Skelton Knaggs
December 15, 2018 by kelleepratt 5 Comments
This following is a guest post on SKELTON KNAGGS for the 7th annual WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON. The author is Bill Shaffer- President of the Kansas Silent Film Festival, recently retired as Director of KTWU for over 40 years, the go-to fella for anything happening in the "old movie realm" in this corner of the Sunflower State, a spaghetti western aficionado, and a helluva swell guy and personal friend…
Skelton Knaggs is one of my favorite character actors because – wait a second! Skelton Knaggs? Who is that? Well, I often remember him as the creepy little guy in various 1940's-era horror movies – three for Val Lewton's unit at RKO and three more for Universal. However, the most famous bit I ever saw him in was as a menacing gunslinger hanging around Jane Russell's hotel in Paramount's terrific Bob Hope comedy, THE PALEFACE from 1948. One look at that face and hearing that voice like a rasping knife and he's pretty hard to forget.
Knaggs was born in 1911 across the pond in the Hillsborough district of Sheffield, England. He moved to London where he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became a Shakespearean actor. Aside from doing the Shakespeare plays on stage, Knaggs appeared in a few British films including 1939's Michael Powell production, THE SPY IN BLACK where he was cast as a German orderly. He quickly found his way to Los Angeles and began appearing in Hollywood films including TORTURE SHIP (also 1939) and DIAMOND FRONTIER (1941). He was often cast in sinister parts in horror films due to his diminutive and eccentric looks, his prominent teeth and his bony, pock-marked face. He didn't have too many lines. One look at that face and you'll remember him.
His first association with producer Val Lewton was not a particularly good one, although the film, THE GHOST SHIP (1943) turned out to be one of his best. Knaggs played the part of a mute sailor who narrates the story even though he never speaks. This impressively suspenseful Lewton film was directed by Mark Robson, but it became the center of a plagiarism case in which the plaintiff won and all prints of the film had to be pulled from theaters. It sadly did not see the light of a movie or TV screen until the mid-1990's. A stunning DVD version appeared in 2006, thanks to Warner Home Video. For Lewton, there were also performances in ISLE OF THE DEAD (1945) and BEDLAM (1946), both with Boris Karloff. He also supported Karloff in DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME (1947) and landed another part in DICK TRACY VS. CUEBALL (1946).
For Universal, Knaggs had good bits in THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE (1944) with Vincent Price, the all-star monster mash, HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) and the Sherlock Holmes thriller, TERROR BY NIGHT (1946). In between all of these genre productions, Knaggs also managed appearances in some top-rated films like NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART (1943) with Cary Grant, THE LODGER (1944) with Laird Cregor, THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945) with Hurd Hatfield and Donna Reed, FOREVER AMBER (1947) with Linda Darnell and the aforementioned PALEFACE (1948) with Bob Hope and Jane Russell.
After MASTER MINDS in 1949 with the Bowery Boys, Knaggs returned to London where he married Thelma Crawshaw and then returned to Hollywood for a number of film performances. There was CAPTAIN VIDEO: MASTER OF THE STRATOSPHERE, a 1951 serial for Columbia Pictures that ran for 15-chapters in as many weeks, BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE (1952) with Robert Newton, ROGUE'S MARCH (1953) with Peter Lawford and Richard Greene, BOTANY BAY (1953) with Alan Ladd, CASANOVA'S BIG NIGHT (1954) again with Bob Hope and finally, MOONFLEET in 1955, a period adventure film with Stewart Granger and James Mason. It was the final American film to be directed by German-emigre, Fritz Lang. It would be the last film for Skelton Knaggs. He was battling alcohol addiction and died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 43 in Los Angeles.
This post is an entry in the 7th annual WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON, as hosted by Aurora @CitizenScreen of Once Upon A Screen, Paula @Paula_Guthat of Paula's Cinema Club and Kellee @IrishJayhawk66 of Outspoken & Freckled. Follow up with all 3 days of this mega blogging event, Dec 14 – 16, 2018, for informative contributions!
Filed Under: Blogathon, Classic Film Tagged With: Character actors, classic horror, Universal Horror, What A Character!
Announcing the 7th Annual WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON
November 3, 2018 by kelleepratt 18 Comments
Announcing the SEVENTH ANNUAL What A Character! Blogathon
When you re-watch your favorite films, what keeps you coming back for more? A great story with sharp writing? No doubt. Beautiful costumes, swanky set designs, and stunning cinematography? Most assuredly. But the performances are key to any movie. While we all look forward to the popular leading actors, it is the stand-out, scene-stealing supporting actors that feel like "home."
Wise-cracking Eve Arden, nurturing Louise Beavers, sassy Thelma Ritter, double-take pro Edward Everett Horton, tart-tongued Edna May Oliver, gravelly-voiced Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, fatherly Charles Coburn, frazzled Franklin Pangborn, bull frog voiced, barrel-chested Eugene Pallette, cigar chomping Ned Sparks… these and so many more lovable character actors are who we look forward to seeing as our dearest ole chums. We all could use a trusted sidekick.
