All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State

Feisty, fiery, tough, unafraid, a force of nature … and funny as hell. These are a few of the words used to describe Ann Richards, one of the most charismatic American political figures of the last 30 years. All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State chronicles Richards' remarkable life, tracing her origins as a young girl growing up poor in rural Texas, to her life as a sociable suburban housewife and mother, to her rise from schoolteacher to politician. Richards was a County Commissioner before being elected to State Treasurer, which eventually led her to the governorship - the first woman to be elected to that office in the state of Texas. Never one to back away from a fight, the sharp-witted Richards took on conservatives in her state on key issues, and stood toe-to-toe against a string of mud-slinging male opponents in political elections. The 83-minute film features extensive footage and first-person interviews with Richards, whose natural charm, "can do" attitude and trademark coif of shocking white hair made her an icon around the country. A film by Keith Patterson and Phillip Schopper, the documentary features interviews with notables such as Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, Michael Dukakis and others.

Watch the trailer here.

The screening will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Dr. Richard McCaslin.

Richard McCaslin is Professor and Chairperson of History and UNT Fellow at the Military History Center. He is the author or editor of fifteen books, including Tainted Breeze (winner of the Tullis Award), Lee in the Shadow of Washington (winner of the Slatten Award and the Laney Prize, and a nominee for the Pulitzer in Biography), and several volumes in the award-winning Portraits of Conflict series. A Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association, he is also a contributor to many other publications such as the New Handbook of Texas and a two-volume history of the Texas Senate.

Fem Flicks is a film series spotlighting various gender issues. Fem Flicks is presented by the Multicultural Center, the Media Library, and the Women's & Gender Studies Program.