The Trouble with Angels (1966) was the last film that Ida Lupino directed, coming at the tail end of her long period as a television director. In many ways, it represents a sharp departure from the socially conscious noirs that she’s best known for, and yet for fans of the film, it feels like an apt continuation of the gendered critiques that mark her 1950s work.
In this video, I look at how The Trouble with Angels portrays the motivations of its protagonist, Mary Clancy (Hayley Mills), who finds herself drawn to the society of women rather than the nuclear, heterosexual family.
This semester, the IU Cinema is screening Ida Lupino films as part of the 5X series, including The Trouble With Angels on Sunday, October 21, 1 pm.
For a more comprehensive look at the multiple roles Ida Lupino has assumed as a filmmaker, check out former IU Cinema contributor Katherine Johnson’s article, “Ida Lupino: Actress, Director, Screenwriter, and Producer.”
Laura Ivins loves stop motion, home movies, imperfect films, nature hikes, and Stephen Crane’s poetry. She has a PhD from Indiana University and an MFA from Boston University. In addition to watching and writing about movies, sometimes she also makes them.