Working Girls

Arzner’s favourite film had to battle with censors over its explicit treatment of pregnancy.

  • Director

    Dorothy Arzner

  • With

    Judith Wood, Dorothy Hall, Paul Lukas, Frances Dee

  • USA 1931. 77min

  • 35mm

  • A BFI National Archive print

This tale of two sisters finds naive Mae and streetwise June moving from Indiana to New York in pursuit of jobs and independence, only to discover the one-sided sexual politics of work and romance. Stylistically bold and innovative, with acute attention to the intersection of women’s working and romantic lives, Arzner’s influence is present in every frame. She later described this as her favourite film.

New 35mm print made with funding from the National Lottery.

Film on Film   National Lottery