Forgotten Faces of Hollywood's Golden Era

[ClassyCo]

Lena Horne was one of the first black stars in Hollywood, especially one of the first to hold a contract with a major movie studio. A powerful songstress and a natural theatrical performer, she signed with MGM in 1942. There, she made her feature film debut in PANAMA HATTIE (1942), a movie musical adaptation of the successful Broadway play starring Ann Sothern and Red Skelton in the leads. She was then cast in STORMY WEATHER (1943), a showy MGM musical, in which she sang the title song. While on loan out to Fox, she made CABIN IN THE SKY (1943), one of the first mainstream Hollywood movies to feature an all-black cast.

Aside from this, Horne went vastly underused during her time at MGM, then Hollywood's most influential studio. She later appeared in such all-star musicals like ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (1946), TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946), and WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), but her scenes were included in such a way that they could be easily removed to show the films in areas of the country that were indifferent or racist towards black performers. Over time, her film work basically ceased, and she withdrew to the stage and performing in lucrative engagements at various high-profile nightclubs. Horne desperately the part of a half-black performer in MGM's big production of SHOW BOAT in 1951, but the studio was weary and amidst Production Code restrictions, she was passed over in favor of Ava Gardner. Likewise, Horne also showed interest in playing the title role in CARMEN JONES in 1953, an operatic musical based on the acclaimed Bizet stage production. Director Otto Preminger never seriously considered her, however, and the part eventually went to Dorothy Dandridge, who received an Oscar nomination.

Horne became disheartened with Hollywood, and she spent the rest of her professional career focusing on her stage and theatrical work. She later appeared on such popular variety shows like THE FLIP WILSON SHOW and THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE; the children's show SESAME STREET; and the highly-rated sitcoms THE COSBY SHOW and A DIFFERENT WORLD.

She passed in 2010 from congestive heart failure. She was 92 years old.

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[ClassyCo]

Model-turned-actress Suzy Parker was the first celebrity super-model to successfully transition into acting.

She was born in Long Island City, New York in 1932. Her eldest sister, Dorian Parker, was also a successful fashion model. Standing 5'10", the 15-year-old Suzy got her first modeling contract with the Ford Modeling Agency in 1947. She first appeared in LIFE magazine when she was still a teenager. Her popularity steadily grew within modeling circles, and she was the first model to earn $200 per hour and $100,000 per year. She worked non-stop for various brands, such as Vogue, Revlon, Max Factor, and others, and appeared on more than 70 magazine covers during her prime. At the peak of her success, she was appearing on the covers of such magazines as VOGUE, ELLE, LOOK, PARIS MATCH, and MCCALL'S to name a few.

As Parker's popularity soared, she naturally drew attention from movie and television studios. She made her acting debut in a 1957 episode of PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE, which was quickly followed by a small role in the Audrey Hepburn-Fred Astaire musical FUNNY FACE, in which she appeared as a model in the "Pink Number". Parker signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox that same year, who had aspirations of promoting her as an actress. Her first role at the studio was in KISS THEM FOR ME (1957), a film adaptation of the mildly successful Broadway show, co-starring Cary Grant and Jayne Mansfield. Despite loosing top female billing to Mansfield, it was Parker's career, a sleek sophisticate, that swooned Grant's character and won him over in the end. Even so, the movie was an infamous box office dud, essentially ending Mansfield's career as an A-list movie star.

Parker won good notices for her work in TEN NORTH FREDERICK, a 1958 drama starring Gary Cooper. She was complimented on her performance by Random House publisher Bennet Cerf during her guest appearance on the game show WHAT'S MY LINE? in 1960. She played one of the leads in THE BEST OF EVERYTHING (1959), co-starring Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd, Martha Hyer, Diane Baker, Brian Aherne, and Oscar winner Joan Crawford. She later appeared in the British war picture called A CIRCLE OF DECEPTION (1960) and the B-movie fright flick called CHAMBER OF HORRORS (1966). Outside of her film work, Parker had a string of television guest appearances, appearing on various game and anthology shows, such as PLAYHOUSE 90 and BURKE'S LAW to name a few. She appeared in an iconic TWILIGHT ZONE episode called "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" in 1964. Her final professional performance as an actress was in a 1970 episode of NIGHT GALLERY.

Always suffering from allergies, Parker died after she ceased her dialysis treatments in 2003. She was 70 years old.​

 

[ClassyCo]

Michaels received a mild reemergence in popularity in the 1980s when film historians rediscovered her films as a part of what had become known as the "bad girl movie" genre. She declined all requests to appear at screenings of her films for fans. ​

I must correct my error:

Beverly Michaels did routinely decline offers to appear at fan conventions where her movies were screened. She appeared at a film noir festival dedicated to honor her second husband, filmmaker Russell Rouse, and was eventually persuaded to the stage, where she gave her first public interview in years.

