Image courtesy of Karen Day
actors had been confirmed by the popularity of her on-screen persona. Bears, cougars, wolves, skunks–the actress considered all four-legged creatures as worthy of respect as any actor, insisting they be treated humanely by refusing to allow guns, whips or chains on her sets. Even the most dangerous animals returned the favor to Hollywood’s first animal advocate. The more I read, the more brightly Shipman’s boldness shone. Her daring was like a dimmer switch, turning up the light on early female independence. Seeking space enough to create herself and her films onlocation, not on veneered sets, this firebrand had early-on rejected interference from “suits” like Sam Goldfish (soon to be Goldwyn) who offered her a seven-year studio contract with a guarantee of stardom in velvet handcuffs.
make films in dangerous locations— here was a filmmaker and a female I could relate to, albeit a century later! Imagine, Nell had started her own production company while the U.S. banned the sale of James Joyce’s, Ulysses. At this point in my research, I felt like I’d stuck documentary gold! How utterly cool was this woman? I suddenly wished I could take her to lunch. Surely, we’d drink dirty martinis and share cake and distain for the eternal-curse of Tom Cruise blockbusters. In 1919, Nell Shipman was female liberation in the flesh. Back to God’s Country premiered with Nell flashing the first nude in film history. Lois Webber’s film, Hypocrites, is a spectacular runner-up and Heddy Lamarr’s 1933 nude scene in Ecstasy still generates far more press.
Free from constraints, Shipman created her best work from 19181924. Unfortunately, neither her talent nor finances prepared her to compete as the industry transformed into a maledominated monopoly. As The Big Five, swallowed production, distribution and theaters, Nell brought a zoo Nell cleaned of 70 abused animal fish to feed actors with her.
Independent, audacious, lover of animals and fur coats, determined to
HOLLYWOOD’S FIRST ANIMAL ADVOCATE
Image courtesy of Boise State Special Collections
her zoo and kept writing and staring in her own films: The Grubstake and Tales of the Northwind. By 1924, the animals were reduced to half-rations and Nell, to eating the animals that finally fell in twelve-foot snow drifts. Living her individualistic dream, this truly-starving artist suffered murderous locals, sub-zero winters, several near-death experiences, bankruptcy and ultimately, the loss of her lover, film company and beloved zoo. How tragically romantic! How radically modern! Forget Wonder Woman! Surely, Nell Shipman must be singular in her early proto-feminist heroism, animal activism, selfpropelled stunts and naked audacity! Here is where I must defer to my favorite quote in my own documentary as it resounds as one of the most surprising and horrific moments in my directing career. “How wrong you are!” We should all say, “Thank You,” to Dr. Jane Gaines, Director of the Women Film Pioneers Project
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