Many people don't realize that Penny was the first woman to break the $100 million dollar box office mark.
She did it three times.
If you've ever listened to either her or her brother Garry, it's a treat. True New Yorkers with that deadpan sense of humor. I actually knew her less as Laverne on "Laverne & Shirley" than I did as a director. Most notably for me, "Big."
Penny seemed to always be...thinking about other things. When I read Garry's autobiography, he seemed to think that Penny wasn't always happy acting. As Italian-Americans (yeah, they aren't Jewish) they had that operatic sense of humor. The type of chuckles that drew light to the obvious. Garry was a master at comedy, though...in a softer landing than say...Albert Brooks.
To a lot of other people...she seemed to be that feminist filmmaker that wasn't really interested in the cause as much as just making something. "A League Of Their Own" has a lot of messages about female values. It didn't hit you over the head with trying to re-write the times, but did give you a sense of the limitations that women faced during those times. It was done with humor instead of today's hammer.
I get the sense that she bored easily, but loved telling stories. Had a great deal of sympathy for actors (as she was one). Not overly ambitious, when it came to pursuing that path (I mean, her brother was the director and unashamedly hired her, fuck your nepotism accusations).
It's too bad her directing career sort of side tracked after a while. I think she was happy just to live in her Hollywood Hills house coming down every once in a while to share a story with podcast/former director Kevin Smith. Their interviews with each other are a fascinating listen.
I also wonder why she wasn't hoisted higher as a female director that broke all types of glass ceilings. Perhaps because she was a little protected. Well, whatever it takes!
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