Alliance for Independent Motion Media: The Powder & The Glory
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AIMM Production Partners:
Photos: Elizabeth Arden Archives, Helena Rubinstein Foundation
Length: 90 minutes
Filmmaker:
Arnie Reisman & Ann Carol Grossman,
Official Web Site
http://www.powderandglory.com
Distributor(s):
Worldwide Representation: Louise Rosen Ltd.
http://www.LouiseRosenLtd.com
Funder(s):
PBS
http://www.pbs.org
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
http://www.cpb.org
Masssachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
http://www.mfh.org
To make a donation to the Center for Independent Documentary, please visit this page.
Hide InstructionsThe Powder & The Glory
How two pioneering entrepreneurial women created an industry.
Film Description
The Powder & the Glory tells the story of two of the first highly successful women entrepreneurs in America, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein. One hundred years ago these women immigrated to the United States and, starting with next to nothing, created what is today the $150 billion global health and beauty industry.
Their competing companies defined the business of beauty, making cosmetics both newly respectable and, finally, indispensable. Along the way they developed many advertising and marketing techniques that became part of the business landscape, and they themselves became household names and cultural icons.
Their accomplishments continue to be relevant to both women and men in business today. This is an inspiring story about perseverance, genuine creativity, and continual reinvention to meet the changing needs and demands of consumers and society. When they started their businesses, makeup was used mostly by prostitutes and performers, and businesses were run mostly by men. They would change the way we look at ourselves, build powerful businesses, and become two of the world's wealthiest women.
The Powder & the Glory features interviews with commentators and with people who knew both women, including Kitty Carlisle Hart and former Arden creative directors Pablo Manzoni (makeup) and Stephen Glass (hair). The changing decades are reflected not only in archival material, but also in original music and animated sequences created in the styles of the times. The Powder & the Glory is narrated by Jane Alexander. (Photo above right: Makeup artist David Nicholas and Model Courtney Craft. Photo by Liane Brandon.)
News:
The Powder & the Glory has been awarded a Silver Plaque in the Documentary: History/Biography category by the Hugo Television Awards 2009.
The Powder & the Glory is produced in association with AVRO/Netherlands, YLE/Finland, and ABC/Australia.
Producers Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman take The Powder & the Glory on the road for screening/discussion/Q&A at colleges and for community groups. In the planning stage is a web-based educational outreach project focusing especially on entrepreneurship education and women's studies.
The Powder & the Glory DVD is available from PBS Home Video at ShopPBS, Amazon, and other vendors.
Screenings:
The Powder & the Glory had its World Premiere at the Boston Jewish Film Festival, and has also screened at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival; the Detroit Jewish Film Festival; the Toronto Jewish Film Festival; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Woods Hole Film Festival; Globians Film Festival, Potsdam, Germany; Savannah Jewish Film Festival; Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival; San Francisco Jewish Film Festival series at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; and others.
The Powder & the Glory had its broadcast premiere on PBS on March 23, 2009 (check local listings for repeats on your PBS station), presented by South Carolina ETV. The 60 minute international version of the film was broadcast by AVRO in the Netherlands in February 2008, and by ABC Australia on May 27, 2008.