For the seventh consecutive year, we as the blogathon hosting trio of Aurora of Once Upon A Screen/ @CitizenScreen, Paula of Paula's Cinema Club/ @Paula_Guthat, and yours truly Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled/ @IrishJayhawk66 invite you to join us for the WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON 2018, December 14, 15, 16, as we pay tribute to the brilliance of the supporting players.
Our objective for the What A Character! Blogathon has always been to shed the spotlight on these lesser-known but equally talented thespians, whose names usually appeared below the title. If you wish salute your favorite on-screen character actor- the quirky maid, that ornery hotel manager, frustrated maître D', sassy best friend, a hot-tempered heavy, flabbergasted father, sarcastic sidekick, grumpy boss, gobsmacked butler- then you've come to the right place. Please review the guidelines below first, and leave me a comment.
Let at least one of the hosts know which character actor is your choice.
Don't take it for granted we know exactly who you are or where your blog resides – please include the title and URL of your blog, also your Twitter handle if you have one.
We will not accept repeats (previously published posts), or duplicates, since there are so many greats worthy of attention, but your choices are not limited to classics. You can choose any character actor from any era and from the medium of television, which has featured talented regulars since the beginning, and continues to do so.
Publish your WAC! post on either December 14, 15, or 16, 2018. Let us know if you have a date preference; otherwise, we'll split publicizing duties equally among the three days.
Please include one of our banners (see below) within your What A Character! post.
Additionally, we appreciate when you include [one of] the WAC! 2018 event banner[s] included in this post on your blog itself to help us promote the event.
Thank you for sending any of us the direct link to your post once you have published it. Searching on social media sites can lead to missed entries.
My contact info: prattkellee@gmail.com / twitter~ @IrishJayhawk66 ~or, simply leave a comment below
HAVE FUN and spread the word!
Here are the spectacular banners Aurora has created for you to promote on your blogs…
Participating blogs and their choice of actors:
Walter Abel ~ Another Old Movie Blog
Sara Allgood ~Maddy Loves Her Classic Films
Lionel Atwill ~ Paula's Cinema Club
Beulah Bondi ~ Once Upon A Screen
Elisha Cook, Jr. ~ Outspoken & Freckled
Jean Dixon ~ One Gal's Musings
Alan Hale (Sr) ~ Silver Screen Classics
Margaret Hamilton ~ Wide Screen World
Ed Harris ~ Reel Weedgie Midget Reviews
Eileen Heckart ~ The Last Drive-In
Frieda Inescort ~ Sister Celluloid
Skelton Knaggs ~ Bill Shaffer, guest blogger on Outspoken & Freckled
Jack Lambert ~ Caftan Woman
Charles McGraw ~ The Old Hollywood Garden
Stephen McNally ~ CineMaven's Essays From The Couch
Agnes Morehead ~ In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood
Eugene Pallette ~ Carole & Co.
Elizabeth Patterson ~ Backstory: A Guide To Classic Film
Nat Pendleton ~ Sarah as guest blogger on Once Upon A Screen
Thelma Ritter ~ A Shroud Of Thoughts
Everett Sloane in LADY FROM SHANGHAI ~ Silver Screenings
Kay Thompson ~ The Lady Eve's Reel Life
*This WAC! Blogathon is dedicated in memory to two very fine character actors whom we lost this year. James Karen (1923 – 2018) was a hard-working actor who was a personal friend of Buster Keaton and frequent attendee of the Buster Keaton Celebration in Kansas and the TCMFF. Vanessa Marquez (1968 – 2018) was an extraordinary actress of film and TV and an even better friend. She is greatly missed and we continue to hold her close in our hearts.
Thank you to TCM for the tagline inspiration and to all you bloggers and film fans for your ongoing participation and support for seven years running! And a big ShoutOut to my fellow co-hosts who inspire me all year long for being such marvelous and lovely characters themselves!
~Kellee
Filed Under: Blogathon, Classic Film, classic film review, classic tv, Modern Film, New classics Tagged With: Character actors, Classic Film, movies, supporting role, tv
Zasu Pitts, Funny Lady with a Funny Name
December 17, 2017 by kelleepratt 12 Comments
First things first. Before I can gush on about this distinctively funny lady with the fluttering hands that stole every scene, one must learn how to say her name correctly. Oh sure, many of my 'old movie weirdo' friends may know, but it's a common mistake. To honor her properly, let's begin with this lesson, provided via Thelma Todd and ZaSu herself:
YouTube: ZaSu Pitts: Learn My Name!
Now that we all know how say "Say-zoo," a name which is a combo of her aunts Eliza and Susan, let's explore the memorable ways this distinctive lady who began life not too far from me in Parsons, Kansas, became one of the most recognized faces in Hollywood.
