How female action stars have wowed through the ages

There has long been a misconception that action movies are masculine. But women’s strength and agility have been showcased on the big screen since the silent era.

When you think of action movies, your default reaction is probably to think about men. Sly Stallone’s bulging musculature in Cobra (1986) or arnold schwarzenegger One might think of a vaguely goofy but endlessly funny movie like Commando (1985). So could Bruce Lee’s ballet-like graceful fight choreography or Jason Statham’s monstrous ferocity. Similarly, the behind-the-scenes role of a stuntman has been associated with masculinity in the public imagination, despite being sought after by stars of all genders. Think Yakima, the multi-million budget Aston Martin wrecked on the set of James Bond, the legendary Western stuntman. Games like Canut, where you clamber under a fast-moving horse-drawn stagecoach, and testosterone-filled shooters. john wickdirected by former stuntman Chad Stahelski.

But this is far from the whole story. British Film Institute’s current blockbuster movie season art of actiona celebration of the history of action movies from the beginning, where you can catch any number of tough guys doing roundhouse kicks. However, season curator Timon Singh told the BBC: “I think there’s a misconception that ‘action movies’ are primarily for men, but female action stars and stunt performers have been around since the beginning of cinema.” And Art of Action sets out to prove that. I tried.

It features iconic Hollywood action roles like Carrie-Anne Moss. The Matrix (1999) or Uma Thurman’s Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2 (2003-4). But some heroines have done their own stunts, like 1970s blaxploitation star Pam Grier, who has a black belt in karate. Or Michelle Yeoh, a Malaysian beauty queen whose background is in dance rather than martial arts. Her work in Hong Kong’s action films of the 1980s and 1990s would help redress the male-dominated nature of that film scene.

If you scratch at the macho mythology of the action genre, you’ll quickly realize that action heroines, stunt queens, and female martial artists have been present throughout the history of film, both behind and in front of the camera. . As Georgia Munro, she is a professional parkour athlete and stuntwoman in films such as Jurassic World and Jurassic World. wonder woman 1984“For a long time we were able to set the perimeter ourselves, take attacks, and help lift and set up equipment.”

The modern role of the tough girl action hero also owes a debt to the emergence of strong female characters decades ago. Think of a character like Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, who has physical strength and abilities. Alien (1979) and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). These characters proved that women could embody both resilience and complexity, and set the stage for the female action stars of the 21st century. Today, the audacity of superheroes like Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Zoe Saldana in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, and the athleticism and grace of stunwomen like Zoe Bell, We owe a lot to these pioneers.

But, as Munro points out, there are still double standards that come with being a stuntwoman or an action queen. “Regardless of our level of experience, we always have to prove ourselves. We have to make things right the first time to save face and show that we deserve the position. We feel the pressure to not do it, and if that doesn’t work out, we feel like the ‘judgment is much tougher on us,”’ she says.

The landmark film of the Art of Action season was Yes Madam (1985). The film stars young up-and-comer Michelle Yeoh alongside fellow tough-girl action star Cynthia Rothrock as the partner of a cop chasing a thief. Rothrock, an American world champion martial artist, found his path to stardom more in popular movies there than in his home country, and ended up spending several years making films there. Rothrock broke barriers as one of the first American women to achieve stardom in the martial arts film industry, and her ability to perform complex fight scenes with grace and power challenged stereotypes and reinvented the role of women in action films. Defined. In addition to his film work, Rothrock is also an advocate of martial arts education and has taught and inspired many aspiring martial artists around the world. Her dedication to her craft and contributions to the genre have earned her a loyal fan base.

Meanwhile, the appearance of Yoh Everywhere, Everything at Once (2022) The film, which combines high-kicking action and comedy with a touching family drama, earned her a long-awaited Academy Award. But she has always been a notable screen performer, specializing as a martial artist in her early Hong Kong films, including the surreal supernatural film The Trio of Heroes and a surprising role alongside Jackie Chan in Police Story 3. This proves that there is no need for formal training. To become an evil action queen. In doing many of his own stunts over the years, Yeoh has had to overcome some of the same bad injuries as the unknown stuntman. “The stunt that had the worst impact” [for me] She appeared in “Stunt Woman” (1996). “I played a stuntman and I landed completely wrong and ended up nosediving into the landing area,” she said. 2019 interview. “When I folded over, I could hear my back snapping. That injury took the longest to recover, both mentally and physically.”

