A year after women in the United States gained the right to vote through the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, Hollywood finally portrayed their newfound confidence of independence in William deMille's November 1921 "Miss Lulu Bett."
Through decades of women's suffrage battles where women simply wanted the same rights as their male counterparts, the law giving women civil and political freedoms was passed in August 1920. "Miss Lulu Bett" serves as a microcosm of the suffrages battles. Most women were dependent on the male heads of the households. With the passing of the amendment millions of nominally disadvantaged females finally unshackled their metaphorical chains for freedom and independence with growing confidence.
DeMille's adapted Zona Gale's novel and her 1920 Pulitzer Prize play to reflect those changing times for women who sought newfound opportunities once denied them.
Lulu Betts, played by Lois Wilson, is the timid sister of the wife whose abusive husband uses her as a domestic servant to the household. Her outside job openings are non-existent in the small midwestern town she lives. When she discovers that the quickie marriage to a family friend is a polygamist, she returns to her sister's stifling home. A confrontation between her and her brother-in-law in a misunderstanding that quickly escalates to a life-changing decision, Lulu is bold enough to make a decision to take a path that normally wouldn't be open to her.
The older brother of Cecil B. DeMille, William was a successful film director in his own right. In the early 1900's, deMille, who changed his last name to the lower case "d" to fit into the theatre marques, was a Broadway playwright, including 'The Warrens of Virginia.' He followed his younger brother to Hollywood, directing his debut movie in 1914's 'The Only Son.' His specialty was adapting Broadway plays onto film.
William was a member in prominent Hollywood circles later in his life, co-hosting the first Academy Award ceremonies with Douglas Fairbanks in 1928 while being solo host to the awards the following year. He had also briefly served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Of all this films he directed, "Miss Lulu Bett" has been cited as his best movie and his most visible work for today's viewers.
Through decades of women's suffrage battles where women simply wanted the same rights as their male counterparts, the law giving women civil and political freedoms was passed in August 1920. "Miss Lulu Bett" serves as a microcosm of the suffrages battles. Most women were dependent on the male heads of the households. With the passing of the amendment millions of nominally disadvantaged females finally unshackled their metaphorical chains for freedom and independence with growing confidence.
DeMille's adapted Zona Gale's novel and her 1920 Pulitzer Prize play to reflect those changing times for women who sought newfound opportunities once denied them.
Lulu Betts, played by Lois Wilson, is the timid sister of the wife whose abusive husband uses her as a domestic servant to the household. Her outside job openings are non-existent in the small midwestern town she lives. When she discovers that the quickie marriage to a family friend is a polygamist, she returns to her sister's stifling home. A confrontation between her and her brother-in-law in a misunderstanding that quickly escalates to a life-changing decision, Lulu is bold enough to make a decision to take a path that normally wouldn't be open to her.
The older brother of Cecil B. DeMille, William was a successful film director in his own right. In the early 1900's, deMille, who changed his last name to the lower case "d" to fit into the theatre marques, was a Broadway playwright, including 'The Warrens of Virginia.' He followed his younger brother to Hollywood, directing his debut movie in 1914's 'The Only Son.' His specialty was adapting Broadway plays onto film.
William was a member in prominent Hollywood circles later in his life, co-hosting the first Academy Award ceremonies with Douglas Fairbanks in 1928 while being solo host to the awards the following year. He had also briefly served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Of all this films he directed, "Miss Lulu Bett" has been cited as his best movie and his most visible work for today's viewers.