By Karina Valdes
Marsha Gordon, author of “BECOMING THE EX-WIFE: The Unconventional Life and Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott,” will be at the Bill Cosford Cinema on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. for a book signing and screening of the film, “There’s Always Tomorrow,” based on a story by Ursula Parrott.
“For any movie-lover seeking an introduction to Ursula Parrott, ‘There’s Always Tomorrow’ has so much to offer,” said Christina Lane, professor of Film Studies in the Department of Cinematic Arts. “Featuring one of the greatest screen pairings of all time, Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, it’s directed by the consummate Douglas Sirk, who brings social commentary and visual complexity to all of his work.”
During the social and cultural uproar of the 1920s, divorcee Ursula Parrot anonymously published her most successful novel, “Ex-Wife,” where she unabashedly wrote about divorce from a woman’s perspective, and the speakeasy-filled aftermath of starting over during the Roaring 20s. A renowned author and Hollywood screenwriter during the first half of the 20th century, Parrott was also well known for her scandalous love life and legal issues.
A prolific, yet forgotten voice, Parrott’s legacy is explored in Gordon’s “BECOMING THE EX-WIFE: The Unconventional Life and Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott,” where the author examines Parrott’s life and writings against the rapidly changing backdrop of American society.
“Parrott’s life story is one that still resonates today, and is certain to strike a chord especially with younger generations. She was defining what it meant to be a modern woman during very turbulent times, struggling to find her voice in her life, career, and art,” said Lane.
Gordon is professor of Film Studies at North Carolina State University, a former Fellow at the National Humanities Center, and the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar award. She is the author of numerous books and articles and co-director of several short documentaries.
The book signing and screening begin at 6 p.m. at the Bill Cosford Cinema, 5030 Brunson Dr., Memorial Building Suite 225, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Books & Books will have copies of Gordon’s book available for purchase. This event is presented by the Bill Cosford Cinema and is sponsored by the Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies and Books & Books. Visit https://cosfordcinema.com/event/theres-always-tomorrow-1956-free-screening-and-discussion/ to register.