Molly Haskell

Molly Haskell is an American feminist film critic and author who has written extensively about gender roles in cinema since the 1970s. Her influential work "From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in the Movies" (1974) established her as a leading voice in feminist film criticism. As a critic for publications including The Village Voice and New York Magazine, Haskell analyzed how Hollywood's portrayal of women evolved throughout film history. Her writing style combines scholarly analysis with accessible cultural commentary, examining both mainstream and art house cinema through a feminist lens. Beyond film criticism, Haskell has written personal works including "Love and Other Infectious Diseases" (1990), a memoir about her husband's illness, and "My Brother My Sister: Story of a Transformation" (2013), which explores her sibling's gender transition. She continues to contribute to film discourse through essays, reviews, and speaking engagements at universities and cultural institutions. Haskell's work has been particularly noted for challenging simplistic views of classic Hollywood films, arguing that many films of the 1930s and 1940s featured complex female characters who were later replaced by more restrictive portrayals in the 1950s and 1960s. Her analysis has influenced generations of film critics and feminist scholars.

Readers appreciate Haskell's detailed analysis of women's roles in cinema and her ability to blend academic insights with clear writing. Reviews note her skill at examining films in their historical context while connecting them to broader social issues. What readers liked: - Clear, engaging writing style that avoids academic jargon - Personal perspective combined with cultural analysis - Deep knowledge of film history and feminist theory - Thorough research and specific film examples What readers disliked: - Some find her tone too academic for casual reading - Occasional repetition of key points - Limited coverage of non-Western cinema - Focus primarily on mainstream Hollywood films Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "From Reverence to Rape" - 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) - "My Brother My Sister" - 3.7/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: - "From Reverence to Rape" - 4.3/5 (50+ reviews) - "Love and Other Infectious Diseases" - 4.0/5 (30+ reviews) One reader noted: "Haskell brings depth to film criticism without losing accessibility - she makes complex feminist theory understandable."

From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in the Movies (1974) A comprehensive examination of how women have been portrayed in cinema from the silent era through the 1970s, analyzing the evolution of female representation in Hollywood.

Love and Other Infectious Diseases: A Memoir (1990) A personal account chronicling her husband Andrew Sarris's life-threatening illness and their journey through the medical system.

Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited (2009) An analysis of Gone with the Wind's cultural impact, production history, and enduring influence on American cinema.

My Brother My Sister: Story of a Transformation (2013) A memoir documenting her brother's gender transition and its impact on their family relationships.

Steven Spielberg: A Life in Films (2017) A critical biography examining Spielberg's career, artistic evolution, and impact on American cinema.

In Her Own Time: Mabel Normand and the Female Creators of Silent Comedy (2022) A study of silent film star Mabel Normand and other pioneering women in early cinema comedy.

Pauline Kael wrote incisive film criticism for The New Yorker from 1968 to 1991, developing a distinctive voice that challenged mainstream opinions. Her collected works like "I Lost It at the Movies" combine cultural analysis with personal perspective, similar to Haskell's approach to examining cinema.

bell hooks analyzes media and popular culture through an intersectional feminist lens in works like "Reel to Real: Race, Sex, and Class at the Movies." Her writing examines how race and gender intersect in film representation, expanding on themes Haskell explored in her criticism.

Laura Mulvey pioneered feminist film theory with works like "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," which introduced the concept of the male gaze. Her theoretical framework provides tools for analyzing gender in cinema that complement Haskell's historical analysis.

Vivian Gornick writes memoirs and criticism that blend personal experience with cultural analysis, including "Fierce Attachments" and "The Situation and the Story." Her work shares Haskell's ability to connect personal narrative with broader social commentary.

B. Ruby Rich developed the concept of New Queer Cinema and writes about gender and sexuality in film through works like "Chick Flicks: Theories and Memories of the Feminist Film Movement." Her writing continues the tradition of feminist film criticism that Haskell helped establish.