Her most notable characters were the woeful worrywarts. Physically, her appearance was defined by delicate, thin lines and a frequent focus on her ever- waving, fidgeting fingers. Her tiny mouth was shaped like a kewpie doll with the corners often turned down. Her large, soft eyes were doe-like and she usually looked upward. Her voice had a distinctive mumbling of melancholic concern, often with an "oh dear…" muttering to herself. She gained the reputation of stealing every scene.
ZaSu's signature characterizations were such a fan favorite she was parodied in cartoons, a reflection that she was immersed in pop culture. If you've seen Olive Oyl from Max Fleischer's Popeye the Sailor cartoons, you are already familiar with the signature ZaSu Pitts tone and voice. She was also featured in Looney Tunes, in Hollywood-ribbing toons like "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood."
Pitts often faced the challenge of looking too similar to Lillian Gish. Here, with Mary Pickford, THE LITTLE PRINCESS (1917).
Born Eliza Susan Pitts on January 3rd, 1894 (her 124th birthday is next month), the family moved to Santa Cruz, California seeking sunnier opportunities. Despite her shy demeanor and bird-like qualities, Pitts was a natural performing on stage and moved to LA by age twenty-one. Working a small part with icon Mary Pickford, A LITTLE PRINCESS (1917) was her first break on the big screen.
Erich von Stroheim's masterpiece GREED
Soon, she was starring in one-reelers and feature films, working with greats like directors King Vidor and Eric Von Stroheim (i.e. the silent masterpiece, GREED)- in a range of parts from tragedy to comedy to drama. Her popularity increased in the 1930s, with a demand for her in character roles in comedies. She was partnered in series with Thelma Todd (Hal Roach promoted the two as a female Laurel and Hardy) and with Slim Summerville.
mastering comedy with Thelma Todd
The 1940s brought her success to radio, vaudeville and Broadway, working with the biggest names in entertainment. She transitioned easily to television in the 1950s, in popular roles like cruise ship beautician Elvira Nugent on "The Gale Storm Show." But this decade also introduced ill health, with a cancer diagnosis. As a fitting tribute to her own career, her last role would be in the epic ensemble of comic legends, in IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (1963). Even with health battles, she continued working until her death at the age of sixty-nine on June 7, 1963.
Pitts' last role in IT's A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD
ZaSu Pitts was a true wallflower success story. She proved that a shy girl from Kansas, with more matronly than cover-girl looks, could be a huge star as a character actress. She worked from the silents to the sixties, in every entertainment medium (film, radio, vaudeville, television and on Broadway), from dramatic roles to comedy, and she worked with some of the biggest stars and filmmakers in Hollywood's heydays.
The more ZaSu films I watch, the more I am thoroughly charmed by her. And to see her range from tragic epic dramatic roles like GREED to super silly shorts with Thelma Todd, I am also in awe of her talent. What a character!
This article on character acting legend ZaSu Pitts is my contribution to the 6th annual WHAT A CHARACTER Blogathon, hosted by Aurora of Once Upon a Screen, Paula of Paula's Cinema Club and yours truly. You can read the other entries on character actors from this blogathon from days one, two and three:
Filed Under: Blogathon, Classic Film, classic tv, silent film Tagged With: beloved character actors, Character actors, classic TV, female comediennes, Silent film, What A Character!
It's here! 6th Annual WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon: Day One
The anticipation is over! Today we bring you the first day of the 6th annual What A Character Blogathon, hosted by yours truly and my fellow co-hosts, the classic film loving ladies: Paula of Paula's Cinema Club @Paula_Guthat and Aurora of Once Upon A Screen @CitizenScreenings.
As promised, this annual event celebrates the character actors. Quirky and silly roles in the service industry like the frustrated hotel manager or the reliable and sharp-witted maid, a supportive sidekick, the best friend… in so many ways, the character role is often our favorite scene-stealing performances of a film. We invite bloggers to scribe on their favorite characters. Now let's begin!
Ruth of Silver Screenings brings us THE BEAUTIFUL REFUGEES OF CASABLANCA . She focuses on the lesser-known players in the iconic film in stunning imagery.
Real Weegie Midget Reviews talks about IAN MCSHANE whom he describes as "always been there in movies, on TV and now making his God-like presence known… from cheeky British Chappie to "Dallas" to God-like parts."
Jack Deth, as guest blogger on Paula's Cinema Club, describes the "wise ass to the stars" DANIEL STERN, "creating multiple personae for cinema and television, while holding on tightly to his gift of dry, wry. sarcastic and occasional wise-ass humor."
Steve Bailey of Movie Movie Blog Blog offers a glimpse into "one of those actors whom most people probably wouldn't recognize by name, but as soon as they see him on-screen, they say, "Yeah, I've seen that guy before." BRUCE ALTMAN, UNHERALDED SUPPORTING ACTOR.
Wolffian Classics Movies Digest explores EUGENE PALLETTE, "simply a marvelous actor in any role."
Chris of Blog Of The Darned profiles CHARLES LANE, "Specializing in crabby authority figures, Charles Lane was the go-to guy when film or TV producers needed a mean miserly lawyer, judge, tax collector, banker, or landlord."
