Who Says That the A-List of Actresses Is Short?

Reflecting on Times film critic Kenneth Turan’s comment that “Not many actresses can carry a movie” (“ ‘Striptease’ Is Surely Moore’s Fittest Hour,” Calendar, June 28), what immediately comes to mind is:

Angela Bassett. Sandra Bullock. Glenn Close. Jamie Lee Curtis. Catherine Deneuve. Faye Dunaway. Jodie Foster. Whoopi Goldberg. Melanie Griffith. Anjelica Huston. Jessica Lange. Jennifer Jason Leigh. Gong Li. Shirley MacLaine. Bette Midler. Lena Olin. Vanessa Redgrave. Meg Ryan. Winona Ryder. Susan Sarandon. Sharon Stone. Meryl Streep. Emma Thompson. Jeanne Tripplehorn. Sigourney Weaver. Robin Wright.

ROBERT KNOWLES

Los Angeles

There was a time when the love goddesses of the screen were bigger than life. Now, they have gotten smaller than life. I saw the new brilliant print of “Gilda” recently at UCLA. The audience at the sold-out screening held its breath as Rita Hayworth slowly removed a single glove in a sultry performance of “Put the Blame on Mame.”

A couple days later, I was watching “Striptease” at my local AMC. The audience almost yawned as Demi Moore bared everything she’s got. The audience was not stupid: We admired the cool of Ving Rhames, who had the classiest part of the film. “Gilda” glorifies the American woman. “Striptease” humiliates her. Moore, gorgeous as always, would have deserved a better film.

Why are all 10 of the most popular stars male? Because they get the best parts. Why is nobody offering strong parts for American female stars these days? The demand is certainly there. Instead of spending megabucks on special effects and explosions, why not urge screenwriters to strive for wit worthy of Billy Wilder and Preston Sturges?

The lyrics of “Put the Blame on Mame” are about the heroine having caused the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. It tells something about the film that the accusation seems entirely plausible. These days, we get to see twisters and UFOs. We are witnessing a Golden Age of male action heroes. But where are the earth-shattering women in today’s films?

ANTTI ALANEN

Helsinki/Los Angeles