BONUS! Random conversations

Randomness

Randomness (Photo credit: thesimplegood)

Here’s a snippet of a random conversation I had at a Cinco de Mayo bash/housewarming party last weekend. I shared this story with my husband (who was also at the party), and he suggested I share it on this blog, as well. So blame him — or go over to his blog and say hi. :)

So having gotten past the “what do you do?” start of a conversation with this random guy, we were transitioning into the “what do you do for fun?” section. I happened to mention that I love movies, and I have a blog about librarians in film.

His reaction? A micro-expression of confusion, and then, “That’s…”

[I was mentally filling in/hoping for words like interesting or cool or hey, even weird. That's a compliment in Portland.]

“… selfish.”

My reaction? Most likely a micro-expression of confusion, and then, “So what? Who better to look at portrayals of librarians than an actual librarian?”

“Huh. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Damn straight!

We never got to the “what’s your name?” part of the conversation, but whatever. Thanks, random guy, for contributing to this blog. And for reaffirming my love for this blog. Bless.

Related articles

Advertising the reel librarian

There are a fair number of films featuring leading roles for reel librarians, but how are they depicted in the movie posters for those films? Are the words librarian or library even mentioned on the posters? Intrigued, I took a look at movie posters for movies in the Class I category, films in which the protagonist or other major characters are librarians. It wasn’t until after the first draft of this post that I realized I had chosen at least one film from each decade, spanning the 1930s through the 1990s. So meta.

So let’s take a peek at advertising the reel librarian through the decades, shall we? :)

Notes: I’ve arranged the following in order of the U.S. release dates. Also, click the poster thumbnails to view larger images of the posters, almost all of which are available through Amazon.com.

Forbidden (1932)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline:  Her greatest dramatic role!

This illustrated movie poster highlights star Barbara Stanwyck and her glamorous look seen later in the film, NOT the “old lady four eyes” side depicted in the first part of the film. This was quite early in her movie career, so it’s interesting that the studio was already heavily promoting her as a major star. Stanwyck had gained notice the year before, in the 1931 Night Nurse (saving two children from Clark Gable in a rare villainous turn!), but she was still a year away from Baby Face (1933) and five years away from her first Oscar nomination in 1937, for Stella Dallas.

No Man of Her Own (1932)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

No taglines necessary; the title says it all, right? (Sigh.)

Clark Gable gets some adoring looks, along with the prominent name-above-the-title attention on these posters. No hint that the glamorous Carole Lombard depicted in these ads plays a librarian. The real-life romance between Gable and Lombard didn’t begin until four years after this film — which, incidentally, tells you a lot about this film.

Adventure (1945)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click the poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline:  Gable’s back and Garson’s got him!

This poster seems to visually echo the 1939 instant classic Gone With the Wind (click here to view a sample). This make sense, especially considering that both films starred Clark Gable and were directed by Victor Fleming. And Gone With the Wind was a massive hit. This movie? Not so much. The poster doesn’t reveal anything about the plot, which is quite similar to 1932′s No Man of Her Own (see above), Gable’s earlier foray into sweeping reel librarians off their sensible heels. The poster instead emphasizes its leading stars, Clark Gable and Greer Garson, and their so-called chemistry by featuring a kiss (which turns out kind of creepy-looking, no?). Unfortunately, the movie does not live up to its adventurous title.

Good News (1947)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline:  M-G-M’s Terrific Technicolor Musical!

I had seen the first movie poster before — the one with no slogan or tagline — but was intrigued by the second, longer poster. Both feature leggy females, but wow, the legs on that second poster! Despite the similar hair color of the leggy blonde, I strongly doubt it’s a depiction of star June Allyson, as she built a film career on her chirpy “good girl” persona. It looks like a pin-up exaggeration of a movie theater usherette, trumpeting the news of “M-G-M’s Terrific Technicolor Musical!” Both posters feature bright colors and the promise of romance, with nary a sight of the college library where the two co-stars meet. See this post to view the song they sing while closing up the library.

