Howard Hawks as Auteur (Lecture)
From Screenpedia
Howard Hawks 1896-1977
Largely considered one of the first auteur directors. Worked within the studio system in Hollywood but still was able to put an individual mark on his works.
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His films are often divided into two groups:
- Adventure, crime, Westerns
- Comedies, musicals
The themes that are present in the first group are also present in the second, except they are often the complete inverse.
Characteristics of Group 1: Adventure, crime, Westerns
Theme
Self-respect and self-definition
Self respect the one's belief in one's abilities to be "good enough" Self definition is to know one's identity, often based around one's abilities
Male group
Features male bonding based on recognition of abilities. Testing one's skills and abilities, usually in a dangerous profession. Usually based on an intuitive code, a set of rules about being a "man". The group is usually outside of society. Male bonding based on recognition of abilities, of each other as being "good"
Opposition of the primitive and the civilized Or, the irrational (chaos) and the rational
Rational characters are often in conflict with irrational characters or situations. Rational forces typically triump over the irrational.
Narrative structure
The Hawksian man
Often played by Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Gary Cooper
Loner, drawn into a group outside society
Cynical, world weary
"Good" at his profession
The male group
Group of outsiders, of loners. Typically united by a common profession. Constantly testing one another's skills.
Common narrative structure:
A man outside the group (in disgraced), must prove himself to re-enter the group. He must become, in effect, "good" again.
Involved in a major quest, or journey, or project.
Some common goal that unites them outside of society.
The Hawksian woman
Lauren Bacall, Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn
Independent
Strong character, equal to the man
Certain stereotypical "masculine" characteristics
Often overpower the men, make them uncomfortable.
The woman must typically learn the code of the men, and while not necessarily
"become" one of them, she learns to operate amongst them as an equal.
Visual/sound style
Defines Hollywood classicism.
“Invisible” style.
Characteristics of Group 2: Comedies/musicals
Invert the adventure/Westerns
Self-definition
Confusion of identity
E.g., I Was A Male War Bride features Cary Grant in drag.
Male group is disrupted by a woman, who represents the chaotic and irrational.
E.g., Sugarpuss O'Shea amongst the Professors.
Opposition of the primitive and the civilized
The primitive/irrational triumphs
E.g., In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes the two women are the ones who triumph over their fussy male counterparts.
