Everyone has that one movie that is theirs, and mine is Libeled Lady (1937) starring Myrna Loy, William Powell, Spencer Tracy, and Jean Harlow. There are so many iconic movies I hadn’t seen until various crushes introduced me: Back to the Future, Donnie Darko, Charlie’s Angels, Austin Powers, that one with Bowie, etc. (feel free to throw fruit at me in the comments for having missed such pop culture touchstones). If it happened after 1970, the likelihood of me having seen it plummets, and I appreciate it when hot people show me movies I should already have seen. But in return, with every person I fancy, I have to show them Libeled Lady to see whether things between us will progress. I can’t love anyone who doesn’t love screwball comedies from the 30s and 40s. I’m a simple gal.
First of all, I love Myrna Loy in everything. The Thin Man films? I Love You Again? Double Wedding? All of it. But what sets Libeled Lady apart for me is what happens when the film takes Loy’s snarky heiress character Connie Allenbury off of her luxurious ocean liner, out of Manhattan, and to her family’s cabin upstate. Here, rid of her ballgowns and diamonds, the leading lady reveals something else entirely: a tomboy at heart. Seeing this movie for the first time as a middle schooler was a bolt from the blue. I’d always had a thing for old movies and Golden Age Hollywood, but Loy’s character in Libeled Lady was the first time I found one of those 1930s wisecracking-but-glamorous heroines who was willing to get dirty.
These tomboy characters were scarce. Feminine presentation was demanded both onscreen and off by film studios’ strict contracts with actresses, and it was newsworthy when an actress like Hepburn expected to be allowed her trousers. Plus, after the enactment of the Hays Code, no actual gay shit was permitted onscreen — all of our heroines, however obviously-dykey, had to be bundled off into a heterosexual partnership. On the surface, there isn’t much representation of us to be found in these films, stocked as they are with thin cishet white women. But, loving these movies as I do regardless, the smallest and most sidelong glimpse of tomboyness, of mascness, of scrappy gender-fuckery, feels electrifying. I lose sight entirely of these male love interests, because I’m right there beside them, in their shoes, falling in love with these charismatic, charming, incredible characters.
So, without further ado, in honor of formative crush Connie Allenbury, I present to you: An Incomplete List of Hot Tomboy Characters of Early 20th Century Hollywood Who Either Were Or Should Have Been Gay.
Tommy Smith, The Tomboy (1924), played by Dorothy Devore
No tomboy list would be complete without the OG, her scrappy little terrier, and her overalls! This silent film from early female screenwriter Agnes Christine Johnson is available in its entirety on Youtube, and tells the story of rough-and-tumble Tommy, who runs her family’s boarding house and gets swept up in a post-Prohibition intrigue featuring barn booze, mistaken identities, and a very quaint Ye Olde Car Chase. Her one flaw, of course, is falling for the revenue agent. You will never convince me that this fiercely self-sufficient dungarees-wearing gal goes from starting fistfights with farmhands and handling her family’s business with aplomb to settling down in primly wedded life with a tax cop and a lot of excessive floral arrangements. Home Improvement Butches, come get your girl.
Connie Allenbury, Libeled Lady (1937), played by Myrna Loy
After having sued a hasty newspaper for libel, Connie Allenbury is tailed by a newspaper representative who hopes to entrap her in exactly the love affair the newspaper had erroneously claimed. Connie, however, is smarter than these fast-talking men had given her credit for, and sees through this would-be boyfriend and his stock heterosexual flattery right away. And when Bill Chandler (played magnificently by Loy’s longtime acting partner William Powell) insinuates himself into her family’s party and joins them upstate, he discovers there’s far more to this debutante than one million dollars (which, in 2022 money, would shake out to almost 20 million!). Chandler has to act quickly to fit in at their cabin getaway, but Connie, on the other hand, is completely at ease, standing in the middle of the river in her waders and mocking her suitor’s suspiciously-new fishing gear. It’s such fun symmetry; as surprised as we are by Chandler’s successful trickery, we’re equally delighted by Connie’s unexpected ability. And that’s not even the best part! That night, after making pancakes for dinner, she takes Chandler for a moonlight swim out to a floating cabin on the lake, where she drops her façade and speaks so adorably about her outdoorsy childhood that every 21st century Subaru gay will swoon.
