Rother:No Angels

American actresses faced numerous restrictions in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. Nevertheless, the comedic works of Mae West, Rosalind Russell, and Carole Lombard demonstrate how they each employed different strategies to transcend these boundaries and leave stereotypes behind. As the 'female leading comedians' of their time, Mae West (1893-1980), Rosalind Russell (1907-1976), and Carole Lombard (1908-1942) continue to reach their audiences in uniquely individual ways: Mae West plays with female stereotypes, subverting established gender roles with double entendres and suggestive language. Rosalind Russell captivates in her roles as a confident career woman with quick wit, while also surprising with slapstick comedy. Carole Lombard impresses with subtle elegance, sometimes portraying a pampered heiress and other times an ambitious actress eager to conquer the stage or screen. Rainer Rother presents these stars, who are at the center of the Berlinale Retrospective 2021, in a comprehensive essay. It becomes clear that comedies utilize clichés, play with them, and also break them. In the performances of West, Russell, and Lombard, the 'golden age' of Hollywood finds its equally bold and graceful commentary.