Friday, April 18, 2014

P for William Powell



BORN: July 29, 1892

DIED:  March 5, 1989

AGED: 96 yrs-old age

MARRIED: Twice-once to Carole Lombard

ENGAGED: Jean Harlow

FAMOUS PARTNER: Myrna Loy

Suave, comedic gentleman with a little devil thrown in for good measure. Played the villain earlier in life but that all changed with the Thin Man series. Moved easily from silent to sound due to his mellifluous  voice. Was devastated when Jean Harlow died at the height of her career (she was only 26). He made his parts his own.

FILMS: Canary Murder Case, The Thin Man Series, The Great Ziegfeld, My Man Godfrey, Life with Father, Mister Roberts.


25 comments:

  1. That's right, he was the Thin Man. Lived a long time!

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    1. he did and no one can be better than him in the Thin Man series

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  2. He was a skinny guy, wasn't he? I'd heard the name before. I didn't know Jean Harlow died at 26! How sad.

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    1. I think he was thin and he was big in the '30's. I am certain you have seen one of his Thin Man films. Jean Harlow was the "Platinum Blonde" and was big box office. She married several times even though she was young. She died before her last film was completed and a stand-in was used to complete the scenes. Her mom was a Christian Scientist who did not believe in the hospitals and medicine and felt prayer would be the saviour of her daughter. When Clark Gable visited and Louis B Mayer came they got the Dr right away and brought her to the hospital but it was too late

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  3. He looks a lot like David Niven in that photo. Everybody should have a bit of a devil in their personality. :)

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    1. Funny because in "Murder by Death" David Niven played on one of William Powel's characters(The Thin Man series)

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  4. Birgit - at last I'm here, wilting but still going.
    I remember The Thin Man and Mister Roberts. You're bringing back so many memories. I love nostalgia.
    I didn't know Jean Harlow died so young - very sad.

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    1. It is a true challenge:) He was a great fun actor

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  5. I don't think I've ever seen any of his movies. I also didn't know about Jean Harlow dying that young. How awful.

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    1. Oh his movies are great so I hope you see one one day. Yes she did die very young

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  6. Your first sentence is a perfect description of him! That's totally how I see him :)

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  7. He did have a good voice. We have some old radio shows he made. I had no idea Jean died so young.

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    1. he had a great voice and must be fun to listen to his radio shows. Jean is interesting in her own right. You welcome too:) You are a pleasure to read about

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  8. P.S. Thanks again for visiting my blog . I enjoy hearing from you

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  9. I liked Powell in the light-hearted movies. My Man Godrey is one of my favorite movies of all time. Just love the story and he and Lombard's performances.

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    1. That is a great movie and I almost wrote about her too. She is a great actress

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  10. I haven't seen any of his films, but what a debonair looking fellow. Have a lovely weekend!

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  11. Cool, I think it is very interesting to have lived from 1892 to 1989, with all of the technology advancements and things! : )

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    1. You're right as he would have been 11 when the Wright Bros flew their plane and he saw people go to the moon! He definitely lived a very long time

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  12. I love his movies. Thank goodness for Netflix.

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  13. He and Myrna Loy had such chemistry on screen... how was it off screen, I wonder. Clarence Day, don't know why but I find that performance unforgettable.
    xxx Asha

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    1. I think they got along well but I never came across that they were ever romantically inclined but I think many fans thought so or even thought they were married. reminds me of James Garner and Mariette Hartley when they did those camera commercials. They had such chemistry that many people thought they were married:)

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