Female Screen Icons

20-22nd November 1998

Queen Christina (Garbo) Pandora's Box (Brooks) Shanghai Express (Deitrich) Repulsion (Deneuve Funny Face (Hepburn) The Big Sleep (Bacall) Vertigo (Novak) Nothing Sacred (Lombard) Some Like It Hot (Monroe).

What do you think makes a particular actress into a screen icon?

That was the question posed by Peter Cargin at the start of a fascinating weekend event.  After hastily explaining that he would have been perfectly happy to consider male screen icons - and listing a few that came to mind - he suggested some possible avenues of exploration.  Was it by chance that most women in that category worked best in another country or in another language?  Most of them made fairly few films in their prime.  Most retained an element of mystery.  Most had very striking eyes.  All were loved by the camera in a way few performers are.  All have their images still used today in advertising, promotions, books and magazines.

Discussion ranged far and wide over the meal tables as delegates tossed around various other ideas.  Prominent eyelids said one.  Fairly blank faces onto which you can project ideas said another.  Were actresses with very strong characters like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford icons in the same way or was their stardom different?  Was it possible for any modern actress to achieve that status or would the press pull them down first?  Did models turned actresses like Jessica Lang and Mila Jovovich stand more chance of attaining that status?

Peter Cargin presented the films and a number of clips with a disarming modesty which belied his immense knowledge of cinema.  He could not, however, disguise his love of the medium - nor did he try.  His obvious enthusiasm brightened the weekend.  The hotel was packed - it was a full house for the sessions.  There were some technical problems, which is hardly surprising given aging projectors and old 16mm prints but the North West Group seemed to be able to conjure up a never-ending supply of projectors so as soon as one went wrong it was replaced.

Despite a very full programme delegates were given part of Saturday afternoon off to explore the attractive shops of Lytham or to walk the downs in a blustery but refreshing breeze.  It was another great weekend in good company and you should have been there!

- Dave Watterson