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[ClassyCo]

Jennifer Jones is one of those actresses that always flies under my radar. When thinking of the periods in which she was in her prime, I just never remember her. Even so, she was quite a big star for many years, an accomplishment helped by her marriage to producer David O. Selznick.

She had been born Phylis Lee Isley in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1919, the daughter of Flora Mae and Phillip Isley. As an only child, she was raised in a fairly strict Catholic home. Her parents, both aspiring actors, toured the Midwest in a traveling road show they owned and operated. The young girl accompanied them, occasionally performing with her parents.

In the early-'40s, she found a job modeling for HARPER'S BAZAAR and the Powers Agency while actively pursuing a career as an actress. She auditioned for a role in a play called CLAUDIA in 1941, and soon presented herself to producer David O. Selznick. Her reading so impressed the producer that she was immediately signed to a seven-year contract. She was carefully groomed for stardom and re-christened Jennifer Jones. She almost immediately given the title role in THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (1943), where she played a young woman with visions of the Virgin Mary. Her performance garnered raves, and she was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress the following year. She soon began an affair with Selznick, who cast her in SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944), an epic co-starring Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, and Shirley Temple. She earned another Oscar nomination for that film as well as her next film, the critically acclaimed film noir LOVE LETTERS (1945), also co-starring Cotten.

Jones's dark beauty and initially saintly image (as showcased prominently in her first starring role as Bernadette Soubirous) was in stark contrast three years later when she played a provocative bi-racial woman in Selznick's controversial Western called DUEL IN THE SUN (1946), in which she played a Mestiza orphan in Texas who falls in love with an Anglo man (played by Gregory Peck). While the film ran into many censorship issues, it was a box office hit. That same year, she starred in CLUNY BROWN, playing a working-class English woman who falls in love just prior to the start of World War II. She was re-teamed with Joseph Cotten for the third time in PORTRAIT OF JEANNIE (1948), a fantasy film that had been based on the popular novella of the same name.

Jones and Selznick were married in 1949. Not long after their marriage, she starred with John Garfield in WE WERE STRANGERS (1949), a performance critic Bosley Crowther felt was "lacking" in comparison to her previous ones. She was subsequently cast in MADAME BOVARY (1949), a role intended for Lana Turner, for which she received good notices. She starred in GONE TO EARTH in 1950, playing a superstitious gypsy woman in the English countryside. William Wyler's courtroom drama CARRIE (1952) placed her opposite acclaimed actor Laurence Olivier, and she played a fiery femme fatale in RUBY GENTRY (1952), in a role Joan Fontaine had rejected. Jones played opposite young leading man Montgomery Clift in THE TERMINAL STATION (1953), a film directed by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. Jones realigned with director John Huston to star in his film BEAT THE DEVIL (1953), an adventure comedy with Humphrey Bogart. She appeared in two highly anticipated remakes: THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET (1957) with John Gielgud and A FAREWELL TO ARMS (1957) with Rock Hudson. Both films suffered indifferent box office returns and poor critical reception.

Jones's career slowed in the early-'60s. She only appeared in four more films before retiring after appearing in THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974).

Jennifer Jones passed away due to natural causes on December 17, 2009, aged 90.​

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

Here's some more forgotten faces that's crossed my mind:


Joan Blondell

Blondie!

I’ve got a bunch of movies with Joan Blondell at home. Although she was active in films and tv up to her death in 1979. Think she did about ten movies in 1932. I’ve got some of her movies with James Cagney. The same for her movies with Barbara Stanwyck, Ann Dvorak and Warren William.

 

[ClassyCo]

Blondie!
View attachment 34985View attachment 34986
I’ve got a bunch of movies with Joan Blondell at home. Although she was active in films and tv up to her death in 1979. Think she did about ten movies in 1932. I’ve got some of her movies with James Cagney. The same for her movies with Barbara Stanwyck, Ann Dvorak and Warren William.

Oh Joan Blondell. I haven't seen her in a whole lot. I don't believe I've seen her in anything she did in her prime. About the only thing I've seen her in is WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER? (1957), the satirically flashy comedy that was solely a showcase for Jayne Mansfield and, well, I suppose Tony Randall too. Blondell played Mansfield's press secretary in the film. It was a good little bit for her, and a way for her to reflect on her past both on and off-the-camera.

