THE SCENE STEALERS -- CHARACTER ACTRESSES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE (Ep. 17)

In the film Mildred Pierce (1945), EVE ARDEN manages to steal almost every scene she’s in. And, while talking with JOAN CRAWFORD’s Mildred about her spoiled, bratty daughter, Veda (ANN BLYTH), she even delivers the film’s most iconic line, “Personally, Veda's convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young.” That is the power of a skilled character actress. Their scenes might be limited, and their names may not be above the title, but with the lift of an eyebrow, the purse of a lip, or the widening of their eyes, they can pull focus and make you forget all about the stars. In this week’s episode, we discuss the illustrious careers and lives of some of the finest character actresses to ever work in film.

SHOW NOTES:

Sources:

Beulah Bondi: A Life On Stage and Screen (2021), by Axel Nissen

Mary Wickes: I’ve Seen That Face Before (2016), by Steve Taravella

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Movie Character Actors (1986), by David Quinlan

The Name Below The Title (2018), by Rupert Alistair

The Film Encyclopedia (1994), By Ephraim Katz

Leonard Maltin’s Movie Encyclopedia (1994), by Leonard Maltin

IMDBPro.com

Wikipedia.com


Stars / Movies Mentioned:

BEULAH BONDI —It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Finishing School (1934), Penny Serenade (1941), Remember The Night (1940), The Gorgeous Hussey (1936), Of Human Hearts (1938). Make Way For Tomorrow (1937)

ELIZABETH PATTERSON — The Boy Friend (1927), Remember The Night (1940), Tarnished Lady (1931), Bill of Divorcement (1933), No Man Of Her Own (1932), Tobacco Road (1941), The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Cat Creeps (1930), Sing You Sinners (1938), I Married A Witch (1942), Hail The Conquering Hero (1944), Little Women (1949)

VIRGINIA CHRISTINE — Edge of Darkness (1943), The Mummy’s Curse (1944), The Killers (1946), The Killers (1964), Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967), The Men (1950), Cyrano De Bergerac (1950), High Noon (1952), Not As A Stranger (1955)

SARA HADEN — The Andy Hardy series (1941 - 1958), The Bishop’s Wife (1947), Spitfire (1934), Captain January (1936), The Shop Around The Corner (1940), Come Back Miss Phipps (1941), Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945), Undercover of Night (1934)

MARY WICKES — The Man Who Came To Dinner (1942), Now Voyager (1942), White Christmas (1954), The Music Man (1962), The Trouble With Angels (1966), Sister Act (1992). Sister Act 2: Back In the Habit (1993), Postcards From The Edge (1990)

LOUISE BEAVERS — Holiday Inn (1942), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), Imitation of Life (1934), Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1927), What Price Hollywood (1931), She Done Him Wrong (1933), 42nd Street (1933), Reform School (1939)