darnellia Russell, Bill Resler, Ludacris, Devon Crosby Helms
Rated PG-13

The Heart of the Game is a 2005 American documentary film directed by Ward Serrill about the Roosevelt Roughriders, a girls' basketball team at Seattle's Roosevelt High School. The film follows the team through the 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, as the team and its coach Bill Resler attempt to win a state championship, while facing internal and external obstacles. With a focus on one of the players, Darnellia Russell, the film documents the struggles of the players, their coach, and their families as they try to achieve success while dealing with poverty, gender bias, and academic pressures. The film also chronicles the team's journey as they struggle to overcome these obstacles, and ultimately become state champions.

From George Cukor, starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell
Rated Not Rated

Adam's Rib is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as a married couple who find themselves on opposite sides of a case when one of them prosecutes a woman who attempted to shoot her husband. The film is often regarded as an important early example of the battle of the sexes genre, which features male and female protagonists engaged in a battle of wits. The script, written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, is full of witty dialogue and double entendres. The film also stars Judy Holliday and Tom Ewell as witnesses in the trial and two of the couple's friends, David Wayne and Jean Hagen as the defendants. The film's title comes from the phrase "Adam's Rib", which refers to the notion that women were made from one of Adam's ribs in the Bible.

From Kimberly Peirce, starring Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III
Rated R

Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 semi-biographical drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and starring Hilary Swank. It follows the story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man who travels to a small Nebraska town and falls in love with a young woman. Although initially accepted, Brandon's true identity is eventually discovered by his new friends, leading to a horrifically violent attack that results in his death. The film explores themes of gender identity, sexuality, and acceptance in a small, conservative midwestern town.

From Ridley Scott, starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen
Rated R

Thelma & Louise (1991) is an iconic American drama/adventure directed by Ridley Scott and starring Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon and Harvey Keitel. It tells the story of two best friends, Thelma (Davis) and Louise (Sarandon), on a weekend getaway that quickly turns into a fight for survival and freedom. After Louise shoots and kills a man who tries to sexually assault Thelma, the two flee in a 1966 Thunderbird, pursued by a relentless police officer, Hal (Keitel). As the law closes in, the two embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, determined to escape their oppressive lives and the society that seeks to control them. Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker (Brad Pitt) and eventually reach the point of no return, an iconic scene where they drive off a cliff in a grand gesture of defiance and freedom.

From Duncan Tucker, starring Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Andrea James
Rated R

From Sydney Pollack, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman
Rated PG

From Martin Scorsese, starring Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Mia Bendixsen, Alfred Lutter III
Rated PG

From Paul Mazursky, starring Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman
Rated R

From Amy Heckerling, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Rated PG-13

From Bryan Forbes, starring Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Nanette Newman
Rated PG

From Jeff Stilson, starring Chris Rock, Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton, Tanya Crumel
Rated PG-13

From Mike Nichols, starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin
Rated R

From Michael Patrick Jann, starring Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney
Rated PG-13