Paddy of Caftan Woman hears the "full, rich baritone – a round voice, a pleasing voice – a voice in control of itself" of JOHN ALEXANDER We know that voice!
Annette of Hometowns To Hollywood road trips via Minnesota to review CLINTON SUNDBERG
Quiggy of The Midnite Drive-In takes us on a ROAD TO MADNESS, exploring the many character roles of It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
A Person In The Dark reviews "a real pro" who worked both stage and screen, from the silents to the sixties, REGINALD DENNY.
Movie Mom provides her take on THELMA RITTER For her, "Ritter is the very essence of the character actor, creating vitally real, relatable characters who made the world around the stars real and illuminate the story's themes."
Thoughts All Sorts shows love for A Strong Character in MARK STRONG.
More to come! Return back here throughout the day for more entries. As our weekend of What A Character! Blogathon continues, explore Day Two with Aurora at ONCE UPON A SCREEN and Day Three with Paula at PAULA'S CINEMA CLUB.
Filed Under: Blogathon, classic film review, Modern Film, New classics, silent film Tagged With: Character actors, What A Character!
Announcement: 6th Annual WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON
Announcing the SIXTH ANNUAL What A Character! Blogathon
When you think about your very favorite classic movies, what makes them your favorites? The films worth watching multiple times, endlessly discussing, or just chilling out with…what makes them the cinematic equivalent of comfort food? Sure, great writing is key, but those lines are just words without the right actors delivering them. Beautiful costumes are great, but without the right actors wearing them, they're just clothes. Stunning, authentic art direction and set design are wonderful, but empty, without the right actors inhabiting that world. And gorgeous cinematography can only hold your eye for so long, without the right actors being lit. And so on.
Chances are, it's not just the perfect leads that win your go-to films their place in your heart — it's their pals and sidekicks as well. The wise-cracking best friend or fellow chorine, cranky boss, sympathetic bartender, confirmed spinster secretary, intrepid cop, jealous girlfriend, second-in-command racketeer or bomber pilot, workaholic director…faces familiar from their appearances in many films over the years, their names — not so much. To take a couple obvious examples, what would Casablanca be without Dooley Wilson, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Madeleine LeBeau, John Qualen, and Leonid Kinskey? How about My Man Godfrey without Alice Brady, Eugene Pallette, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Alan Mowbray, and Mischa Auer? Probably pretty good films, but just not the same, not as lovable, not as classic.
Thus the objective of the What A Character! Blogathon has always been to shed the spotlight on these lesser-known but equally talented thespians, whose names usually appeared below the title, but who always elevated any kind of material from Oscar-winning to the most tired, often without saying a word. Please join us- Paula of Paula's Cinema Club/ @Paula_Guthat, Aurora of Once Upon A Screen/ @CitizenScreen, and yours truly Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled/ @IrishJayhawk66 – for the SIXTH year in a row of paying tribute to the versatility and depth of supporting players.
If a salute to lesser-known but essential Hollywood thespians is right up your movie alley, please review the guidelines below, then leave me a comment below.
Please include [one of] the WAC! 2017 event banner[s] included in this post on your blog to help us promote the event. Please also include the banner in your What A Character! post.
Please send any of us the direct link to your post once you have published it. Searching on social media sites can lead to missed entries. My contact info: prattkellee@gmail.com / twitter~ @IrishJayhawk66 ~or, simply leave a comment below
Thank you to TCM for the tagline inspiration and to all you bloggers and film fans for your ongoing participation and support for six years running!
Caftan Woman – John Alexander
Movie Movie Blog Blog – Bruce Altman
Taking Up Room – Eve Arden
The Last Drive In – Martin Balsam
Old Hollywood Films – Beulah Bondi
Wide Screen World – Alan Hale, Sr.
The Old Hollywood Garden – Edward Everett Horton
Real Weegie Midget Reviews – Ian McShane
In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood – Agnes Moorehead
Wolfian Classic Movies Digest – Eugene Pallette
Carole & Co. – Nat Pendleton
Outspoken & Freckled – ZaSu Pitts
The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog – Michael Ripper
The Dream Book Blog – Elizabeth Russell
A Shroud of Thoughts – William Schallert
Cinematic Scribblings – Haruko Sugimura
Hometowns to Hollywood – Clinton Sundberg
Once Upon a Screen – Mary Wickes
Silver Screenings – European Character Actors in Casablanca
Silver Scenes – TBA
Filed Under: Blogathon Tagged With: Character actors, What A Character!
Joan Blondell, Shining Star Forced to be a Satellite
"I don't know what the secret to longevity as an actress is… maybe it's the audience seeing itself in you." … Joan Blondell
Joanie should know. Joan Blondell, born Rose Joan Blondell on August 30, 1906, in NYC, lived her entire life performing on stage and screen. She died of leukemia on December 25, 1979 in Santa Monica, CA. It is bittersweet to honor this remarkable woman so close to what will be the 37th anniversary of her death this Christmas day.
