Hildy Johnson is a confident career woman who can compete with men (and defeat them) in the dog-eat-dog world of journalism. She is even willing to divorce her man if he doesn't treat her right. Yet, at the same time, she seeks the domestic joys of children and caring for her man -- and in the end returns to the rascal whom she left in the first place. What is the role of women in this film? Does it tell us anything about "modern" women in 1940's America?
His Girl Friday demonstrates several feminist ideals that illustrate the progressive role of women as a rapidly changing part of society. Hildy Johnson, the film's protagonist, is consistently portrayed as an elite journalist whose talents can outduel even her brightest male counterparts. She manages to not only write the best feature on the death row inmate, but also capture him while the other journalists wander around aimlessly. The film suggests that women in the 1940's were beginning to engrain themselves in the growing consumerism of America and discovering new roles that challenged their skills. Even though Hildy ultimately ends up back in the arms of her ex-husband, it seems as though that's what she might have wanted the whole time. As she cries at the end of the film, she reveals that she was worried Walter didn't really care that she was getting engaged to another man. While some people might argue that Walter manipulated Hildy into running away with him, a contrasting viewpoint hints that Hildy's engagement was actually just a ploy to regain Walter's interest in her. His Girl Friday is a microcosm of the rapidly expanding role of women in 1940's America as well as a snapshot of the incessant underestimation of women's abilities to succeed.
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ReplyDeleteThe film His Girl Friday uses a strong female lead character to help articulate the idea that women should have a more central role in society. The main character Hildy portrays a confident and independent woman in the journalism business. Not only were career women not very common during the 1940s, journalism was a male dominated job. Including Hildy’s character in the movie is a potent feminist symbol, and which makes the argument that women should have a role that is equal to men in society. Although Hildy wanted to settle down and seek the domestic life that most women had, her change of heart at the end of the film signifies that for some women there is more to life than domestic bliss. Hildy decides to remain a working woman because she realizes the power and talent she holds as a journalist. She is able to improve the lives of others lives through her stories, such as when she proved the innocence of Williams and uncovered the corrupt situation with the Mayor and the Sherriff. The power she holds in her job demonstrates that women do not need to settle down and raise a family in order to be happy and successful. This film shows us how “modern” women in 1940s America begin to have a greater influence, and slowly became the norm. Hildy does not simply have a side job at the journalism firm-- she was one of the top writers who was respected by all of her male coworkers. Ultimately, a dominant female character in a male dominated workplace shows how women can achieve professional success outside the domestic environment.
ReplyDeleteUpon looking up the meaning behind the title, I found “his girl Friday'' is a reference to “his man Friday'' from Dufoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Robinson Crusoe, in his isolation and need for human connection, both befriends and enslaves a man who is native to the island, or “Man Friday”. Similar to the relation between Walter and Hildy, they rely on each other’s relationship and yet the difference of race, or in the film, gender, sets the dynamic of the friendship inherently unequal. The allusion is clear from their first scene together; Walter belittles Hildy with his frequent shoulder grabbing, Hildy accuses Walter of treating her as an “errand boy” rather than a partner, and yet they clearly still like each other. This is not to say Hildy’s infatuation inhibits her as a strong female character. She puts up an equal fight in all their banter, and does not let him get in the way of her journalism. She is witty, thinks rationally even under a gunpoint, and attacks every situation with confidence. This puts the film ahead of its time in regard to the role of women in film and more broady in the workplace. She ultimately ditches the idea she needs a domestic life, choosing her work over the maternal role she never really wanted. However, this point is not made especially clear as the decision is made easy for her. Slow, dull Bruce who will take her to live in Albany with his mother, or Cary Grant. Still, romantic drama in the film is probably more to draw an audience, and the significance in her choice of work over domestic life is intentional.