“Michelle Yeoh’s starring role in the Bond film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ (1998), followed by ‘Crouching Tiger’ and ‘Hidden Dragon’ (2000), earned Michelle Yeoh great international acclaim.” Shin says. “But her early films like ‘Yes Madam!,’ ‘The Royal Warriors,’ and of course ‘Police Story 3: Supercop,'” It’s a great introduction to her back catalogue.” [Hollywood movies like] Crazy Rich Asians or everything from everywhere all at once.

“Asian films have had a huge impact on the global perception of female-led action. When you think of female action stars, the first thing that might come to mind is Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. , Meiko Kaji and Angela Mao in Lady Snowblood (1973). Lady Whirlwind (1972) was a clear inspiration for Tarantino’s revenge story. added Shin.

Several cinemas across the UK are currently showing the ‘Girls with Guns’ film (a female and firepower-driven film that is said to have started with Yes Madam), including a cinema in Nottingham, as part of the Art of Action season. The subgenre of Hong Kong action movies) is shown. broadway cinema and of bristol Basin. The latter show is curated by action filmmaker Nida Manzoor herself, director of last year’s critically acclaimed action-comedy-kung-fu hybrid Polite Society. Her cleverly titled “Girls Just Wanna Have Guns” film series will be playing on Watershed screens throughout November.

As for Manzoor herself, she represents the next generation of filmmakers inspired by the courage and athleticism of those who came before them. After all, Polite Society is about a girl who wants to be a stuntwoman when she grows up, and admires 1980s British gladiator star Eunice Hassert. Hassert became a close friend of Angelina Jolie and became one of Britain’s greatest stunt coordinators, overseeing many of the stunts for major Marvel films. In Polite Society, her voice appears as an encouraging force for the heroine, showing how important the legacy of the past is to the stuntwomen and action queens of tomorrow.

A casual observer might think that action queens are a relatively recent phenomenon, or at least a postfeminist phenomenon. And even if women were flawed in their expressions of strength, agility, or power, it is true that they were certainly overabundant in certain eras. For example, the girl power action girls of the ’90s and early ’00s were capable of kicking ass and captivating the male gaze at the same time. For example, Milla Jovovich from the movie Resident Evil and Jolie who played Lara Croft. But, as Timon Singh points out, the brave and courageous women who led blockbuster action and thriller films were “like Helen Gibson, Mary Fuller, or the stars of the hit soap opera The Perils; “Pearl White” is neither new nor something that has appeared in the last few decades. Pauline’s. ”

In the 1910s, “serial” films, episodic short films similar to television series shown in movie theaters, were all the rage. The most famous of these was Pauline’s Peril (1914), starring Pearl White, who was described as a “unparalleled, fearless girl” who was known for her deadly stunts. It included stunts such as high-speed chases and jumping off cliffs. It proved that she had as much grit as the men of her time. Silent-era stuntmen weren’t known for skimping on health and safety. However, while the silent male comedian is bold, buster keaton (a nickname derived from her ability to absorb slapstick injuries) is often celebrated by stuntmen today, and few discuss the women who pioneered early cinema. Pearl White joins the ranks of equally daring so-called “cereal queens” such as Helen Gibson. In Gibson’s 119th story, Helen’s Danger (1914-1917), she is trapped inside a real-life train car and faces discrimination. The men around her have real feminist archetypes.

Back when women were still fighting for the right to vote, there were daredevil female performers willing to risk life and limb for our thrills. They also faced expected norms of “feminine” behavior and didn’t want to stand by when they might be at the wheel of a speeding car or falling from a height. So it’s worth celebrating. They proved the strength and resilience of women in a business where beauty typically mattered above all else.

As Munro points out, even today, she “sometimes has to perform stunts in clothes that aren’t necessarily realistic or don’t have the possibility of wearing protective padding underneath. Here, superheroes or A brutal assassin is shown wearing high-heel clothing that barely covers his body, she says. “Sexiness can take precedence over necessity.” However, she is excited about the future, noting: Queen (2022) Recent films feature strong, capable women of color prominently and utilize their athletic abilities in surprising ways. Championing these female action stars on screen and highlighting the lineage to which they belong is much-needed to correct the idea that action movies are a masculine domain. A look at Cynthia Rothrock’s roundhouse kick will definitely dispel that notion. Munro said: “It’s important to celebrate stuntwomen and action heroines because film and television form such an important part of shaping people’s perspectives. And it becomes a reality for other women and girls around the world.”

The Art of Action season will run from November to December 2024 at BFI Southbank and BFI Players across the UK.