Sexual Liberation 1920s Style: The Screenwriting Career of Josephine Lovett
Josephine 'Jo' Lovett, born in San Francisco in October 1877, became a key figure in early Hollywood as a writer, actress, and collaborator. Her career spanned Broadway stages, silent films, and award-nominated screenplays, including works with her husband, director John Robertson.
Lovett began her career in theatre, appearing in Broadway musicals like The Ragged Earl (1899) and The Rebel (1900). By 1916, she had shifted to film, writing her first scenario for Love and Trout at Vitagraph Studios. That same year, she also acted in The Ninety and Nine, marking her transition from stage to screen.
In 1921, she adapted J.M. Barrie’s short story *Sentimental Tommy* into a film. Her partnership with Robertson flourished, resulting in over 18 collaborations, including *Away Goes Prudence* (1920), which centred on women in aviation. Their final joint project was *Captain Hurricane* in 1935. Lovett’s solo work on *Our Dancing Daughters* (1928), co-written with Marian Ainslee and Ruth Cummings, earned her an Academy Award nomination. The film starred Joan Crawford and stood out as her first major success without Robertson’s direction. Later, she tackled censorship challenges by adapting *The Single Standard* (1929) for Greta Garbo, focusing on a young woman’s impulsive choices.
Lovett’s contributions to film included groundbreaking stories about women, collaborations with her husband, and an Oscar-nominated script. Her work from Broadway to Hollywood left a lasting mark on early cinema, blending acting, writing, and adaptation across decades.
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