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Hildy's decision to reunite with Walter at the end of His Girl Friday may be polarizing in the context of a feminist film, it also is extremely progressive through its subtle commentary on romantic relationships. Throughout His Girl Friday, Hildy Johnson is portrayed as a hardworking, independent, and successful female journalist with an extremely powerful and somewhat masculine personality. She surrounds herself with mostly men throughout the film, and is seen by many of her colleges (including Walter) as the most successful journalist in their newspaper. Similarly, Walter Burns also exhibits a strong and masculine personality, and uses manipulation and masculine flirtation throughout the film to achieve his goal of reuniting with Hildy. Interestingly, following a divorce with Walter, Hildy falls in love with Bruce Baldwin, an insurance salesman with a shy and laid back personality. Throughout the film, Bruce, contrary to Hildy, acts nervous (and even somewhat wimpy) in the face of conflict. Whereas Hildy is not afraid to place herself in harmful situations in order to write an amazing newspaper for her story, Bruce resorts to nervousness when faced with conflict, and relies almost entirely upon Hildy to break him out of jail when he is arrested. Bruce's actions are more akin to those exhibited by a "damsel in distress" as opposed to Walter, who is manipulative, strong, and masculine.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, when Hildy chooses to be with the masculine and manipulative Walter at the end of the film as opposed to Bruce, it suggests that Hildy (despite her powerful and somewhat masculine personality) ultimately retreats to her "feminine nature" by wanting to be with a masculine man. Although this may be the case, perhaps Hildy's desire to be with someone who is strong, manipulative, and masculine (like Walter) is rather just her wanting to be an equal in a relationship, as opposed to the driving force. Likewise, instead of seeking a "damsel in distress" as his soulmate, Walter seeks someone who is strong, powerful, successful, independent, and ultimately, like him. Through its commentary on equality in relationships, perhaps His Girl Friday makes the argument that strong "modern" women in the 1940's do not just seek equality and recognition in the workplace, but also in their relationships, and everyday lives.
David
In the 1940s film, His Girl Friday, one of the main characters, Hildy Johnson, is a strong, confident, independent woman. She is a noted journalist in the film, often more recognized than the men she is working alongside. The theme of femininity is apparent throughout this film in the numerous occasions of equality between the sexes being challenged. Specifically looking at the actions of Hildy, she’s seen and approached as if she were one of the men she was working with. Her male colleagues treat her as a man due to her stereotypical “masculine” personality. Per example, early in the film, her colleagues invite her to a game reserved for men only. She is excited by the occasion until they explain that she is not intelligent enough to participate. It is clear that she is upset by this. His Girl Friday exemplifies a woman that is likeable by men and determined in achieving her goals. Hildy is able to take up “masculine” roles while still embracing her femininity. Later in the film, we see Walter take Bruce’s family to dinner. Walter uses Hildy’s match to light a cigarette, which he never ends up offering to Bruce. This scene is an example of men trying to look more masculine in the presence of females and other men. In this case, it almost seems that Hildy is someone that Walter and Bruce competed for to impress. Although it seems that Hildy has a desirable and confident relationship with men in the film, they seem to continuously seek her attention. This desire is due to Hildy’s confident personality and successful career.
ReplyDeleteIn the film His Girl Friday, protagonist Hildy Johnson embodies the progression of the 1940's modern feminist and their challenges. Hildy is an intelligent, independent, strong, working woman. She is a leading journalist in a field dominated men, portraying Hildy as an equal and challenging gender stereotypes. She is admired for her skill and brain, rather than her looks. Throughout the film her fellow journalists often comment on her writings, and her talent. In the workplace Hildy is ruthless and confident, often putting her career above all. One of the first scenes the viewer sees Hildy in is her giving Walter her resignation to live the domestic life with her new fiancé Bruce. As she is on her way out, she decides to chase one last story. From here we see Hildy battle with her dreams of domestic life and her love for work. It is clear that Hildy must chose between the two lifestyles, thus Highlighting the sacrifices woman made for progression and change.