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[J. R.'s Piece]

I

Oh Joan Blondell. I haven't seen her in a whole lot. I don't believe I've seen her in anything she did in her prime. About the only thing I've seen her in is WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER? (1957), the satirically flashy comedy that was solely a showcase for Jayne Mansfield and, well, I suppose Tony Randall too. Blondell played Mansfield's press secretary in the film. It was a good little bit for her, and a way for her to reflect on her past both on and off-the-camera.

View attachment 34994​

I’ve got DVDs of Joan Blondell in Blonde Crazy, Three On A Match, Blondie Johnson, Smarty, Central Park, Night Nurse, Goodbye Again, The Office Wife, Lawyer Man, Big City Blues, Footlight Parade, Union Depot, Big Business Girl.,.

And in Broadway Bad, Havana Widows, Illicit, The Crowd Roars, Miss Pinkerton, He Was Her Man, God’s Gift to Women and more.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

 

[darkshadows38]

i've seen some of her films most from the 30's if i'm not mistaken but i'm sure i've seen other stuff she's done the youngest one being of course Grease (1978)

also she's not a forgotten face cause i don't think, i don't think Jennifer Jones is either but some of them listed on this thread who i've never even heard are. Joan Blondell isn't one of them either at least i don't think so anyways

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

i've seen some of her films most from the 30's if i'm not mistaken but i'm sure i've seen other stuff she's done the youngest one being of course Grease (1978)

also she's not a forgotten face cause i don't think, i don't think Jennifer Jones is either but some of them listed on this thread who i've never even heard are. Joan Blondell isn't one of them either at least i don't think so anyways

Joan Blondell had a couple of films released after her death. The last was out in 1981.

 

[darkshadows38]

oh i'm sure so did David Carradine as well for him i think it was to i'd say take a guess maybe the director needed more funding to edit it? or it took that long to get someone to buy them perhaps? Christopher Lee also has a movie that's not out yet and i'm not sure why that one hasn't been released yet but i think the same reasons apply to take a guess. anyways i think some of them are well known such as Thelma Todd now are they known to most 25 year olds no not unless they are movie geeks like us they aren't. cause i don't know any 25 year old off the top of my head that give a shit about movies from the 30's or 40's. but there are some out there i know i was one of them back when i was 25. hell TCM has done stars of the month for quite a number of the names you've posted on here so some of them are well known

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

i've seen some of her films most from the 30's if i'm not mistaken but i'm sure i've seen other stuff she's done the youngest one being of course Grease (1978)

also she's not a forgotten face cause i don't think, i don't think Jennifer Jones is either but some of them listed on this thread who i've never even heard are. Joan Blondell isn't one of them either at least i don't think so anyways

James Cagney said that Joan Blondell was the only woman he loved besides his wife. They had worked in theatre together, before their movies.

The Films of James Cagney and Joan Blondell

It’s hard to imagine a better word to describe James Cagney and Joan Blondell as a team than the word moxie. They were both it up to their eyelids. Cagney the fast talking, wise cracking, sma…

twentyfourframes.wordpress.com

 

[darkshadows38]

i've heard that and he adored the living hell out of his wife, didn't he say something that if anyone was to come between him and his wife it would be her? or something like that?

 

[ClassyCo]

I don't post a lot about forgotten actors, so I figured I'd do that very thing today.

Sabu was an Indian-born film actor who later obtained American citizenship. He is perhaps best-known for his work in Hollywood motion pictures during the 1940s. He was a contract star for Universal Pictures, and starred in three movies with Maria Montez and Jon Hall: ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942), WHITE SAVAGE (1943), and COBRA WOMAN (1944). He later in the United States Army, and he was later awarded a medal for bravery.

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[darkshadows38]

him i have heard of actually i am not sure if i ever saw anything he did but i have heard of him but yeah i think he would be allowed on here not that there are rules there aren't i just mean that he is one of the forgotten that's all

 

[rayray]

Sabu was in the Officially Campiest Movie Evah Evah, Cobra Woman (1944), with Maria Montez playing a good twin and an evil twin. "Give me the Cobra Jewels! I have spoken!" I had Very Special Feelings when I first saw this film on TV and developed a kiddie crush on Sabu.

 

[ClassyCo]

Joyce Reynolds is a former Hollywood actress who held a contract with Warner Brothers during the 1940s.

Reynolds was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 7, 1924. She attended the University of California, where a talent scout noticed her performing in and play and brought her to Hollywood for a screen test. This led to her film contract with Warner Brothers in 1942 when she was 17 years old.