Storm Center (1956)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • Bette Davis hits the screen in a cyclone of dramatic fury!
  • In all the years, no picture has said this!

Those taglines say a whole lot of nothing, don’t they? And what was the “long-awaited event” highlighted in that fourth poster? Maybe the decades-long return of silent screen star Mary Pickford, who was originally set to play reel librarian Alicia Hull? Maybe that it took 5 years of delays and title changes (originally entitled The Library) and casting switches to get to the big screen? The storyline is one to make librarians stand up and cheer — standing up to censorship in a small town — but the end result? When even TV Guide describes the film as “dismal,” then you know you got a problem.

But the film looks pretty exciting from the movie posters, right?! It’s all abstract cyclones and burning buildings and face-eating flames, designed by legendary graphic artist Saul Bass (who also put together the very cool title credit sequence for this film, as well as for 1960′s Psycho). Except for that VERY weird poster (perhaps a lobby card?) on the top right, which highlights Bette Davis giving a kid… a lollipop. THUD. Like she’s some kind of smirking dentist instead of a librarian. I’m sure Saul Bass had nothing to do with that oddity.

Desk Set (1957)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn… make the office such a wonderful place to love in!
  • Meet the Desk Set… from 9 o’clock coffee to 5 o’clock cocktails — and, oh, those fabulous Christmas parties!

One of my favorite reel librarian movies ever… and NO mention of the library! True, the library in question is a TV company’s research library, not the first kind of library one thinks of. And there IS a fabulous Christmas party in this film (see this post for a clip). I quite like the title logo and silhouette of the couple kissing over a desk, which gets across the idea that it’s a romantic comedy — a departure from the play, as I outlined in a previous post comparing the play and film versions. This poster, as well as the accompanying lobby cards featured in a previous post, definitely play up the zany comedy angle, and highlight its successful stars. Hepburn and Tracy made 9 films together over 25 years, and this was their next-to-last pairing together.

Rome Adventure (1962)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • This was her European plan for learning about love.
  • She wanted to learn about love from a mature, suave Italian with a villa by the sea – until a young, handsome American came along and changed her European plan.

The original title for this film was Lovers Must Learn (read all about it, plus view the movie’s trailer, in a prior blog post here). I wonder how late in the game they changed the title to Rome Adventure, because the whole “learning” aspect is quite prominent in those taglines. Both posters push the romance angle, as well as equate adventure with moped rides. ;) You can also guess the basic plot — and arc of this Liberated Librarian‘s role — in that second poster. But let’s face it, reel librarian Prudence Bell isn’t the main attraction. Italy is!

Only Two Can Play (1962)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline: Two’s company… three’s a comedy!

This one hails from the UK, with Peter Sellers playing a very sexually frustrated librarian looking for a promotion in all the wrong places. And no, that is not a slam against Wales, the setting of the film. I do like the poster’s primary color scheme (the film is in black & white, so is the poster trying to over-compensate?) and cutesy graphics, which kind of remind me of a children’s book. But maybe that’s not the best thing for a pseudo-sex comedy. Hmmmm……

The Music Man (1962)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • We’ve got the man, we’ve got the music, we’ve got “The Music Man”
  • The story of that man and his 76 trombones, and the wonderful, wonderful tune he played on every heart in town!

1962 was a banner year for major reel librarian characters, no?

There are several posters and taglines for this hit musical, which was based on the 1957 hit play by Meredith Willson. This movie immortalized “Marian the Librarian” but the title character is Robert Preston’s Harold Hill, the con man who sweeps the town — and the reel librarian — off their collective feet. The posters play up the comedic, feel-good attitude of the film, and the taglines all focus on the central character, not the librarian.

You’re a Big Boy Now (1966)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • The odyssey of a young youth who wants no part of sex. He wants it all!
  • The motion picture that’s happening now!

