The Lady and the Dale (HBO)

About The Lady and the Dale (HBO)

The Lady and the Dale is a riveting docuseries that aired on HBO in 2021. It captivates its audience by unfolding the story of Elizabeth Carmichael, an enigmatic entrepreneur who rose to fame during the 1970s fuel crisis with her invention: a fuel-efficient, three-wheeled car called the Dale. Immersed in controversy and scandal, Elizabeth Carmichael's life story is interwoven with themes of media frenzy, criminal charges, transgender rights, and the grit of an ambitious inventor.

Making / Production

The Lady and the Dale is a production of Duplass Brothers Productions, directed by Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker. Its combination of archival footage, animation, interviews and re-enactments paint a full picture of a woman ahead of her time, navigating the world with indefatigable zeal and tenacity. The series is notable for its creative storytelling approach, drawing in viewers to a narrative many had forgotten or never knew.

Actors

• Elizabeth Carmichael: Non-actors portray Carmichael. Her portrayal morphs from archival footage and interviews to animated renditions, depicting her remarkable, chameleon-like life in a cutting-edge way.
• Various interviewees: The series features interviews with peoples who knew Carmichael, reporters who covered her story, and experts that offer contextual insight into the events depicted in the series.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The story of The Lady and the Dale was largely forgotten until the creators brought it back into the limelight with this docuseries.
• In addition to being a pioneer in car manufacturing, Elizabeth Carmichael was also a transsexual woman, a fact that was often sensationalized in the media during her time.
• The car, Dale, at the center of the series was a prototype that was never fully functional. Despite this, it was able to rake in millions of pre-orders.

Awards

As of this time, The Lady and the Dale has not received any awards.

Quotes

• "We particularly need enthusiasm, imagination and the unbeatable determination to keep going."
• "There is no reason a woman can’t run a corporation. Any corporation."

Music, Soundtrack

• Score composed by Heather Christian sets the tone effectively, blending together elements of adventure, mystery, and drama.