Long before Clara Bow or Louise Brooks made the flapper a global icon, screen star Olive Thomas defined the look, attitude and energy of the modern young woman on screen.
The Flapper (1920) - the first film ever to use the term in its title — captures a pivotal cultural moment: the dawn of the Roaring Twenties, when women’s lives, fashion and freedoms were rapidly changing.
A witty and stylish comedy, Thomas plays a small-town schoolgirl who ventures to an elite finishing school and discovers the excitement and complications of independence, flirtation and fun.
Film historian Pamela Hutchinson (Silent London) introduces the screening with a brief illustrated talk on the advent of the flapper, exploring how The Flapper reflects women’s growing autonomy, shifting social roles and the birth of modern femininity on screen.
With live piano accompaniment by John Sweeney.
-
Volunteer for Slapstick Festival 2026
Volunteering at Slapstick is a brilliant way to support the festival, help keep these films alive for future generations, meet like-minded people, and gain hands-on event and festival skills. Apply before Mon 19 Jan 10:00.