Reynolds made her feature film debut in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, a 1942 biographical musical starring James Cagney. She had a minor role as a enthusiastic teen asking the retired George M. Cohan about his show business background. She was subsequently given more substantial roles in GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE (1942), starring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan, and THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943), starring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine. Reynolds played Mark Twain's daughter, Clara Clemens, in THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN (1944), which starred Fredric March in the title role.

She would receive top billing in JANIE (1944), playing the title role of a free-spirited teenager coping with the ever-changing attitudes of her small town during World War II. The film was directed by accomplished filmmaker Michael Curtiz and was enjoyed reasonable box office success. Her follow-up was HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN (1944), a morale-boosting ensemble film, featuring several celebrities volunteering their time at the real-life canteen founded by Bette Davis, John Garfield, and Jules C. Stein.

In 1945, it was publicly announced that Reynolds was retiring from show business with the intention of furthering her education. Her contract with Warner Brothers was revoked, although she would continue to appear in films over the next few years. After a three-year absence, she starred with actor Robert Hutton in ALWAYS TOGETHER (1947), a low-budget romantic comedy that was so successful the duo later appeared in WALLFLOWER (1948) together. Reynolds made her final film appearance in GIRLS' SCHOOL in 1950.

Reynolds has been married three times and has two children. She is still living and is currently 97 years old.​

 

[ClassyCo]

Edward Arnold was one of the most respected character actors during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He started his career in 1907, starring in a string of well-known films, such as THE TOAST OF NEW YORK (1937), where he received top billing over Cary Grant and Frances Farmer. He recreated one of his earlier stage roles in WHISTLING IN THE DARK (1933).

Arnold appeared in well over 150 movies during his career. Although he was famously dubbed "box office poison" in 1938 (a dubious distinction he shared with the likes of Garbo, Dietrich, Crawford, and Hepburn among others), he never lacked work. Moving into the late-'30s, he decided to give up the notion of loosing weight, and refocused his attention towards character parts. He once remarked, "The bigger I got, the better the character roles I received." He was often so sought-after that he frequently filmed two movies at once.

He was accomplished at playing scoundrels and authority figures, and superb at combining the two as powerful villains quietly pulling strings. Films where he played such roles included COME AND GET IT (1936), YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938), MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939), and MEET JOHN DOE (1941) among many others. He gave a larger-than-life star-turn as the title character in THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (1941).

Arnold died at his home om Encion, California, aged 66, in 1956. The cause of death was determined cerebral hemorrhage.

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[Toni]

I don't post a lot about forgotten actors, so I figured I'd do that very thing today.

Sabu was an Indian-born film actor who later obtained American citizenship. He is perhaps best-known for his work in Hollywood motion pictures during the 1940s. He was a contract star for Universal Pictures, and starred in three movies with Maria Montez and Jon Hall: ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942), WHITE SAVAGE (1943), and COBRA WOMAN (1944). He later in the United States Army, and he was later awarded a medal for bravery.

View attachment 35145​

I recently watched him in "Black Narcissus", and I thought his acting was quite good. Not Mowgli anymore...

 

[ClassyCo]

When you hear tales of the famous Gabor Sisters, eldest sister Magda often gets lost in the shuffle. We hear so much about Zsa Zsa's socialite life, many marriages, and tabloid image, and Eva's cemented in TV history for her iconic role as Lisa Douglas on GREEN ACRES. I often think of the joke made on THE GOLDEN GIRLS in the early-'90s: Sophia tells Dorothy that their family has always reminded her of the Gabors. Sophia mentions their mother Jolie, Eva, and Zsa Zsa, but Magda was nowhere in the equation.

Why is that? Why is poor Magda always left out?

There is relatively little information one can find about Magda Gabor. There's a controversy surrounding her year of birth, but many believe she was born in 1915. Her show business career mainly consisted of talk show and industry-funded appearances. I'm not sure she was ever really an actress on stage or film. She had multiple marriages, which is practically commonplace for a Gabor, and even married Zsa Zsa's former husband, British actor George Sanders in December 1970. The marriage was annulled within four weeks.

Other than that, what little information circulates the web about Magda seems quite hard to verify. Information that appears in some biographies (if they can be called that) are easily tossed aside in the next one. There are a few pictures I've found online of the three Gabor Sisters together, and they were all quite lovely to look at. One commentator likened the sisters to "table top beauties".

Does anyone know anything significant about Magda Gabor?

A studio-style glamour shot of Magda, presumably from the late-'40s or early-'50s.


The Gabor Sisters out on the town: Magda, Eva, and Zsa Zsa.


The Gabor Sisters and their mother aging quite gracefully: Zsa Zsa, Magda, Jolie, and Eva.
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