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This Was a Woman

Name: This Was a Woman
Director: Tim Whelan
Released: 1948
Duration: 102 min

Representation Score

2.2/10

Limited

1948

Approved

Director

Tim Whelan

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This film stands out for its subversion of mid-century gender roles. By focusing on a woman who actively manipulates her environment and undermines her husband, the narrative challenges the era's expectation of passive women and dominant men. However, the film remains limited by the era's production standards. It operates within a homogeneous social framework without any meaningful representation of racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, or disability issues. Ultimately, the film explores individual character corruption within a very narrow, traditional social framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does This Was a Woman have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The conflicts revolve around traditional marriage and family structures.

How does This Was a Woman portray gender?

Good

Sylvia Russell challenges traditional gender roles by playing a dominant role in her family. She manipulates her environment and directs her children's lives, undermining her husband's authority.

How racially and ethnically diverse is This Was a Woman?

Minimal

The cast primarily features white actors representing an upper-class social circle. There is no indication of racial diversity or varied cultural backgrounds.

How does This Was a Woman represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story examines the collapse of the traditional family unit due to moral corruption within the context of 1948 social norms. It does not critique these norms.

Does This Was a Woman include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters with visible or invisible disabilities. It does not use neurodivergent representation or disability as part of the narrative.

Present on Screen

Highlights a woman's significant psychological influence and power within her family.
Challenges the stereotype of the competent male leader by showing a bumbling husband.

Limited or Absent

Does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships.
Does not represent racial or ethnic diversity, focusing on a homogeneous white upper class.
Does not depict characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The woman here is Sylvia Russell: power mad with set goals. In order to achieve those goals she is sadistically devoted to her son and daughter, able to possess and direct them. She subtly ruins her daughter's marriage by corrupting a servant girl and, then, uses her to compromise her son-in-law; slowly breaks her bumbling, unambitious husband's confidence...

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