Joan was born to entertain audiences. She cut her teeth working with her comic parents on the vaudeville stages from age three to seventeen, while educated at the Professional Children's School. She was a seasoned pro by the time she transitioned to the Ziegfeld Follies and then onto the Broadway stage.
It was a Broadway production that paired her with James Cagney, which lead to five more celebrated film features, starting with John G. Adolfi's SINNERS' HOLIDAY (1931) where they reprised their stage roles. The other Blondell/Cagney paired films that followed are: William Wellman's OTHER MEN'S WOMEN (1931), William Wellman's THE PUBLIC ENEMY (1931), Howard Hawks' THE CROWD ROARS (1932), Lloyd Bacon's FOOTLIGHT PARADE (1933), and HE WAS HER MAN (1934). The chemistry sizzle on the screen was visible between these two talents, making for memorable performances that launched both of their careers into an explosion of roles in the Pre-Code era. While they supposedly kept their romance limited to the screen, Cagney said she was the only woman other than his wife he ever loved.
But to give you some perspective on just how much Blondell worked starting with the early talkies of the Pre-Codes and throughout the duration of the 1930s, she was in over fifty films during that decade alone. Most of this ridiculously busy schedule could be attributed to her contract with Warner Brothers. They kept her working fast and furious in roles at a time when being employed was a very good thing. And she enjoyed her WB family of co-star friends and filming crews immensely. The problem was, while she found herself in-demand and in work, she was not only typecast but stuck below the top tier of the marquee.
While others demanded more and knew how to cause ripples within the political studio system in a persuasive way (like her good friend Bette Davis), Blondell thought of her job as a job. Joan punched the clock and went home when the job was done. She worked extremely hard, acted consistently professional, but didn't desire to play the ambitious game.
Working free of the studio playbook in the 1940s and 1950s, the work was less frequent and the pace less brutal; yet offered some meatier roles, such as Gail Richards in TOPPER RETURNS (1941), Aunt Sissy in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (1945), Zeena Krumbein in NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947), and Annie Rawlins in THE BLUE VEIL (1951) for which she was nominated for An Oscar, Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Even still, she struggled to garner critical acclaim in a way that moved her name up to the leading lady, mega star status.
The 1950s ushered in the television age and Joan Blondell was determined to be a player. The frequency of roles kept her busier but yet again, she found herself working harder, not smarter in struggling to move her name to the top position in billing.
The 1960s and 1970s brought memorable roles such as Jenny in SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUNFIGHTER (1971), Lady Fingers in THE CINCINNATI KID (1965), Sarah Goode in OPENING NIGHT (1977) and Dolly in THE CHAMP (1979). Her TV work continued with roles such as Lottie Hatfield in "Here Come the Brides." Fans unaware of her saucy and leggy days as a Pre-Code platinum blonde may know her more for her later work such as Vi in GREASE (1978) or caught her in reruns from retro TV networks such her bit parts in 50's TV westerns, Starsky and Hutch (1976), The Love Boat (1978), Fantasy Island (1979) and so much more.
She worked right up until the end, even while battling the Leukemia that ultimately took her life in 1979, with her last role being Aunt Coll in THE WOMAN INSIDE (1981), released posthumously. With 160 acting credits to her name, and after publishing her popular 1972 autobiographical novel "Center Door Fancy," Joan never quit.
Married three times, divorced three times, her first husband famed cinematographer George S. Barnes (m. 1933-1936) was a decision reflecting her "naive sophisticate"(as James Cagney called her) ways of a younger Joanie, fresh in her film career. Emotionally dysfunctional, this relationship was fated for disaster. Barnes was still married to his third wife as their romance grew and he assured her the marriage was on paper only and would be ended swiftly. During this time of officially divorcing his third wife and marrying Joan (he went on to marry for a total seven times), she became pregnant and he arranged for the termination. Their son and only child from the marriage, TV producer/director Norman Scott Barnes was born in 1934 but later changed his last name to Powell in 1938 when Barnes relinquished all parental rights and he was adopted by Joan's second husband.
Her second marriage to actor Dick Powell (m. 1936-1944) was more stable but tepid in romance. In addition to adopting Norman, they had a child together, Ellen Powell, who is known for her makeup department work in film and tv, such as her Emmy nominated work in hair styling.
Joan and Dick made ten musicals together. But after they both had grown weary of the incessant typecasting of formulaic musicals each began over a decade prior, just as they attempted to move their careers in more dramatic roles, their marriage also became stagnant. Right up until the time Dick left Joan for actress June Allyson. In this same pivotal year Dick Powell left one marriage for another, he left his sugary musicals and boyish charm behind with MURDER MY SWEET (1944), launching a dramatically different type in his cinematic world with film noir and never looked back.
Her last husband (m. 1947-1950), producer Michael Todd was said to be physically abusive and a financial mess, thanks to heavy gambling and repeatedly poor investments. She found this relationship to be her most passionate. Great for the bedroom initially but later his behavior revealed itself into abuse. His chaotic ways also wiped out her savings. So she continued to work for the next three decades-because financially she had to.
