Spotlight on a Character Actress: Jessie Royce Landis

Even though I've only seen her in two films, she is definitely in that category of Thelma Ritter awesomeness (and that is saying a LOT :-D). She also played the mother of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant (at different times of course). How can ya go wrong?

Jessie Royce Landis (1904-1972)

Jessie Royce Landis, like many other actresses of her time, started as a stage actress and only progressed on to films in the 1950s. Favoured by Hitchcock, she was featured in two of his films, To Catch A Theif and North By Northwest and one of his "Hitchock Presents..." TV episodes.

Now, I couldn't find that much info on her, but I'm just going to ramble instead! In all the films I've seen, she has played either Grace Kelly's or Cary Grant's mother (didn't do badly, did she?) and in To Catch A Thief she even gets to wear super cool costumes and ask cary Grant to call her Jessie, while conversing about his being a lumberjack in Portland Oregon. I mean, could you get any more awesome than that conversation? Er, no you can't. So don't even try. You will FAIL EPICLY!!!!! So yes. Jessie Royce Landis has the nerve to scold Grace Kelly and laugh at the remark that Cary Grant is "a sensible man" therefore making her one of the best character actresses ever. I share this opinion with Millie who wrote one of my favourite posts of hers about Jessie Royce Landis, which you can read here.

Best Movies To Start With:

1. To Catch A Thief
2. North By Northwest

~Bette

Spotlight on a Character Actress: Mildred Natwick

Mildred Natwick is actually quite hilarious and adorable in both of the films I've seen her in and a very good actress at that. Definitely deserving of a solo post!

Mildred Natwick (1905-1994)

Mildred Natwick was again a character/supporting actress who usually played characters who were sweet hearted but had authority and was a firm favourite of director John Ford's. John Ford featured her in some of his big hits like The Quiet Man. She may be most fondly remembered as Jane Fonda's mother in the Neil Simon comedy, Barefoot In The Park, for which she earned her first and only academy award nomination (why not The Quiet Man, cruel world, why?).

Now, I love Mildred Natwick but have only seen her in two whole films, Barefoot In The Park and The Quiet Man. They are both very, very good though and I love that line that she has in Barefoot In The Park after climbing up six flights of stairs after a long night with Robert Redford, Jane Fonda and a Kimono wearing Charles Boyer, "I feel like we've died... and gone to heaven... only we had to climb up!" Note that The Trouble With Harry doesn't even get a mention. Grrrr.

Best Films To Start With:

1. The Quiet Man
2. Barefoot In The Park
3. And if you really want to see it, she is the best thing in The Trouble With Harry.

~Bette

Spotlight on a Character Actress: Agnes Moorhead

Having been obsessed with "Bewitched" for several years now, I think I can almost quote every line of Endora's (Agnes Moorehead) dialogue. Gotta love Agnes Moorehead.


Agnes Moorhead (1900-1974)

Agnes Moorhead is perhaps best known for her performance in the 1950s TV series, "Bewitched" as the main character Samantha's (Elizabeth Montgomery) mother, Endora. Both of them being witches. Agnes Moorhead grew up with a strong ambition to be an actress. She sang in church (she and her family were very religious) and joined other groups and organisations which she hoped would further her as an aspiring actress. She later joined Orson Welles's famed Mercury Theatre company with Joseph Cotten and George Coulouris. Orson Welles used her in some of his films when he made his venture out to Hollywood to make it big in movies (boy  did he ever!) including Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons.

I first "discovered" Agnes Moorhead when we stumbled upon the third series of "Bewitched" at our local supermarket (we have all been hooked ever since!) and we all thought she was hilarious!!! Since then we have spotted her in movies like Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, and Showboat. She manages to be quite mannered but also give a very good understanding of her characters at the same time (a quality not always associated with character actresses). My personal favourite from her is her performance as Aunt Fanny in The Magnificent Ambersons, and I love "Bewitched" too, but I didn't feel that they were in the same category... :-)

Best Films To Start With:

1. The Magnificent Ambersons


2. Bewitched


3. Citizen Kane

~Bette

Spotlight on a Character Actress: Margaret Rutherford

Having recently watched all of the Miss Marple films from the 1960s in quick succession, I thought that it was time to give Margaret Rutherford a little credit, being an actress who doesn't often get that much publicity on blogs. Enjoy!

Margaret Rutherford (1892-1972)

Margaret Taylor Rutherford was an english character actress who appeared in classics such as The V.I.Ps, Blithe Spirit (one of my favourites), and the Miss Marple series. Due to her physical appearance and interesting mouth acrobatics that she did while speaking, she was restricted to only comedic and/or slightly insane parts. But she was well received and became known for her talent as an actress and she ended up in Noel Coward's own production on the stage of his play, "Blithe Spirit". Her success as the "psychic around the corner in a little country village" led to her recreating the role for the film adaptation of the play starring Rex Harrison. She was loved by audiences everywhere and the rest, as they say, is history.

I always have loved Margaret Rutherford in the Miss Marple murder mystery films and Blithe Spirit and The V.I.P.s. After only reading about her, she sounds a bit strange, but when you watch her you understand that her looks and strange facial expressions are all part of her style on screen.

Best Films To Start With:

1. Murder She Said


2. The V.I.Ps


3. Blithe Spirit

~Bette