THE SCREEN SPECTATOR - JULY 2023
Ruth Hussey: Always the Scene Stealer
Alongside the delightfully snarky Gail Patrick, Ruth Hussey shines as one of my favorite supporting actresses from Hollywood's golden age.
Hussey was renowned for her versatile portrayal of vixens, snobs, and sophisticates alike. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, she crafted a successful film career, with her most iconic role coming in 1940 as the cynical New York City Spy Magazine photographer, Elizabeth Imbrie, in "The Philadelphia Story." In this film, she shares the screen with the talented trio of Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart. Personally, her character is my standout favorite in that movie.
Ruth Hussey was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1911. Tragically, her father, George Richard Hussey, president of the Baird-North Jewelry company, passed away during the 1918 influenza outbreak.
After graduating from Brown University, Ruth pursued a career in summer stock before attending the drama school at the University of Michigan. Following that, she worked as a radio fashion commentator in Providence, Rhode Island, and performed on the New York Stage before landing a role in the touring company of "Dead End."
In 1937, MGM signed her as a contract player, and she appeared in a series of B-movies and as a supporting actress in A-pictures. She was among the hundreds of women featured in 1939's "The Women," and she even had a small role in one of the Andy Hardy films, "Judge Hardy's Children" (1937).
In 1940, she delivered her most acclaimed performance as Elizabeth Imbrie in "The Philadelphia Story." This romantic comedy, based on the hit stage play by Philip Barry, revolves around Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has separated from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due to his drinking habits and Tracy's demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to marry the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), her path crosses with reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart) and his photographer Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) who have come to cover the nuptials for Spy Magazine.
Hussey’s Liz Imbrie adds depth and humor to the narrative. Her unrequited love for Mac contributes to the complexity of the relationships, offering insights and guidance to both Tracy and the audience. Liz's character embodies a blend of comedy and wisdom, a presents a balanced perspective on love and relationships.
In her portrayal of Liz Imbrie, Hussey skillfully combines comedy and sarcasm without crossing into malice, evoking sympathy from the viewers. Despite her own heartbreak, she remains loyal to her indecisive and emotionally elusive kind of boyfriend, even as he becomes infatuated with Hepburn's flighty and indecisive Tracy Lord.
Onscreen, one can feel the anguish in her heart when she realizes the possibility of a deeper connection Mac and Tracy. Nevertheless, Liz remains steadfast, recognizing Mac's infatuation for what it is—an infatuation. She displays maturity, wit, and an unwavering sense of humor, maintaining her composure despite the pain. Eventually, her loyalty pays off when Mac realizes his perfect match has been by his side all along. Ruth Hussey's outstanding portrayal earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Apart from "The Philadelphia Story," Hussey's other notable classic was 1944's "The Uninvited," considered one of Hollywood's greatest ghost stories. Prior to its release, ghosts in films were often portrayed for laughs or gimmicks for the plot, but "The Uninvited" was the first to present a haunting as a genuine supernatural event. The film also starred Ray Milland, Gail Russell, and the wonderful stage actress Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Hussey and Milland play the roles of siblings who purchase a haunted house on the English coast, and then embark on a supernatural battle against a malevolent and vengeful ghost to save their home and the life of a local girl named Stella Meredith.
The film's advertising accurately described it as "truly terrifying," and it was one of the biggest hits of the year. Additionally, the film introduced the hauntingly beautiful song "Stella by Starlight," which serves as a recurring theme throughout the film and has since become a classic standard.
In 1945, Hussey turned from films and back to the theater starring in the hit Pulitzer Prize-winning play "State of the Union," alongside Ralph Bellamy.
As the demands of family life increased in the 1950s, Hussey's career took a back seat to raising her children. However, she continued to make occasional appearances on both film and television.
Regardless of the size of her role, she consistently left a lasting impression. Her diverse filmography spans across various genres, including comedies, dramas, romances, horror, and historical tales. This fact was recognized early in her career:
Ruth Hussey passed away in 2005 at the age of 93.
Upcoming DVD/BLURAY Releases
Human Desire
KINO July 11, 2023
Fritz Lang joins forces once again with his stars from "The Big Heat," Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, in this film noir based on Émile Zola's "La Bête Humaine." Set against the backdrop of the Korean War, the story revolves around Jeff Warren (Ford), a railroad engineer and war veteran, who falls prey to the irresistible allure of Vicki Buckley (Gloria Graham), the wife of his boss. This sets off a complex web of suspicion, passion, and murder involving Vicki and her brutish husband Carl (Broderick Crawford).
This gripping narrative explores themes of greed, jealousy, and the depths of human desire. Through Lang's direction, the film captures an intense emotional landscape, drawing viewers into a world where darkness and passion intertwine.
Special Features:
TERROR AND DESIRE with Actress Emily Mortimer on HUMAN DESIRE
ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
You can order HUMAN DESIRE here
One False Move
CRITERION July 23, 2023
Hands down one of the best ( and one of my FAVORITE) Neo noir films of the 1990s, "One False Move" directed by Carl Franklin (Devil in a Blue Dress) stands as an under appreciated gem within the crime genre.