She wasn't always lucky in love or ambition, but certainly made up for it in talent, enduring work ethic and generosity of spirit. Time after time, this unforgettable performer played second-fiddle, the rapid-fire, sharp-tongued best friend, the second lead, the snarky office gal, the lingerie-clad roomie, the sharp opportunist, the frowzy, lovable saloon owner, the gangster's girlfriend, the wise aunt, and the down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is scene-stealer. She was all these nuances of woman and more. She mastered tv and film, Pre-Codes, dramas, and comedies. But she never truly reached the well-deserved splendor of consistent top billing.
While I admire the entire breadth of Joan Blondell's work, I am always biased towards her early days of Pre-Codes. You couldn't find a better pair of sexy gams in those Busby Berkley musicals and she delivered such hilariously sassy lines with the perfect punch. Take a look at her delicious delivery of "As long as they've got sidewalks, YOU'VE got a job!" as she proceeds to kick the woman out the door, right in the tuchus, in Lloyd Bacon's FOOTLIGHT PARADE (1933) or her haunting "My Forgotten Man" in Mervyn LeRoy's THE GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933. There are too many to list here (because the woman was a damn work-horse during those years!) But no matter how small the role, Joan Blondell made it her own and she made it memorable. So yes, Joanie, you did know the secret to longevity as actress, and perhaps your greatest role in life was that of survivor- a role this audience member and countless other fans can relate.
*This was my contribution to the What A Character! Blogathon, hosted by Aurora of Once Upon A Screen, Paula of Paula's Cinema Club, and yours truly. Please review all three days for a recap of fantastic character actor tributes… THANK YOU & ENJOY!! 🙂
day one: kellee
day two: aurora
day three: paula
Filed Under: Blogathon Tagged With: beloved character actors, Character actors, Classic Film, Joan Blondell, Pre-Code, Pre-Code women, retro TV, What A Character!
It's here! 5th annual WHAT A CHARACTER! BLOGATHON: Day 1
The day has finally arrived to honor those unsung heroes of the silver screen, the character actor. For the 5th year, the classic film obsessed trio of Aurora aka @CitizenScreen of ONCE UPON A SCREEN, Paula aka @TCM_Party & @Paula_Guthat of PAULA'S CINEMA CLUB and yours truly, Kellee aka @Irishjayhawk66 of OUTSPOKEN & FRECKLED bring you this film community tribute to the marvelous scene-stealers.
Movies Silently profiles the popular character actor known for his soothing voice, EDWARD EVERETT HORTON in one of his early talkies, After The Silents: LONELY WIVES 1931.
The Wonderful World of Cinema explains How Arthur Kennedy Changed My Cinematic Life. As Virginie writes, "Arthur Kennedy was Arthur Kennedy, he couldn't have been anybody else and nobody could have been him."
Real Weegie Midget Reviews revisits a tribute post with Looking Back at the Actor, the Voice and Movies of ALAN RICKMAN.
Jack Deth, as guest blogger on Paulas Cinema Club, offers up a "Shot and a Chaser" of two works of M. EMMET WALSH:
As he summarizes, "Though I was well-versed in Walsh's work prior to these initial meetings, it's these two roles which reached out, took hold, and shook me to this actor's grossly underestimated talents."
Then, Theresa of CINEMAVEN'S Essays From The Couch takes on a "Mighty Roman", RUTH ROMAN, in her performance in "Tomorrow Is Another Day" 1951.
As she describes Roman, "There's a touch of danger in her. Her performances are believable and with conviction. I'm not quite sure why she really wasn't a bigger star." Read more to see what Theresa unveils.
Next, Thoughts All Sorts examines the many character lives of MICHAEL WINCOTT.
As this blogger aptly scribes on Wincott, "There was something about him that just drew me in…Or, maybe it's just that he's a great artist, understated but vital." We couldn't agree more.
Next up, The Last Drive In views All Kinds of Observable Differences in the World of RUTH GORDON for us.
As this blogger writes, "There's a vast dimension and range to Ruth Gordon's work both her screenwriting and her acting, the effects leave a glowing trail like a shooting star." Amen to that!
I will continue to update this list throughout the day and don't forget to look on twitter for contributor shout-outs, too. So check back frequently! These participating writers continue to educate and dazzle us so I encourage you to not only read, but give lovely feedback, to these fine folks.
Look for day two and day three of this mega blogging event via my co-hosts, Aurora and Paula… much more to enjoy throughout the entire weekend!
A huge THANK YOU to all the contributors and my cinematic charming co-hosts! … Kellee
Filed Under: Blogathon Tagged With: beloved character actors, Character actors, Classic Film, What A Character!
Announcement: 5th annual WHAT A CHARACTER Blogathon
"What's great about being a character actor is you know that you can survive forever. It's not about the gloss of your eyebrows." – Martin Short
We're back for a fifth consecutive year to honor the versatility and depth of supporting players with the WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon. Based on a phrase borrowed from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) the WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon is an event that many look forward to each year. Your enthusiasm for paying tribute to the oft nameless faces that appear in countless beloved classic movies is admirable. Aurora, Paula and I extend a sincere thanks to all the bloggers who have joined us in the previous four years and invite you all to help us make the fifth anniversary extra special.