Oh, those “young youths,” how they tease us! ;) I love the randomness of these movie poster images together. There are the bright colors, kooky graphics mixed in with screenshots, cheesy taglines, cross-eyed hearts. The posters are all so different, yet each also kind of captures the goofy charm of the film in its own way. The only poster that hints at the library setting is the international one, which Amazon.com tells me is the Polish version. That one, with all the hearts, is my favorite. Books = Love. ♥.

Foul Play (1978)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline:  A new comedy thriller from the creators of “Silver Streak.”

Another major reel librarian character (Goldie Hawn as Gloria Mundy) with no mention of that occupation on the poster. True, the plot moves quickly from the library and into the streets of San Francisco, but Gloria’s resourcefulness begins with kicking some butt with an umbrella while locking up the library. And no, that’s not a metaphor.

The poster highlights the chemistry between co-stars Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn, while the tagline focuses on the accomplishments of writer/director Colin Higgins, who had a hit two years earlier with the comedy-action flick Silver Streak. Higgins also had another cult classic on his filmography, Harold and Maude (1971), and would go on to write and direct the comedy hits Nine to Five (1980) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). Smart advertising strategy.

Off Beat (1986)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline: The real life adventures of a make-believe cop.

This movie involves a whole host of oddball reel librarians (star Judge Reinhold included), a case of mistaken identity, satiny cop costumes, a dancing cop routine, show tunes, and a bank heist in which well-timed choreography saves the day. Oh, and roller skates, as highlighted on this movie poster. The poster is the cleverest thing about the movie, and I’m actually glad there’s no hint of librarianship in it, except for the book bag he’s about to trip on.

The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag (1992)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Tagline:  She was a nobody, until someone found… The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag!”

Two very different styles of movie posters, with one equally offensive tagline. Although the posters don’t mention her occupation, Betty Lou is a children’s librarian, the “nobody” in the tagline. FAIL.

I actually saw this movie in the theaters, which gives you a clue to how old I am. It’s an odd movie, but I loved it way back when. Mostly because of cute co-star Eric Thal. I don’t recall seeing the first poster — definitely skewed more to adults — so I most likely responded positively to the second poster, which plays up the “screwball comedy” angle.

I also find it interesting that just through these two movie posters, you can see how well her character fits the Liberated Librarian type. First, she’s all about the long hair and timid, “Who, me?” expression, and in the second, it’s all “Look at me!” with the short dress, short hair, and irresponsible backseat driving.

Party Girl (1995)

Read more about the movie and basic plot by clicking here. Click each poster thumbnail to view a larger image in a new window.

Taglines:

  • There’s a new librarian in town!
  • The new queen of the art house

Finally, the word librarian makes it to a movie poster! One more reason to love this film. The posters both feature indie film star Parker Posey (hence, the “queen of the art house” tagline) atop a pile of books, having a fun time as the Party Girl in her chunky high heels and bright layers. So very mid-’90s. She IS the party girl. Ergo, party girl = librarian. These posters make me smile — and not just because I enjoy counting up all the different fonts on that second one. And how befitting are these ads for a movie that features a dance sequence all about learning the Dewey Decimal system? This is truth in advertising. ;)

Related articles

Defining ourselves: The whole kit and caboodle

Elton S. Karrmann Library at the University of...

A few years ago, when I worked at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Karrmann Library (see right), a transparency kit called “Defining Ourselves: Myths and Realities for Women in Libraries” got weeded from the collection. Fortunately, I then found the deselected kit in my box — my research interest into librarian portrayals and stereotypes being well-known to our library staff– and I happily found a home for it in my personal collection. :)

The kit was produced in 1980 by the Wisconsin Women Library Workers, written by Donna Barkman and graphics by Marge Loch-Wouters. I was a member of the WWLW during my time in Wisconsin, and you can view their current website here. The kit consists of 18 transparencies and 1 guide with a script and questions. The purpose? To be used in programming on sex roles and stereotyping of women in libraries.

