Happy Birthday: Rosalind Russell!

Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907 – November 28, 1976).

Personal Quote:

Taking joy in life is a woman's best cosmetic.

Please click here to learn more about Rosalind Russell.

Video: Rosalind Russell Tribute.

Four's a Crowd (1938)

Four's a Crowd (1938), is a romantic comedy directed by Michael Curtiz and released by Warner Brothers. Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, Patric Knowles, Walter Connolly, Hugh Herbert, Melville Cooper, Franklin Pangborn, Herman Bing, Margaret Hamilton, Joseph Crehan, Joe Cunningham, Gloria Blondell, Carole Landis and Lana Turner. The fourth of nine movies made by Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn.

The story begins when the newspaper might be shut down when owner, Pat Buckley, gets into a argument with the Editor-in-chief, Robert Lansford . Meanwhile, Lansford hopes to add John Dillingwell's business to his PR firm, and uses his position at Buckley's paper to write a good review for Dillingwell. He soon finds out that Dillingwell's daughter Lorri, is Buckley's fiancee. Lansford decides to try to charm Lorri while Christy makes a play for Buckley. In the end, you don't know who Lansford will end up with?

Video: first of 11.



Errol Flynn , gives a wonderful comic performance. One of my favorite scenes where he is chased by dogs snapping at his heels chasing him off his girlfriends property. Olivia de Havilland, looks gorgeous as the daughter of millionaire Connolly. A fluffy romance, but... worth watching if you enjoy watching these stars.

Margaret Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was known for her performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actor in films for seven years before she was offered the role that we all love her for.

In later years, Hamilton made many cameos on television sitcoms and commercials. She also was an advocate for children and animals, and was commitment to public education.

His Girl Friday(1940).

His Girl Friday (1940). Comedy film directed by Howard Hawks. Cast:Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy. It is best known for its rapid-fire dialogue.

Newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson, recently divorced from newspaper editor Walter Burns, stops by his office at the Morning Post, to tell him that she is planning to marry insurance salesman, Bruce Baldwin. When she gets there, Walter is working on a story about Earl Williams, who has just been sentenced to die for killing a policeman. To keep Hildy from leaving, he tells her the paper needs her to cover the story. Hildy at first refuses, saying that she is tired of being a newspaperman and now wants to be a wife.

While having lunch, Walter learns that the couple are leaving with Bruce's mother, on the four o'clock train to Albany. Wanting to quickly come up with a plan to win Hildy back, Walter convinces Bruce that only a story written by Hildy can save Williams. Hildy agrees to write the story if Walter will purchase a life insurance policy from Bruce. Walter agrees and when he returns to the newspaper office with Bruce for a medical examination, Hildy goes to the press room at the criminal court's building, where she is welcomed by the other reporters, who warn her that she will never be able to give up the newspaper business. Walter does everything he can to keep Hildy from leaving. Will Walter prevent Hildy's up coming marriage and will Hildy get the big story?

This is a very charming/funny film. Cary Grant is, of course better than ever, and I've never seen Rosalind Russel in a role that suited her more perfectly. The supporting actors, down to the bit-players, are all perfect for this film.

Fun fact: Ginger Rogers wrote that she was offered the role of Hildy Johnson. She read the script, but this was before Cary Grant was cast, and she turned it down. After learning that Grant was cast, she regretted it.

Rosalind Russell.

Rosalind Russell, was an actress of stage and screen, best known for her role as a fast-talking newspaper reporter in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday, as well as the role of Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame. She won all 5 Golden Globes for which she was nominated, and was tied with Meryl Streep. Russell was known for playing character roles, wealthy, ladylike women. She had a career span from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Rosalind Russell featured films on TCM:

Craig's Wife (1936). Cast: Rosalind Russell, John Boles, Billie Burke. Dir: Dorothy Arzner. While Harriet is out of town taking care of her sister, her husband Walter is accused murder. Only thinking of herself, Harriet decides that her ill sister does not really need her and decides togo back to her beautiful home. She soon learns that Walter is under suspicion for murder and she does everything she can to protect him from the police, only so it won't inconvenience her.The only thing she really only cares about is her beautiful house and puts it before her family.For Rosalind Russell fans, the film is quite a change of pace from those who may know her best from thefilm, "His Girl Friday."

Trouble For Two (1936). Before he can marry, a European prince gets mixed up with a suicide club. Cast: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Reginald Owen. Dir: J. Walter Ruben.

Man-Proof (1938). A woman refuses to give up on the man she loves, even after he marries someone else. Cast: Myrna Loy, Rosalind Russell, Walter Pidgeon. Dir: Richard Thorpe.

What a Woman! (1943). A female literary agent tries to make her star client as adventures as his most famous character. Cast: Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne, Willard Parker. Dir: Irving Commings.

The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947). A hard-drinking reporter tries to help the embittered widow of the soldier who had saved his life during the war. Cast: Rosalind Russell.

The Feminine Touch(1941)

The Feminine Touch (1941). Romantic Comedy. Cast: Don Ameche and Rosalind Russell.

College psychology professor John Hathaway, becomes upset when Dean Hutchinson suggests that the team's star, Rubber-legs Ryan, must pass an exam to be put back on the team. Rubber-legs has eyes for John's wife Julie, John, who is writing a book about jealousy, thinks he is above all that and is not upset. Which does not make Julie very happy. When John and Hutchinson argue over Rubber-leg, John quits and moves to New York with Julie. At the publisher Elliott Morgan office, they meet, Nellie Woods, who is secretly in love with Elliott. While John talks over his book with Nellie, the jealous Julie meets the womanizing, Elliott who does not appeal to Julie. At a party, Elliott admits that he is attracted to Julie, and John says that he should spend time with Julie, while Nellie and John spend time together working. Julie goes sightseeing with Elliott and becomes very upset that John is not jealous. One day, when Julie comes home and sees John and Nellie hugging and drinking champagne, celebrating the sale of his book, Julie's jealousy surprises John. Later, while they are riding a subway, Julie and John jokingly pretend that he is bothering her and bystanders call a policeman. She tries to stop John's arrest but is pushed back onto the subway by the crowd. You have to watch to see what happens next.


I thought this was a very charming romantic comedy. Not heavy on plot, a perfect movie for a summer afternoon with its snappy dialog, especially from Russell and Francis. Another fun part about watching this movie is Julie fun hats. We also look back at 1940's feminism seen though psychology professor eyes but scoffed at by Julie, who says those are the women who are alone at night.

Happy Birthday Rosalind Russell

Happy Birthday to the great Rosalind "Roz" Russell (1907-1976). My favorite performance of hers is of Hildy Johnson in my favorite movie of all time, His Girl Friday.