By now you know the drill. This is for the Louise Beavers and Eddie Andersons of the world, the names that never appeared above the title. If this is right up your movie alley then give us a shout out…
Kellee at Outspoken & Freckled and (@IrishJayhawk66) and Kellee Pratt
Paula at Paula's Cinema Club and (@Paula_Guthat) and Paula Guthat
Aurora at Once Upon a Screen and (@CitizenScreen) and Citizen Screen
And please adhere to the following:
-Let one of the hosts know which character actor is your choice.
-We will not accept repeats since there are so many greats worthy of attention, but your choices are not limited to classics. You can choose any character actor from any era and from the medium of television, which featured a number of talented regulars. Scroll down to see the list of chosen characters.
-Don't take it for granted we know exactly who you are or where your blog resides – please include the title and url to your blog.
-Publish the post for either December 16, 17 & 18. Let us know if you have a date preference, otherwise we'll split publicizing duties equally among the three days.
-Please include one of Paula's beautiful event banners on your blog to help us promote the event and include it in your post.
-It would be really helpful if you can send any of us the direct link to your post. Searching on social media sites can lead to missed entries.
#WhatACharacter Roll Call
Outspoken & Freckled – Joan Blondell
Cindy Bruchman – Eileen Brennan
Blogferatu – John Carradine
Film Noir Archive – Elisha Cook, Jr.
Wanna Be Film Critic – Jack Davenport
Critica Retro – Margaret Dumont
Shadows and Satin – Hope Emerson
Immortal Ephemera – Stanley Fields
The Last Drive In – Ruth Gordon
Old Hollywood Films – Sidney Greenstreet
Once Upon a Screen – Edmund Gwenn
The Midnight Drive-In – John Hillerman
Movies Silently – Edward Everett Horton
The Wonderful World of Cinema – Arthur Kennedy
A Shroud Of Thoughts – Charles Lane
Gary Pratt/ guest post on Outspoken & Freckled – Victor Mclaglen
Anna, Look! – Ben Mendelsohn
In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood – Agnes Morehead
Phyllis Loves Classic Movies – Mildred Natwick
Wolffian Classics Movies Digest – Una O'Connor
RealweegieMidgit Reviews – Alan Rickman
Life's Daily Lessons – Margaret Rutherford
Christina Wehner – Takashi Shimura
Movie Movie Blog Blog – JK Simmons
CineMaven's Essays From The Couch – Art Smith
Phyllis Loves Classic Movies – George Tobias
Jack Deth/ guest post on Paula's Cinema Club – M Emmett Walsh
Blog Of The Darned – David Wayne
Thoughts All Sorts – Michael Wincott
Caftan Woman – Cora Witherspoon
A big thank you – HAPPY BLOGGING!
Filed Under: Blogathon Tagged With: Blogathons, Character actors, Classic Film, What A Character!
Last Day of the 2015 WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon
November 23, 2015 by kelleepratt 6 Comments
Elsa is beside herself and so are we. It is bittersweet to see the last day arrive for our 4th annual WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon. We've come to realize you love this blogathon as much as we do. With good reason- why not celebrate those fun, quirky character actors that take those small roles and steal every scene? So here we have arrived to the third and final day to honor character actors of new and old.
Let's kick it off with…
LOUISE BEAVERS, who according to GIRLS DO FILM, "imbued each role with subtlety and a certain dignity, forcing audiences to acknowledge her characters despite the stereotype." A must-read on that character actor you may not know the name, but you undoubtedly know her.
MOVIE CLASSICS unravels the mystery behind the allusive "unnamed old woman" who starred on stage and over 70 films, ZEFFIE TILBURY. A fascinating read!
SHADOWS AND SATIN adds WILLIAM CONRAD into her month-long Noirvember event with a profile on the prolific star of radio and TV but as she scribes, "he should also be honored for the versatility that allowed him to wear the hats of producer, director, executive, and one of the greatest screen heavies of film noir."
MOVIE FAN FARE! brings us a delightful look at MARIA OUSPENSKAYA: (Screen) Life Begins at 60, "whose passion for acting took her from the remotest regions of her native Russia to the Broadway stage and the highest accolades of Hollywood." Talk about a true character.
CRITICA RETRO educates us on the great Brazilian character actor WILSON GREY who "is proof that it does not take the protagonist to be memorable – and leave their mark forever in the history of cinema."
IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD goes deep with a tribute to the legendary ETHEL BARRYMORE: A PROMINENT STAPLE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY who is "remembered as one of the brightest stars to ever have her presence grace the stage and screen." We couldn't agree more.
SMITTEN KITTEN VINTAGE takes a peek at the hilarious JOE E. BROWN who as Rhonda points out, "will always be remembered for his giant smile and his comedic timing. I will remember him as a man who could make me laugh by just being himself."