The story revolves around a small-town police chief, portrayed by Bill Paxton, who harbors a compelling secret. Concurrently, we encounter a pair of remorseless drug dealers, played by coscreenwriter Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Beach, leaving a trail of violence behind them as they journey from Los Angeles to Arkansas. Caught in the midst of this dangerous convergence is an enigmatic woman portrayed by Cynda Williams.
Under the skilled direction of Carl Franklin, "One False Move" excels at building slow-burn tension, skillfully weaving the lives of these desperate characters together. Franklin takes viewers on a twisted journey across America, exploring its most contentious division, while infusing traditional noir elements with a profoundly emotional depth.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Carl Franklin, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
Audio commentary from 1999 featuring Franklin
New conversation between Franklin and cowriter-actor Billy Bob Thornton
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by author William Boyle
You can order ONE FALSE MOVE here
THE BEST OF JUNE: Some of the best of what I watched, read and listened to last month. . .
ARTICLE
How Lena Horne Escaped the Blacklist, Atlantic Monthly, August 27, 2015
“At the height of her career, the beautiful young performer accidentally stumbled into a power struggle between Hollywood communists and McCarthyites. “
“For decades, Horne’s biographers have largely glossed over the question of how Horne found her way back into the entertainment business. Even Horne’s daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley, who wrote a 1986 book about the Horne family, didn’t get to see the letter until 2013. All that time, it was sitting in a bankers’ box, packed away in a children’s playhouse on a dusty ranch in the San Fernando Valley. But those 12 neatly written pages reveal how a beautiful young black woman became a pawn in the Cold War—and how she ultimately regained control of her career and her life.”
Click here to read the article
MOVIE
The Goddess (1958)
When discussing performances that moved, stressed and unsettled me, I frequently refer to Gena Rowlands as Mabel Longhetti in "A Woman Under The Influence." However, after watching Kim Stanley in "The Goddess," I must now include her on that list.
Kim Stanley delivers an extraordinary display of raw emotion, extreme vulnerability and intensity in her portrayal of Rita Shawn. The character is deeply flawed, consumed by addiction, and struggling with mental illness. Stanley's performance gives us a character who radiates deep pain, she is like an exposed wound. It transcends mere acting, as she fully embodies Rita, immersing herself in the role of a woman who yearned for an escape and dreamed of Hollywood stardom and paid the ultimate price to achieve it.
click here to order THE GODDESS
Radio
Lux Radio Theater:The Criminal Code
originally broadcast January 18, 1937 starring Edward G. Robinson, Beverly Roberts, and Frank Nelson.
A nice kid with all the breaks going against him gets ten years in the Big House, and finds love!
New on the Bookshelf
Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley
“Between 1949 and 1964, Kim Stanley created starring roles in twelve Broadway productions, including Cheri, the nightclub singer in Bus Stop. Then, after fifteen years of stardom, Stanley walked away from the theater, never to return. What happened? Female Brando answers that question with a meticulously researched, empathetic biography that traces Stanley’s childhood, her early training, her stardom—and her tragic descent into alcoholism and loneliness. Much more than a mere cautionary tale, Female Brando is a clear-headed examination of Kim Stanley’s brilliance that places her in the pantheon of great American artists.”
click here to buy The Female Brando
Clark Gable: A Biography
“In this well-researched and revealing biography, Warren G. Harris gives an exceptionally acute portrait of one of the most memorable actors in the history of motion pictures—whose intimates included such legends as Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, David O. Selznick, Jean Harlow, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, and Grace Kelly—as well as a vivid sense of the glamour and excess of mid-century Hollywood.”
click here to buy Clark Gable: A Biography
Camera Over Hollywood: Photographs of John Swope 1936-1938
Camera Over Hollywood" by John Swope is a compelling and insightful exploration of the golden age of Hollywood through the lens of renowned photographer John Swope. With a keen eye for capturing the glamour, behind-the-scenes moments, and iconic personalities of the film industry, Swope offers readers a unique and intimate perspective on Hollywood's history.
In this book, Swope takes us on a captivating journey behind the scenes, revealing the inner workings of the film industry during its most influential period. Through his photographs Swope provides a visual narrative that showcases the glamour, drama, and artistry of Hollywood's golden era.
click here to buy “Camera Over Hollywood”
Hank and Jim: The Fifty Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart
“For Hank and Jim, biographer and film historian Scott Eyman spoke with Fonda’s widow and children as well as three of Stewart’s children, plus actors and directors who had worked with the men—in addition to doing extensive archival research to get the full details of their time together. This is not another Hollywood story, but a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary friendship that lasted through war, marriages, children, careers, and everything else.”
click here to buy “Hank and Jim”
and finally. . .
You can find a list of essential Cinema Cities books and movies here: Cinema Cities Favorites
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