Heavy on the Testosterone

Over the weekend, I had occasion  to watch a classic film I had somehow never seen before.  The movie was the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia.  The movie won numerous awards, including 7 Academy awards, the most prominent of them being awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.  It is a LONG movie, running 216 minutes. 

While it was not particularly noticeable as I watched the movie, as I reflected back on the movie during the closing credits, I was struck by the fact that despite the movie's length, I could not recall seeing even one woman on the screen during the entire movie.  Certainly not anyone in a significant role, but not even a walk-on.  When I checked on-line resources, it turns out that there was a woman who played a nurse.  But her appearance on screen was so brief and unremarkable, I did not even remember seeing her. 

That prompted me to consider whether this was an anomoly or whether there were other prominent movies that were similarly male dominated if not exclusively male.  Turns out, some of my favorite movies from years gone by fall into that category. 

For other Academy award winning (or nominated) movies, consider Treaure of Sierra Madre (1948).  Two women made brief appearances as uncredited extras.  In The Caine Mutiny (1954) two women also had brief insignificant roles.  In Patton (1970) the only women to appear were uncredited walk-ons who were part of a women's group General Patton was speaking to.  Saving Private Ryan (1998) featured a few women on screen (most memorably the woman playing Ryan's wife in the scene years after the war where he visits his fallen comrades in the cemetary) but there are no significant female roles.  In Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957) no woman is credited, but there were a few native women assisting the men treking in to blow the bridge who had non-speaking roles. 

While not nominated for an Academy award, a favorite movie from my youth was The Great Escape (1963).  It too was entirely devoid of female credited, or speaking roles. 

What all of these movies have in common (save Treasure of the Sierra Madre) is a story set during war.  I am not asserting the fact that these popular movies lack female participation sheds any great light on Hollywood or its audience.  I just thought it might be interesting to consider my reflections on this theme of "macho" male movies.