WAC co-hostess with the most-ess Aurora of ONCE UPON A SCREEN provides us with fantastic insight on THE ROTUND and GRAVEL VOICED OL RELIABLE EUGENE PALLETTE . As she astutely observes, "the admiration for Pallette is warranted as his rotund frame and gravel-voiced delivery will reliably continue to entertain for as long as we have classic movies to enjoy."
I SEE A DARK THEATER provides a insight into THE MARVELOUS MARSHA HUNT who has… "always been a fighter. In fact, she continues to be one to this day with the signature elegance and humility she's possessed for the past 98 years."
BLOG OF THE DARNED presents "When You Have To Shoot, Shoot, Don't Talk- What a Character Blogathon: ELI WALLACH." As he puts it, "I think that is the sign of really great actor, he makes whatever he's in that much better. Old or young, that's what Eli Wallach did."
HOMETOWNS TO HOLLYWOOD gives us a career perspective on a character actor favorite… the beautiful, funny and sometimes troubled life of UNA MERKEL
I urge you to check back here throughout the day as more terrific posts come tumbling in. I will update as they come in.
*announcement post
*day one posts
*day two posts
On behalf of my fellow co-hosts Aurora of Once Upon A Screen, Paula of Paula's Cinema Club, and myself- we THANK YOU for joining in, reading on and celebrating with us this love and appreciation of those fabulous character actors!
CMBA's Planes, Trains, and Automobiles blogathon… TAXI! (1932)
October 24, 2015 by kelleepratt 4 Comments
Crooked cabbies, hot Irish tempers, and bad situations with good intentions. Roy Del Ruth's 1932 PreCode nugget has a variety sampling of yummy delights.
As if struggling to make ends meet as a taxi driver in the Depression isn't bad enough, mafia styling competition just made it worse. Our story begins with Guy Kibbee as ole man Pop Riley who has comfortably carved out a little corner for his meager cab business. But his crooked competition "Consolidated" would feel more comfortable taking it all for themselves. In their nasty ways, David Landau as Buck Gerard arranges for his man in a truck (brawn over brains fave character actor Nat Pendleton) to crash in "accidentally" to said cabbie and thereby eliminate his Consolidated competition. Pops Riley is justifiably incensed, pulls out a gun and shoot down the man who just destroyed his means to earn a living.
Pop's daughter is the beautiful, doe-eyed Loretta Young as Sue. Her approach to resolve these troubled matters is a non-violent, peaceful one. Exactly opposite in ideology is young cabbie James Cagney as Mike Nolan. Despite their differences, opposites soon attract and after Pop Riley dies in a prison hospital as he serves his time for his revengeful crime, Sue and Mike get married. George E. Stone as Skeets and Leila Bennett as Ruby serve as the comical sidekicks and wingmen for the two lovebirds.
Nolan's temper is tested more than once as we see him lose his patience with a clueless man on the elevator who turns out to be the marriage license clerk and later on their wedding night at a dance club when Buck Gerard himself pokes the bear by antagonizing Nolan and lands up stabbing the wrong Nolan boy. Danny Nolan doesn't make it on the operating table. Now Mike is a man on a mission, for fateful and deadly revenge. But at what cost? Is his marriage worth sacrificing in order to balance the scales of justice on his own terms? To what length will Sue go to protect her man from serving inevitable prison time for murder, even as justified as it may be, including paying for Buck's escape? I won't spoil the real conclusion but rest assured it all balances out nicely in the end.
This film is less about public transportation and more about dealing within our constraints and challenges in a troubled world, while seeking justice. A balancing act of life, especially for a feisty Irish life. The character studies are splendid.
Funny duo Stone and Bennett as Skeet and Ruby are a quirky pair that provide witty breaks throughout. Dry cynicism with a nasal dead-pan Bennett especially, as she's given generous latitude of lines to ramble on nonsensically, yet it delivers. Ruby to Skeet: "C'mon I feel like being bored and you can do the job better than anybody I know."
Sweet Loretta Young is a mere nineteen years old here and it's tough to look away. Her beauty is stunning and her acting skills show evidence of her long career to come.
Cagney's early career portrayal shows off his first on-screen dancing, with a fox trot dance-off contest against George Raft! It's also his film appearance with the "you dirty rat" claim to fame. Only it's not. Well, not quite. To be specific, James Cagney boldly threatens, "Come out and take it you dirty, yellow-bellied rat or I'll give it to you through the door!" As for his performance itself, Cagney was already showing us the variety, depth and brilliance of his talents. From speaking in convincing yiddish in an opening scene to his moving scene of heart-break of grieving his brother's loss, this little film has a lot to offer.
*This was my contribution to CMBA's PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES Blogathon. Only members of the Classic Movie Blog Association may participate and I'm proud to belong to this fun group of talented writers.
Filed Under: Blogathon, classic film review Tagged With: Character actors, George Raft, James Cagney, Loretta Young, Pre-Code films