Dorothy Arzner

Dorothy Arzner, a vibrant spirit, was immersed in a celebrity-filled childhood at her father’s restaurant. Trading medicine studies at USC for the film industry post-WWI, she leveraged the era’s openness for novices with potential, as recounted in Cinema.

Arzner, an aspirational film editor, boldly clinched a directorial role under threat of departure. A pioneering female sound film director, her career was distinguished not only by her professional achievements but also by a 40-year companionship with Marion Morgan, amidst rumors of liaisons with notable actresses.