Sylvia Scarlett, Sylvia Scarlett (1935), played by Katharine Hepburn
Has anyone checked on Drew? As we all know, Katharine Hepburn’s iconic tomboy is absolutely Drew’s type. While you’re at it, fetch some smelling salts for me too — this grifter-turned-good is such a babe. Sylvia Snow becomes Sylvester Scarlett when she and her father must flee to England to escape his debts and embezzlement charges, and as she chops off her hair she declares, “I won’t be a girl. I won’t be weak, and I won’t be silly. I’ll be a boy, and rough, and hard. I won’t care what I do! Don’t worry, I’m ready for anything!” immediately before bursting into tears. (Someone get her a soft butch tshirt.) The best part is, Sylvia stays in drag far longer than any hustle or ruse would reasonably require — probably because this persona is such a swoonworthy success! Within the world of the movie, at least, characters recognize exactly how breathtakingly fine He-Hepburn is; audiences and critics, however, remained clueless. “The fact that Miss Hepburn goes through most of the picture in male attire may disappoint her followers,” said one critic at the time. Sir, I’ve never been less disappointed in my life.
Sheila Mason, Wings in the Dark (1935), played by Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy made thirty-some movies in her lifetime, and this was one I’d never seen before and discovered in the course of assembling this list! This one blew my mind — it combines my love of Myrna Loy with my formative crush on Amelia Earhart and ensuing fascination with lady aviators, and has a Cary Grant pairing as a cherry on top. In this film, Myrna plays a daredevil stunt pilot who, when her fellow pilot is blinded in an accident, quietly funds his care while working to convince her embittered crush that her feelings for him are passion, not pity. The plot may rely heavily on coincidence, and “being believable” isn’t always the order of the day, but even at its goofy moments this movie is such fun because it captures all the delight and amazement around aviation at the time. Loy and Grant both met with Amelia Earhart during preparation and promotion for the film, and when I discovered pictures of them together, my heart just about leapt off the runway.
This was also not the only time Myrna took to the skies — if you like this one, I also recommend taking a look at her 1938 film Too Hot to Handle, in which Clark Gable and Walter Pidgeon compete for the attention of one formidable aviatrix, which, same.
Jo March, Little Women (1933), played by Katharine Hepburn
If I’m going to sneak my babe Myrna onto this list twice, then it’s only fair to get Hepburn back too — how could I ignore Hepburn as tomboy royalty Jo March? Really, this should have been the ultimate tomboy crossover event, but I just wish they’d let Hepburn be more masc in this film. I know it was 1933, but was that really so much to ask? If Katharine Hepburn had had Saoirse Ronan’s 2019 Little Women costumes, then, well…
Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), played by Mary Badham
You didn’t think I’d leave Scout Finch off, did you? The movie and character may both be younger than the rest of this list, but a tomboy lineup without Scout Finch is no lineup of mine, so we’re going to make a midcentury exception for this absolute icon. The clashing plaids, the shirt buttoned all the way up, the bowl cut, the firmly-set jaw, and oh my heart, those overalls. I know, I just know in my bones, that Scout must’ve grown up to be a real firecracker in the 70s.
This list is by no means complete — if you have recommendations, either for old movies I should watch or fictional tomboys I should have a crush on, please tell me in the comments! I’m all ears!
fuck everything else about the movie and woody allen, but diane keaton’s fits in annie hall are tomboy-adjacent and just do it for me. i forget if i can link, but just in case: https://anotherimg-dazedgroup.netdna-ssl.com/786/azure/another-prod/360/0/360714.jpg
oh HELL YES, those fits are 💥💛
one more: https://vickiangulo459.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/blog-diane-keaton-7.jpg
Nice information thanks
Whats with the gender and appearance stereotypes?
You might appreciate my book, Girls Will Be Boys: Cross-Dressed Women, Lesbians, and American Cinema (2016)! There are LOTS of tomboys, female boys, and queer women in the decades before the 1930. Many of the films I write about will soon be available from Kino Lorber in a 4-disc DVD set called Cinema’s First Nasty Women.
WHOA! sounds amazing
UMMM THIS SOUNDS AMAZING 🤩is there an indie bookstore close to your heart you’d like me to order from?
Thanks! You can buy it from the publisher here: https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/girls-will-be-boys/9780813574820
You might also be able to find it cheaper used somewhere. Enjoy!
awesome!!!
Thanks so much dashwina for your post ,t his might be one if my fave post on here! youre my kind of gal🥰Im obsessed with 1920-1950 movies , and could marvel and watch and talk about them and these actresses for ages.they dont make them like that now,these long gone creatures, that set the screen on fire when they appear .. With subtext , as a lezzie you will always find one if you look hard enough.😉 Im amazed what was considered a Mainstream film back in the day( the quality, the stories,the actors/ actresses))compared to what mainstream films people flock to are now : marvel nonense, prequel/ sequels,and rom coms.
