HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN AGE: THE GRAMMAR GIRLS
Speaking of distinctive actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age, we turn from glamour girls (in my previous post) to a group of gals who made up in individuality what they lacked in allure. There were perhaps no actresses more unique and unforgettable in any category than the so-called character actors. Bring up such names as Margaret Hamilton, Marjorie Main, and Margaret Dumont (apart from their photos) to any classic film buff, and there’d be no problem matching which name belongs with which (or witch) face; same with their immediately recognizable voices. In a manner of speaking, they were vocal gold.
BTW, I have something in common with That Hamilton Woman. Like my wife, she was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was once a teacher….but unlike my wife, she was unlike my wife (and vice versa….or is it verse vica).
Character actresses may not be leading ladies, but there’s one who was always the Main attraction :
My last post started with a birthday girl; this post ends with one….and what a one: Margaret Dumont (born Oct. 20, 1882), the gloriously inimitable foil of Groucho in nine of the Marx Brothers’ thirteen films, as typified by the following story.
In a play in which she played Mrs. Rittenhouse (and which was later made into an early Marx Brothers film), the brothers abandoned the script during one performance and began improvising scene after scene….from here, I quote from the book THE MARX BROTHERS AT THE MOVIES:
After some time she decided to take her chances and enter in the middle of it all. At that moment, Chico and Harpo simply walked off the stage, leaving the great dowager face-to-face with Groucho. So Groucho, with his characteristic speed of mind, gestured to a nearby divan. “Ah, Mrs. Rittenhouse,” he proclaimed. “Won’t you…er…lie down?” It had gotten a laugh on Broadway, so the brothers simply took it with them when they traveled to the Astoria studio [to make movies].
There’s a scene in my favorite Marx Brothers movie, DUCK SOUP, in which Dumont’s character addresses Groucho’s character, Rufus T. Firefly, President of Fredonia, as “Your Excellency!”…to which he replies, “You’re not so bad yourself.”
To which I can but add, You Bet Your Life!
calmkate 3:46 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
great history lesson, thanks!
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mistermuse 8:12 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
Thank you, Kate. The title of the post is admittedly a bit of a stretch, but I couldn’t resist the play on words with HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN AGE: THE GLAMOUR GIRLS (the previous post).
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calmkate 10:03 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink
I always enjoy your play with words, twisted thinking 🙂
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Carmen 9:10 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
I recognized ‘the witch with the green face’ (one of our daughters always referred to her that way) but the other two were unknowns to me… Well, until I read the post! 🙂
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mistermuse 11:13 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
Carmen, did you have to remind me how much older I am than you because Marjorie Main and Margaret Dumont were known to me, and unknown to you!!! Nonetheless, I forgive you, so here’s a short clip to give you a better idea of why I dig Dumont (note the “You’re not so bad yourself” remark at the end of the clip which relates to the end of my post):
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masercot 9:33 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
A Marx Brothers movie without Dumont is a sad thing indeed…
I did a piece on Kathleen Freeman, speaking of character actresses. She’s definitely one of my favorites…
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mistermuse 11:31 am on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks, masercot. I didn’t realize, until I checked, that Kathleen Freeman played (uncredited) the part of diction coach Phoebe Dinsmore in one of my fav musicals, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Here’s a clip:
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masercot 11:55 am on October 21, 2019 Permalink
I remember. “ROOOUUUUND tones!”…
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mistermuse 12:54 pm on October 21, 2019 Permalink
Maybe I’m a square, but that R-R-ROOOUUUUND tones scene cracks me up every time
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Elizabeth 5:52 pm on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
Watching Groucho is one of my favorite childhood memories. I just loved when that duck came down. Great clips.
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mistermuse 6:16 pm on October 20, 2019 Permalink |
Thanks, Elizabeth. I’m glad you made the connection between the last four words of my post and the name of Groucho’s TV show. I watched it often back in the day.
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mlrover 7:59 am on October 21, 2019 Permalink |
What a wonderful post! I loved all of these ladies and especially the vocal coach clip. Jean Hagen should have gotten an Oscar for the Lamont role.
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mistermuse 8:30 am on October 21, 2019 Permalink |
Absolutely! What a “character!”
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magickmermaid 11:53 am on October 21, 2019 Permalink |
I love the old b&w films. Especially the Marx Bros. Margaret Dumont was priceless!
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mistermuse 5:55 pm on October 21, 2019 Permalink |
The Marx Bros. without Margaret Dumont is like a comedian without a Trump card — except that Dumont is aces and Trump is a jack(ass).
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Silver Screenings 11:30 pm on November 16, 2019 Permalink |
Wonderful tributes to all these women. I’m so pleased to see these women made the list, especially Marjorie Main. She is one of my all-time faves.
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mistermuse 1:11 am on November 17, 2019 Permalink |
Marjorie appeared in over 80 films, including some of my favorites, such as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE HARVEY GIRLS, and FRIENDLY PERSUASION. Truly a wonderful character actress.
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