Hollywood Heroines: The Most Influential Women in Film History. Edited by Laura L. S. Bauer. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2018. 407 pages. Acid-free $94 (ISBN 978-1-4408-3648-0). Ebook available (978-1-4408-3649-7), call for pricing.

Covering film history from the silent era to the present day, Laura L. S. Bauer (doctoral student in Claremont College’s English department) and a team of scholars and industry professionals have created a timely and valuable resource that “highlights the contributions exceptional women have made throughout the history of Hollywood cinema in every major occupation of filmmaking” (xiv).

The table of contents includes entries on actresses, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, editors, writers, producers, studio heads, and other varied specialty occupations within the motion picture industry. Entries focus on the professional lives of the women; primarily on the quality and impact of the work these women performed and the historical contexts in which they existed. A bonus feature is the incisive interviews of contemporary women who have made their mark in their respective fields. These reflections regarding the inner workings of the motion picture industry touch on issues of gender inequality, racism, and ageism, as well as the personal satisfaction of making a difference in an industry still dominated by a white male power structure. A further-reading list helpfully suggests other books (when available) and quality online articles. Approximately three dozen photographs illustrate the work. A comprehensive index concludes the volume, with page numbers in bold indicating a significant entry. Due to the physical constraints of it being a single volume resource, many women deserving recognition could not be included, and Bauer acknowledges this. As a partial remedy, there is an appendix listing “more influential women in Hollywood.” It is perhaps amusing to note that Joan Crawford is relegated to this list, which certainly would have pleased her rival Bette Davis, who is included in the first tier of influential actresses. Possibly taken into consideration was the fact that Davis was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the first woman presented with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

No other up-to-date single volume encyclopedia with this scope currently exists, so the convenience, relevance, and moderate pricing of this resource make it a good addition for institutions with media studies programs, particularly those that emphasize gender studies.—Robin Imhof, Humanities Librarian, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California