ReplyDeleteThrough Hildy's relationship's with Bruce and Walter we see the clash between the 1940's woman and societal standards/norms. Bruce embodies the domestic lifestyle; traditional and dull. Walter represents a new working lifestyle; fast and unpredictable. When Walter, Bruce and Hildy all grab lunch together Hildy often speaks over/for Bruce. He is not able to keep up with the quick conversations and is often dismissed. In the relationship Hildy is the dominant, often coming to Bruces rescue (bailing him out of jail). Aside from a mutual dream of family life, Bruce and Hildy have little in common. Opposed to Walter, who seems to be Hildy's equal in all ways. Although Bruce seems to be the better man, Hildy chooses her ex- Walter in the end. By choosing Walter, Hildy highlights the shift of gender rolls. At a time, living the traditional lifestyle with stereotypical gender normalities was optimal and secure. But as society progresses and gender rolls are challenged, that lifestyle is no longer wanted.
In the film His Girl Friday, female lead Hildy Johnson is a good representation of a character ahead of her time in terms of progression in women’s rights. She dominates her field of work, takes control of the room she is in, and demands the attention of both her colleagues and peers. Several times throughout the film, Hildy challenges the typical power differential between genders, as she responds to Walter with snappy remarks and unapologetically commands her journalism team. Her team reveres her work so much that in one scene we see several men gathered around her typewriter, commenting on how she is the best of the best. Though this may not seem particularly progressive today, putting this film into perspective of gender stereotypes in the 1940s is important to properly analyze the message of this film. In the 1940s, society held onto gender norms to maintain a social order that expected women to be subservient and passive in comparison to men. As we see in His Girl Friday, Hildy’s commanding and dominant persona directly challenges what one could expect to see of women of her time. Though an argument can be made that she exhibits weakness when she continuously falls under the manipulation of Walter, it is important to instead focus on the more predominant aspects of her character rather than her relations with a man. The choice to make Hildy return to Walter at the end was most likely to give the film a sense of closure rather than to undermine the feminist ideals throughout.
ReplyDeleteHildy Johnson in “His Girl Friday” is one of the most unpredictable characters who knows what she wants even if it takes a few mistakes to be sure. Hildy shows dominance in her workplace mostly occupied of men, making lots of people, men, uncomfortable with this idea. Although Hildy sometimes gets confused with what she wants, specifically when it comes to choosing her significant other, she still pursues her dominance and gets what she wants in the moment. Hildy most importantly brings up the over looked issue women face, and that is choice. Hildy is dominant in the workplace and with her lovers, but also says that she wants to live a simple life with joyful kids. Some may find this contradicting and that it does not add up, but it does not have to add up, and it is Hildy’s choice to make. With making choices and lifestyles others may not agree with, Hildy held her head high, knowing that people would judge her even if it was not any of their business. Hildy was trying to inspire women around her to be more confident in themselves, and do what they want to do. Hildy even helped out the lady whose partner was in prison, and gave her some advice and assurance even though she seemed quite annoyed. Changing the narrative and sterotypes for women during that time is an extreme task. The character of Hildy, especially in one of the first scripted films, was a major step and look into what powerful women are like.
ReplyDeleteHildy Johnson, female lead in His Girl Friday, demonstrates qualities of independence and dominance in the workplace that were irregular for the 1940’s, which shows that an occupational life instead of a domestic life was attainable for powerful and driven women during this time period. While Hildy expressed that she wanted a domestic life, she was willing to go to any lengths to write a successful story that proves her dedication to her job. For example, Hildy hid and held hostage the criminal who supposedly committed murder and escaped from prison in order to achieve the most accurate newspaper story. By resorting to extreme situations in order to complete her job to the best of her abilities, Hildy represents that perseverance and determination that allowed women a spotlight in a time centered around men. Hidly also proves that “modern” women of this time may be tempted by domestic life but will continue to keep their job at the forefront of their life. For the duration of the movie while Hildy speaks of wanting to spend her life with Bruce, having kids, and doing domestic work, this vision never becomes a reality. Ultimately, Hildy ends up with Walter and plans to continue to work in the newspaper business. This shows that women who are considered “modern” in the 1940’s may be tempted by domestic life, but occupation life will always be a part of their life. Women who are extremely dedicated and excel at their job are unable to walk away from the success and respect they earn at their job and will continue to choose their occupation over a domestic life.
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