Military Women in World Cinema: A 20th Century History and Filmography

From British soldier Flora Sandes to the famed World War II Night Witches of the Soviet Air Force, women across the globe have stepped up to defend their countries during every major and minor conflict of the twentieth century, and filmmakers have long attempted to capture their stories. This book analyzes these military women’s portrayals in world cinema, examining movies from Israel, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, Japan and others. It includes theatrical releases, direct-to-video productions, and made-for-television films. Chapters organize films by decade produced, and topics covered include the women’s sexuality, maternal and marital status; leadership skills; actual jobs performed; and the accuracy of depiction. The book also discusses how each film reflects the contemporary social issues of the nation in which it was produced.

Deborah A. Deacon is an art historian and retired U.S. Navy commander who resides in Arizona. She has published numerous articles and books on women artists and war, depictions of military women in film and comics, and Japanese anime and manga. Stacy Fowler is a technical services librarian and tenured professor at St. Mary’s University Law Library in San Antonio. Her scholarly interests include laws pertaining to women in the military and gender inequity in any form.