Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties
Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz —all were unforgettable characters who played an integral part in some of Hollywood's most memorable productions. For over three decades, from the 1930s to the 1950s, character actresses who brought such roles to life were one of Hollywood's great but little acknowledged assets. Often lured from Broadway yet billed fifth or sixth (if at all), these talented ladies received little acclaim for their roles in film industry productions. Still, what they lacked in promotion and perhaps adulation they made up for in longevity. While a screen star's career was generally limited by age and physical appearance, character actresses often worked well into their seventies, eighties or even nineties. Signed to contracts by major studios just like the stars they supported on screen, character actresses made hundreds of films over their careers.

From the early days of sound film through the end of the studio era, this volume documents in detail the lives and careers of two score of Hollywood's most talented character actresses. It presents information regarding birth, death, film credits and prizes and analyzes each player's unique talents, signature roles and overall career development. Forty individual profiles are provided from a representative range of backgrounds, character types and career experiences. These include actresses such as Marjorie Main, Agnes Moorehead, Thelma Ritter, Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Lucile Watson, Sara Allgood, Lee Patrick and Jessie Ralph, among others. A fascinating tour through Hollywood's big studio era and the lives of its characters.

1111758295
Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties
Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz —all were unforgettable characters who played an integral part in some of Hollywood's most memorable productions. For over three decades, from the 1930s to the 1950s, character actresses who brought such roles to life were one of Hollywood's great but little acknowledged assets. Often lured from Broadway yet billed fifth or sixth (if at all), these talented ladies received little acclaim for their roles in film industry productions. Still, what they lacked in promotion and perhaps adulation they made up for in longevity. While a screen star's career was generally limited by age and physical appearance, character actresses often worked well into their seventies, eighties or even nineties. Signed to contracts by major studios just like the stars they supported on screen, character actresses made hundreds of films over their careers.

From the early days of sound film through the end of the studio era, this volume documents in detail the lives and careers of two score of Hollywood's most talented character actresses. It presents information regarding birth, death, film credits and prizes and analyzes each player's unique talents, signature roles and overall career development. Forty individual profiles are provided from a representative range of backgrounds, character types and career experiences. These include actresses such as Marjorie Main, Agnes Moorehead, Thelma Ritter, Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Lucile Watson, Sara Allgood, Lee Patrick and Jessie Ralph, among others. A fascinating tour through Hollywood's big studio era and the lives of its characters.

29.95 In Stock
Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties

Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties

by Axel Nissen
Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties

Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties

by Axel Nissen

Overview

Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz —all were unforgettable characters who played an integral part in some of Hollywood's most memorable productions. For over three decades, from the 1930s to the 1950s, character actresses who brought such roles to life were one of Hollywood's great but little acknowledged assets. Often lured from Broadway yet billed fifth or sixth (if at all), these talented ladies received little acclaim for their roles in film industry productions. Still, what they lacked in promotion and perhaps adulation they made up for in longevity. While a screen star's career was generally limited by age and physical appearance, character actresses often worked well into their seventies, eighties or even nineties. Signed to contracts by major studios just like the stars they supported on screen, character actresses made hundreds of films over their careers.

From the early days of sound film through the end of the studio era, this volume documents in detail the lives and careers of two score of Hollywood's most talented character actresses. It presents information regarding birth, death, film credits and prizes and analyzes each player's unique talents, signature roles and overall career development. Forty individual profiles are provided from a representative range of backgrounds, character types and career experiences. These include actresses such as Marjorie Main, Agnes Moorehead, Thelma Ritter, Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Lucile Watson, Sara Allgood, Lee Patrick and Jessie Ralph, among others. A fascinating tour through Hollywood's big studio era and the lives of its characters.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780786461103
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 07/01/2011
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Axel Nissen is a professor of American literature in the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages at the University of Oslo in Norway.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Olivia de Havilland     
Introduction: A Character Actress Is Born     

The Actresses

That Morgan Woman
SARA ALLGOOD (1879–1950)     
Classic Dame
JUDITH ANDERSON (1897–1992)     
Mother of the Year
FAY BAINTER (1893–1968)     
How the Mighty Have Fallen
ETHEL BARRYMORE (1879–1959)     
Not So Nice to Come Home To
FLORENCE BATES (1888–1954)     
Leave It to Beavers
LOUISE BEAVERS (1902–1962)     
Glamour and L’Amour
MARY BOLAND (1882–1965)     
Miss Bondi Goes to Hollywood
BEULAH BONDI (1888–1981)     
The Gay Divorcée
ALICE BRADY (1892–1939)     
The Professional Tweetybird
BILLIE BURKE (1884–1970)     
Mother for Metro
SPRING BYINGTON (1886–1971)     
Doyenne of Dowagers
GLADYS COOPER (1888–1971)     
Aunt Pittypat
LAURA HOPE CREWS (1879–1942)     
Earth Mother
JANE DARWELL (1879–1967)     
Not So Big Mama
MILDRED DUNNOCK (1901–1991)     
The Star That Wasn’t
GLADYS GEORGE (1900–1954)     
Bride of Laughton
ELSA LANCHESTER (1902–1986)     
Mother Hen
JESSIE ROYCE LANDIS (1904–1972)     
The Magnificent Mammy
HATTIE MCDANIEL (1893–1952)     
Butterflies Are Free
BUTTERFLY MCQUEEN (1911–1995)     
Ma Kettle
MARJORIE MAIN (1890–1975)     
Lavender Lady
AGNES MOOREHEAD (1900–1974)     
Blithe Spirit
MILDRED NATWICK (1905–1994)     
A Real Scream
UNA O’CONNOR (1880–1959)     
A Real Nutter
EDNA MAY OLIVER (1883–1942)     
Russian Gargoyle
MARIA OUSPENSKAYA (1876–1949)     
What a Pal
LEE PATRICK (1901–1982)     
The Eternal Aunt
ELIZABETH PATTERSON (1875–1966)     
Chinless Wonder
ALICE PEARCE (1917–1966)     
Duchesses and Domestics
JESSIE RALPH (1864–1944)     
Mother Courage
ANNE REVERE (1903–1990)     
The Forgotten Woman
ELISABETH RISDON (1887–1958)     
The Last Character Actress
THELMA RITTER (1905–1969)     
La Belle Laide
FLORA ROBSON (1902–1984)     
Star for a Day, Grandmother for a Decade
MAY ROBSON (1858–1942)     
The Duchess
ALISON SKIPWORTH (1863–1952)     
Cat Woman
GALE SONDERGAARD (1899–1985)     
Grand Dame
LUCILE WATSON (1879–1962)     
A Real Dame
MAY WHITTY (1865–1948)     
Libeled Lady
CORA WITHERSPOON (1890–1957)     

Notes     
Bibliography     
Index     
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Related Subjects

Music, Film & Performing Arts
Film
Performing Arts
Performing Arts - Reference
Film Reference
Music, Film & Performing Arts
Film
Performing Arts
Performing Arts - Reference
Film Reference

Customer Reviews