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