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.
General
Imprint: |
McFarland & Company
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
June 2011 |
First published: |
July 2011 |
Authors: |
Axel Nissen
|
Dimensions: |
253 x 175 x 16mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
256 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-7864-6110-3 |
Categories: |
Books >
Arts & Architecture >
General
|
LSN: |
0-7864-6110-1 |
Barcode: |
9780786461103 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!