In the slideshow below, I’ve included pics of the script, transparencies, discussion questions, and more.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I like taking this kit out every now and again. There’s the nostalgia factor, of course, with the fun drawings and heavy ’70s style influence (the guy in the pantsuit and turtleneck is my current fave). But the point is still relevant. Although the focus here is on women in the librarian profession, it’s still all about image and assumptions based on those images. Which of the drawings depicts a “typical” — or rather, “stereotypical” — librarian or library worker? Have times changed all that much?

Let me know what you think and please leave a comment below.

And for those of you who are librarians or library buffs, the kit’s call number was in the HQ’s, specifically HQ 1075, which is the Library of Congress sub-classification for “Sex role.” You can read more details about the “Defining Ourselves” kit in WorldCat here.

Related articles

That touch of mistaken identity

In the comedy That Touch of Mink (1962), a rich business man (Cary Grant) and a young woman (Doris Day) begin a relationship — but she wants marriage while he wants only an affair. In one hilarious scene, Grant and his friend (Gig Young) break into a motel room in order to find Day, but they end up interrupting a romantic tryst between a librarian and a would-be lover.

The reel librarian appearance does not connect significantly to the plot; it is played strictly for laughs. And for such a short scene, it packs in as many punchlines as possible, joining the Class III category of reel librarian films.

When I first was taking notes for this film, back in my undergrad days, I initially thought that John Fiedler was playing the librarian; Fiedler was a character actor best known for Juror #2 in Twelve Angry Men and as the voice of Piglet. (He also hails from Platteville, Wisconsin, where I used to live and work!) Here’s a screenshot of my original notes — I’ve crossed out several phrases relating to Fielder’s character, including meek. I’m pretty sure I was thinking along the lines of the “Male Librarian as a Failure” type here.

And here’s a close-up of John Fiedler as meek Mr. Smith:

But that’s what I get for assuming.

The librarian is actually the woman (played by Barbara Collentine, in an uncredited role) who has checked into this motel with the mild-mannered Mr. Smith. And she turns out to be a Comic Relief type, but again, it’s because the audience is laughing more at her rather than with her.

Toward the end of the film, a little over an hour and a half in, Philip Shayne (Grant) charges into the motel manager’s office, asking for a couple who registered from New York, a “blonde about so high.” The bewildered hotel manager answers in the affirmative, a Mr. and Mrs. Smith who are in the bridal suite. So in this first scene of mistaken identity (and remember, he’s thinking the blonde in the room is Cathy, the character played by Doris Day), Philip interrupts Mr. Smith uncorking a bottle of champagne. Ah, symbolism.

Mr. Smith:  What right have you got barging in here?

Philip:  Every right. At least I had the decency to take her to a hotel, not a rabbit hutch.

Mr. Smith:  She went to a hotel? With you?

Philip:  I think her hobby is collecting hotel keys. [knocks on bedroom door] Are you coming out? [barges into the bedroom]

Immediately realizing his mistake, Philip comes right back out and congratulates Mr. Smith on having “a great little girl there.”

Mr. Smith looks dumbstruck. As does the reel librarian, who comes out, clutching her robe (see below).

Mrs. Smith:  Who was that man?

Mr. Smith:  You librarians live it up pretty good!

You librarians live it up pretty good!

That punchline is so good it made one of my “Quotable Librarian” posts!

But we’re not done yet… In Round 2, Philip’s sidekick Roger (Young) enters stage left, seeking the “blonde about so high.” But before he barges in on the not-so-happy-anymore couple, we get to see this reel librarian shushing Mr. Smith while perching on his lap, as seen below. (And sorry folks, that’s NOT how we do reference at the library. ;) )

Mr. Smith: But what was I to think when –

Mrs. Smith:  You do believe I never cared for another man until you walked in the library?

Mr. Smith:  Of course.

Mrs. Smith:  I won’t be long.

Another kind of shushing for this reel librarian

Blowing him a kiss, she retires to the bedroom.

