The Origins of Chick Flicks

The concept of a film genre created specifically to appeal to females has been around since the early days of cinema. 

A well known 'Chick Flick' made in 1961 is Breakfast At Tiffany's directed by Blake Edwards and starring Audrey Hepburn. It is considered a chick flick as it fits many of the genres key conventions, these being dealing with loneliness, obsessive materialism and happy endings. 

The film would also fit the criteria of a romantic comedy. 

Many modern chick flicks are based on the Disney Animation Cinderella which was made in 1950. Films that could have been inspired from Cinderella include Pretty Woman, made in 1990, directed by Gary Marshall; this is because it fits the plot of a young woman from a negatively perceived background finding her 'Prince Charming.' 

Another film clearly inspired by the hit Disney animation is 'A Cinderella Story' made in 2004, directed by Mark Rosman and starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. The two plots are parallel to one another; a young woman from a poor background is mistreated by her step-family eventually finds love and lives 'happily ever after.' 

Even Shakespeare has influenced many modern chick flicks. Shakespeare often included gender confusion in his plays for comedic purposes, this is shown in 2006 movie She's The Man, directed by Andy Fickman. Amanda Bynes plays the character of Viola who dresses as a boy to cover for her brother who is skipping college. She ends up falling in love with her room mate played by Channing Tatum, everything is resolved in the end and the film ends happily. This is similar the Shakespeare play As You Like It. 

Finally, Dirty Dancing is another famous Chick Flick made in 1987, directed by Emile Ardolino.  The film is about Frances "Baby" Houseman spending the summer in a holiday camp with her family and falling in love with the camps dance instructor Johnny Castle.  

These films are relevant to my coursework as the all exemplify at least on of the key convections that should feature in chick flicks, these being the love story included in the plot, the materialistic obsession at least one character possesses and of course the happy ending. These are all features that I want to include in my film opening.