E L E C T R O N I C   M E S S A G E
 
                                        Date:     02-Jun-1994 08:13am EST
                                        From:     Stephen Hart
                                                  HARTS2
                                        Level:    Post-secondary/University
                                        Tel No:   904-644-4839
 
TO:  Remote Addressee                     ( _jnet%screen-l@ua1vm )
 
 
Subject: re: American
 
Sandy D. says that we (Americans) want our women in films to act like
ladies.  More than that, I think we want out women (speaking from the male
perspective) to be weak so that men can come to their rescue.  As much as I
can recall at the moment, most films allow women to be tough--they can hold
their own in an argument, don't take crap, are resourceful--and smart, but
just physical enough to whack the bad guy with a vase or frying pan to save
the good guy in a critical moment.  Or to beat up another woman.
The only mainstream American film with a physical female lead that comes to
mind is _Point of no return_ (or the poor man's _Femme Nikita_).  Then
again, she is not so much physical as she is good with a gun.  _The hand
that rocks the cradle_ and _Total recall_ have a scene or two where the
women mix it up and it looks convincing.  And Sharon Stone beats the crap
out of Schwarzenneger (sp?) a couple of times.
 
Stephen Hart
HARTS2@firnvx