Ruth Ann Baldwin

Ruth Ann Baldwin (September 1886 – unknown)^[1] was originally a journalist who became a silent film writer and director most active during the 1910s, one of the few women to direct in the early era of film-making. Baldwin mainly directed short films which tended to deal with controversial issues like for example Where are my Children? that deals with abortion and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle dealing with birth control issues.^[2] Being one of the first few female directors in America not much is known about her but the little work she did in the 1910s was relevant to the society she lived in.

Early life

Ruth Ann Baldwin was born in September 1886 in West Suffield, Connecticut.^[3] She was raised by her single mother Abby Baldwin. Baldwin later married actor Leo Pierson, who appeared in many of the films she directed, including her two feature films, A Wife on Trial and '49–'17.

Career

In 1913, Universal Film Manufacturing Company hired Baldwin as a writer.^[1] She wrote scenarios for a number of films produced over the next few years, beginning with Damon and Pythias (1914). Most of the films for which she received writing credit are shorts, but Baldwin also contributed to feature-length films.

In December 1914, Universal sent Baldwin to London to assist E. Phillips Oppenheim with turning his, The Black Box into a 15-episode serial.^[4] Phillips was an experienced novelist, but The Black Box was the first of his works to be adapted for film and Baldwin had gained a reputation for scenario expertise.

In August 1916, after working for Universal for several years as a writer and a six-month stint as a film editor, Baldwin became a director for Universal.^[4] Her first directorial effort was The Mother Call (1916), a one-reel drama.^[1]

In 1917, she directed a feature-length film called A Wife on Trial.^[5] Based on the novel The Rose Garden Husband and starring Baldwin's husband Leo Pierson and Mignon Anderson, the film centers on a girl who dreams of owning a garden and ends up marrying a paralyzed man who owns one. Critic Robert C. McElravy of Moving Picture World opined, "... it gets over extremely well and will please the average audience immensely".^[6] She also directed the silent film '49-'17 one of her most acclaimed works as a director.

'49–'17

In 1917, Baldwin began work on writing and directing a silent film called '49–'17, which she is most known for. It was the first western film directed by a woman. The film was five reels and according to The New York Clipper, was "being produced on a more elaborate scale than any play she has yet handled".^[7] Based on the short story "The Old West Per Contract", it starred Joseph Girard and Leo Pierson. It centers on a secretary working for a judge to restore an abandoned town, but falls in love with a local woman. The film was thought of as a generic genre film upon its release; however, most critics still enjoyed the film.

A reviewer for Exhibitor Herald in 1917 described the film as "boresome", and wrote that "'49–'17 is one of those productions which makes one move from one side of the seat to the other, open and close, and then finally drop off to sleep without the slightest effort".^[8]

A more current review of '49–'17 by Cullen Gallagher was positive towards the film, saying "Beyond its irrefutable historical significance, '49–'17 stands out for its clever reworking of traditional Western mythology at a time when the cinematic genre was still in its infancy".^[9]

Post-directing

'49–'17 is considered Baldwin's final directorial effort. Following '49–'17, Baldwin left Universal and returned to screenwriting. From 1919 until around 1921, Baldwin wrote scenarios and screenplays for many more films.

In June 1921, Baldwin joined the Clubhouse of the Screen Writers Guild, and was elected to the Board of Directors.^[10]

References