Thanks for some myrna filns i havent seen and the first film you mentioned which i think , ihavent seen either.
I apologize for those of you who like marvel films. I actially wanted to say CGI movies butcoulnt remember the word, Im not a native english speaker
Afterthought to my comment I apologize for those of you who like marvel films. I actially wanted to say CGI movies ,not marvel movues ,brainfart,moviescoulnt remember the word, Im not a native english speaker
Just stopping in to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Thank you so much!
I love Libeled Lady! I would add Marlene Dietrich in Dishonored for the fabulous masqurade ball scene, and Jennifer Jones as Cluny Brown with her passion for plumbing.
Thanks for the list!
I definitely have a big poster of Hepburn from sylvia scarlet on my wall. Enjoy that movie, although the best part is her in drag and the plot is slow and not the best. I do love her movie Spitfire for Hebpurn tomboyness!
Woops not meant to be a reply! Happens on mobile a lot sorry.
Yes and YES!
I definitely have a big poster of Hepburn from sylvia scarlet on my wall. Enjoy that movie, although the best part is her in drag and the plot is slow and not the best. I do love her movie Spitfire for Hebpurn tomboyness!
yesssss spitfire is such a good one!!
This list is as if someone looked into my dreams and made something tailored to them. OLD HOLLYWOOD TOMBOYS. Myrna Loy, Myrna Loy, Myrna Loy.
Doris Day in Calamity Jane!! Tomboy dreamboat (also she plays a great tomboy in “On Moonlight Bay” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”).
Also, Garbo in Queen Christina seems like a good fit. Lastly a little seen film about the Women’s Army Corps called “Keep Your Powder Dry” – lots of tomboy activity and sapphic vibes from Lana Turner and her chums!
Myrna’s dad died young from the Spanish influenza pandemic of a century ago, she promised him to look after her mother & baby brother. His 1st vote was for himself, he became Montana’s youngest elected state official, Myrna was active in politics for the rest of her life because of him. When their mom moved the family to L.A., Myrna went to work as a dancer to support them & was soon a model & film extra. She actually made thirty films by the time she became a star & almost a hundred more afterwards. Despite being Queen of Hollywood, we 1st see her in Libeled pulling a sweater over her tousled hair as she threatens a newspaper publisher with a lawsuit for suggesting she’s promiscuous. Loy quit Hollywood during WWII to work for The Red Cross & continued in public service for the rest of her days. Her 1st scene in The Thin Man she face plants before lining up half a dozen martinis to catch up with her husband, when Clark Gable barks orders @ her in Test Pilot she threatens to sick a bull on him. She never had the strong woman career of Hepburn, Davis, Crawford or Russell, but she could play opposite anyone & did for over half a century. Despite that strong independent streak you identify with, she became known as Hollywood’s perfect wife & mother after a decade of playing exotic tramps. After 4 divorces & no children, she lived alone in Manhattan & advised Elizabeth Taylor & Ava Gardner against marrying again. She was proud of her pioneer roots,& that stubborn independence served her well for almost a century. How many actresses made it on both Hitler & Nixon’s enemies lists while also being anti-racism activists? Her memoirs are great, the only people she disapproves of are her lifelong friend Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina (Loy witnessed why she was fired from a production, even though she was married to the director, briefly as she points out) & her standoffish studio mate Garbo. Yet she was friendly with Crawford AND Bette Davis, how many can make that claim?!
Greta Garbo in Queen Christina 😵
I still have it on VHS 😂
She is a complete Butch in this movie and kisses a woman on the mouth 🥵
Funny thing, but we used a prototype of Tomboys to create our Game https://aviators.com.br/
It seems like the author thinks that in order for a woman to truly be independent and strong, or if a woman is a tomboy, it means she must be gay. What a limited view of womanhood.
This is funny and amazing! We developed a game JetX https://jetxgame.org/ with a prototype of Hollywood Tomboys too!
Thank you for sharing your love for Libeled Lady and your appreciation for the tomboy characters in early 20th century Hollywood. It’s refreshing to see someone who not only appreciates the classic films but also recognizes the significance of these characters who defied the feminine presentation expected of women during that era. Your commentary on the limited representation of queer women onscreen is also valid, and it’s essential to acknowledge the few glimpses of tomboyness and gender-fuckery that exist in those films. Overall, your article is a fun and insightful read, and I appreciate the list of hot tomboy characters you’ve compiled. I made cool website for tomboys noncashy.com!