Josie Andrews 412 Midterm Projects Main Menu Introduction The Ideological Function of Stars: Contradictions and Promises of Individualism. Prompt Analysis Little Women (George Cukor 1933) Tomboyism: Negotiating and Celebrating a Strong, Sprited Woman in the Great Depression Sylvia Scarlett (George Cukor, 1936) "Woman of the Year" (George Stevens, 1942) Conclusion Bibliography CATCH ME IF YOU CAN The Contradictions and Promises of Individualism in the Films of Katharine Hepburn 1933-1942

I'll be a Boy

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In this film, Sylvia wants to accompany her father,. But, because of a female's susceptibility to rape, the only way to safely do this is to become a boy. As Hepburn wells with tears, she assures her father that she doesn't mind. Calling girls "silly," she begins to slash her hair. Like Jo in "Little Women," she insists she wants to be a rough and hard boy, who doesn't care for anything.
This gender reversal is not just for play acting (as in "Little Women") but borders on socially taboo cross-dressing. In the 1930s, presumably this would not have resonated well with the audience. In fact, despite limited critical success, the film was a box office flop.

Contents of this annotation:

  1. Sylvia Scarlett Haircut Clip