But poor Mr. Smith doesn’t get much time to look mighty pleased with himself, because then Roger stumbles in, throwing out another insult during the second case of mistaken identity (“You’re even more repulsive than she said. No wonder she begged me to come here with her!”).

The phone rings, and Mr. Smith has had enough. Let’s listen in one last time:

Hello? Mother? You were right about women. Yes, Mama, I’ll wait outside. Come and get me.

So we’ll never know the possible happy future that could have been for this reel librarian and her mama’s-boy beau.

I find it interesting that they kept the bun — which looks quite elaborately pinned and braided, no? — even while she’s dressed down in a robe. I’m sure the glasses were the first thing to come off. ;)

Your friendly local librarian

In The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005), a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie set during World War II, a beautiful young woman (Keri Russell) agrees to an arranged marriage with a lonely, good-hearted farmer (Skeet Ulrich) due to an unplanned pregnancy. The farmer’s not the father — they’d never met before the wedding — but he’s determined to do the best by her. This film is based on Ann Howard Creel’s novel of the same name.

The brief library scene happens early in the film. A little over 10 minutes in, as they’re settling in and getting to know each other, Livy (Russell) mentions to Ray (Ulrich) that she doesn’t know how to cook. She’s an intellectual from the city, obviously a fish out of water in this rural setting.

Livy: It [cooking] shouldn’t be that hard. I can get a book from the library.

… [long pause] …

Livy:  Is there a library?

Ray:  Oh yeah. In La Junta.

Livy:  That’s an hour away.

So a few minutes later, we see Ray driving her over to the La Junta, the nearest town. It’s pure Americana, with red brick buildings around a small town square. (Click here to visit the Woodruff Memorial Library, the current public library in La Junta, Colorado.) But Livy isn’t the one interested in checking out the library, after all — she’s too concerned with calling back home. Ray’s the one who mentions that he’ll be in the library, checking out some cookbooks for her.

'Getting Prepared for Baby' by Dr. James Graley

The next shot (see above) cuts to a close-up on two books:  Cooking is Easy by Otto Helmig, and Getting Prepared for Baby by Dr. James Graley.

Side note:  I wasn’t able to find any corresponding titles/authors in WorldCat, the largest online catalog of libraries worldwide. I wonder if they made up the titles and authors for this film. And yes, I also looked up the movie’s full cast and crew on IMDb.com, but didn’t find those names listed there, either.

You knew I was going to look all that up, right? ;)

So we go from the close-up of the books in Ray’s hands to the librarian’s hands. She looks up with a smile on her face, “Are you expecting a little one?” And after Ray confirms this, her response is a delighted, “Well, how wonderful!”

This friendly local librarian (Kira Bradley, see below) is quite young and attractive, with blonde hair pinned back in curls. Her dress (a grey, floral print dress and dark cardigan) and accessories (colorful stud earrings and beaded necklace) look conservative yet also fun and modern for the time period.

Hi, I'm your friendly local librarian

Because of this reel librarian’s warm and friendly demeanor, Ray feels confident enough to follow up with a question.

Ray:  Do you have any books on Heinrich Schliemann? [Note: Livy mentioned this name while talking about what she studied in graduate school]

Librarian [puzzled expression]:  Is that ‘sh’ or ‘sch’?

Ray:  Your guess is as good as mine. I think he was an archaeologist.

Librarian: Let me have a look.

The librarian is obviously able to find him some information on the subject. About 50 minutes into the TV movie, Ray brings up the subject at the dinner table in an effort to connect with Livy’s interests. Success! :)

During this very brief scene, which lasts less than a minute, we also get glimpses of wooden bookcases, shutters, red brick, desk lamps, and a flash of a card catalog on the main check-out counter. Despite the scene’s brevity, the bright lighting and setting of this library, combined with the warmth of this Information Provider, provide a very positive portrayal overall of librarians and libraries. This public library is a resource not only for its local population, but for its rural users, as well.