Research Catalog

Title

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

Author

Nissen, Axel.

Publication

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., ©2012.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Phillips, Siân, 1934-

Description

viii, 242 pages : illustrations; 26 cm

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.

Subject

• Women in motion pictures
• Motion picture actors and actresses > Los Angeles > Biography
• Character actors and actresses > Los Angeles > Biography
• Femmes au cinéma
• Rôles de composition > Los Angeles > Biographies
• Character actors and actresses
• Motion picture actors and actresses
• Frau Motiv
• Geschlechterrolle Motiv
• Film
• Schauspielerin
• California > Los Angeles
• USA
• Hollywood

Genre/Form

• collective biographies.
• Biographies
• Biographies.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Mother, may i? Clara Blandick in Shopworn (1932) -- What a pal: Helen Broderick in Top hat (1935) -- Lady detective: Constance Collier in Shadow of doubt (1935) -- Declassee: Jane Cowl in Payment on demand (1951) -- Mother courage: Henrietta Crosman in Pilgrimage (1933) -- Auntz: Cecil Cunningham in The awful truth (1937) -- Old reliable: Esther Dale in My reputation (1946) -- The dilapidated diva: Marie Dressler in Dinner at eight (1933) -- The last dowager: Isobel Elsom in Ladies in retirement (1941) -- Larger than life: Hope Emerson in Cry of the city (1948) -- Deep freeze: Mary Forbes in You can't take it with you (1938) -- Clothes horse: Marjorie Gateson in Cocktail hour (1933) -- Monster mom: Louise Closser Hale in Another language (1933) -- Madame noir: Ester Howard in Born to kill (1947) -- Asylums and old lace: Josephine Hull in Harvey (1950) -- Maid in America: Patsy Kelly in Private number (1936) -- Grandmommie dearest: Alma Kruger in These three (1936) -- The real thing: Aline MacMahon in Side streets (1934) -- Woman of the people: Beryl Mercer in Outward bound (1930) -- Her girl Friday: Juanita Moore in Imitation of life (1959) -- Killing your babies: Marjorie Rambeau in Slander (1957) -- Big mama: Evelyn Varden in Hilda Crane (1956) -- Grandma from Hell: Queenie Vassar in Primrose path (1940) -- Thoroughly modern mammy: Ethel Waters in The member of the wedding (1952) -- Dowager deluxe: Helen Westley in Splendor (1935) -- Appendix: the 100 top performances by character actresses in Hollywood, 1930-1960.

ISBN

• 9780786461370
• 0786461373

LCCN

2012003910

OCLC

761369278

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library