Mothers, mammies, and old maids : twenty-five character actresses of golden age Hollywood / Axel Nissen ; foreword by Sin Phillips.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nissen, Axel.

Contributor:

Phillips, Siân, 1933-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women in motion pictures.

Motion picture actors and actresses--California--Los Angeles--Biography.

Motion picture actors and actresses.

Character actors and actresses--California--Los Angeles--Biography.

Character actors and actresses.

California--Los Angeles.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 242 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2012]

Summary:

"This survey focuses upon the typical roles available to character actresses in classic Hollywood films. Each profile captures the essence of the individual performer's on-screen persona, unique talents and popular appeal--with special emphasis on the actress's single definitive performance. The appendix offers a list of "The Top 100 Performances by Character Actresses in Hollywood, 1930-1960.""--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Mother, May I? Clara Blandick in Shopworn (1932) 5

What a Pal: Helen Broderick in Top Hat (1935) 12

Lady Detective: Constance Collier in Shadow of Doubt (1935) 18

Déclassée: Jane Cowl in Payment on Demand (1951) 27

Mother Courage: Henrietta Crosman in Pilgrimage (1933) 35

Auntz: Cecil Cunningham in The Awful Truth (1937) 43

Old Reliable: Esther Dale in My Reputation (1946) 49

The Dilapidated Diva: Marie Dressier in Dinner at Eight (1933) 56

The Last Dowager: Isobel Elsom in Ladies in Retirement (1941) 65

Larger Than Life: Hope Emerson in Cry of the City (1948) 74

Deep Freeze: Mary Forbes in You Can't Take It with You (1938) 81

Clothes Horse: Marjorie Gateson in Cocktail Hour (1933) 88

Monster Mom: Louise Closser Hale in Another Language (1933) 95

Madame Noir: Esther Howard in Born to Kill (1947) 106

Asylums and Old Lace: Josephine Hull in Harvey (1950) 114

Maid in America: Patsy Kelly in Private Number (1936) 122

Grandmommie Dearest: Alma Kruger in These Three (1936) 131

The Real Thing: Aline MacMahon in Side Streets (1934) 139

Woman of the People: Beryl Mercer in Outward Bound (1930) 148

Her Girl Friday: Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959) 156

Killing Your Babies: Marjorie Rambeau in Slander (1957) 166

Big Mama: Evelyn Varden in Hilda Crane (1956) 176

Grandma from Hell: Queenie Vassar in Primrose Path (1940) 184

Thoroughly Modern Mammy: Ethel Waters in The Member of the Wedding (1952) 191

Dowager Deluxe: Helen Westley in Splendor (1935) 199.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780786461370

0786461373

OCLC:

761369278