It is the first Wednesday of the month which means it is the Insecure Writers Support group headed by the great Alex J Cavanaugh. It is where one can release their insecurities, triumphs, fears regarding writing. I may not be a writer, per se, but I am starting the A to Z Challenge and, par for the course, I procrastinated thinking I could get it all done 2 weeks before the start. Of course I didn't count on getting sick-stupid germs. Anyhoo, my fear is that I won't get everything completed or that I bore the hell out of you and you would rather watch a you tube video on bowling or golf-make that lawn bowling and mini-putt.
The A to Z challenge was started by Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out and this challenge has grown by leaps and bounds. I hope everyone who visits will check it out since you can enter the A to Z by creating cards, animals, books, well...anything (Next year perhaps?)! So here we go, my first entry and it is all about film stars!
JEAN ARTHUR
Born: October 17, 1900
Died: June 19, 1991
Aged: 90 yrs-Heart Failure (had a stroke a couple years earlier
Real Name: Gladys Georganna Greene
Married: twice-first marriage lasted one day and was annulled.
Famous Partner: James Stewart; Frank Capra (director who stated she was his favourite actress)
Very, Very reclusive actress who was so insecure she would often cry, whine and vomit before having to do a scene. Once the scene was done, she would run to her dressing room and hide. She had a cute, froggie, raspy little girl type voice that was quite endearing. She hated being under contract and when her contract was up with Columbia Pictures, she literally ran through the studio streets jumping for joy and yelling "I'm Free!" She was known to be difficult as well and temperamental. Once she retired from films, she never looked back. She did try the theatre but her insecurities won out and was replaced (most famous was "Born Yesterday" which went to her understudy Judy Holiday who won fame and the film role). She tried TV in the mid 1960's playing a lawyer but it didn't last long. She taught drama at Vassar and Meryl Streep was one of her students whom she thought would go far (I guess she was right:)) Her favourite male star was Gary Cooper, not Jimmy Stewart. She was an ardent lover of animals and was once arrested for trespassing on a neighbours yard because she thought the dog was not being treated well-Good for her!
Oscar Nominations: "The More The Merrier"
Films: "The Plainsman", "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "You Can't Take It With You", "Only Angels Have Wings", "A Foreign Affair", "Shane".
Quote: (When asked to grant an interview about Hollywood)-"I'd rather have my throat slit"
In bold-the film I would choose to watch
With the way you describe her it makes you wonder why she became an actress.
ReplyDeleteI know! I wondered that myself and she often played strong, independent women who showed no fear-not quite her.
DeleteI remember Jean Arthur. Wow, she lived a good long life.
ReplyDeleteYou'll get it all done. Just keep those germs at bay.
She did and it seems she was happy to be reclusive. I am working on it and slowly getting there:)
DeleteOooh, I remember her in Mr Deeds. The scene in the restaurant where she says "oh I don't mind" and Cooper embarks on a punch-fest. And what about the Doodling talk in the courtroom scene. Oh what a hilarious movie. Thanks for sharing this Birgit.
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
Those are classic scenes and she loved Gary Cooper
DeleteBirgit : for those outside NorthAmerica and whose are not so well versed with Old classic Hollywood , I suggest that you have a suggested watch in your blog posts and recommend atleast one film that is the actor's best or most popular or something like that. It helps people like me keep a watch for those movies. I watched a few movies last year based on your write up of actors ...
ReplyDeleteWill keep hopping by time to time ... keep it going. Good luck with getting those germs out of your system ... :)
I place films that I have seen and always recommend but what I will do is out the one or 2 I love in bold so people can see that film:) Hope that will help
DeleteThanks Birgit. This helps. I will make a mental list to watch some of them during the year.
DeleteAs always your posts are very informative for me
Thanks Birgit. This helps. I will make a mental list to watch some of them during the year.
DeleteAs always your posts are very informative for me
I love The More the Merrier!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
That is a great film
DeleteI don't think I have ever seen her in a movie. But- I have heard of her. Sounds like she was an interesting actress with some deep fears an insecurities (good one to start with to go with IWSG). ;) I like your idea of putting the movies you most recommend in bold. I think that will help people like me. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
She is a great under-rated actress and you have to see some of her films. It's so hard for me to pick one but i did put it in bold:)
DeleteI feel so very sad for her.
ReplyDeleteOver with the A2Z run!
She couldn't handle the publicity and everyone looking at her but she was a great actress
DeleteYou'll get it all done. It's not writing the posts that takes all the time...
ReplyDeleteI love Jean Arthur. Had no idea acting was so hard for her. Loved You Can't Take It With You.
That film is great and so funny. The post writing does not take the time it is all the visiting but it is so much fun
DeleteI think there are a lot of celebrities that wrestle with their fear of crowds and attention but can't really get out of the limelight...it's all they know. Think Barbra Streisand who could not perform in public for many, many years because she was so afraid to go on the stage. She has talked about severe nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath before live performances. That all kept her from suck performances. So I'm not surprised that Jean Arthur had such difficulty.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the celebrities. So many are full of insecurities and are also just very shy. It amazes me that they still can perform so brilliantly
DeleteFantastic theme. That's sad she was so insecure. Poor thing. But at least she lived a long life. =D
ReplyDeleteThanks and she did live long and seemed to be aok
DeleteInformative as always! Hope all is well with you now.
ReplyDeleteThanks and still got that nasty cough-typical though
DeleteI love old movies. I've seen some of those. Will make a note about the others. Untethered Realms
ReplyDeleteHope you can see some of the others-Only Angels Have Wings is a special film
DeleteI love Jean Arthur. A very underrated thespian, indeed. One of my fave films of all-time, is Howard Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings, and Jean Arthur is a big part of that love. So beautiful and so talented.
ReplyDeleteSee ya 'round the web.
Love that you pick that film because I love that one so much. It is so hard to pick one film to see so I will try to choose one that might be easier to see than others but also one i so enjoy-which means it would be all the films
DeleteI like her real name, but I suppose you can't be an actress named Gladys. I once lived on a Gladys Street, which probably is why I like the name. The first time I saw Jean Arthur, I was charmed by her voice. Later, I thought if I can't have a voice like Tahllulah Bankhead, then I'd want one like Jean Arthur's. What girls dream about. lol.
ReplyDeleteYes I like her name but this was old Hollywood. She actually picked her name from 2 figures she loved-Jeanne D'Arc and King Arthur
DeleteNice start to the a-z, Birgit! Sounds like she really guarded her privacy, so I say good for her. I don't think it's easy being a Hollywood star. BTW it's hard to imagine anything boring coming from your computer :)
ReplyDeleteShe was more private than Garbo! It was hard for her and she hated to be photographed which I get
DeleteWow. I hadn't heard of her before and she sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteShe is a great actress-check her out
DeleteIsn't it funny what springs to mind when paying tribute to someone. Its usually their last act or good deed which is remembered best. All I can say is live each day to the full which Jean Arthur obviously did. Despite the unhappiness she lived to a great age and loved dogs. What a caring person.
ReplyDeleteShe loved animals more than people and I can't fault her for that
DeleteYes, Jean Arthur was a wonderful and beautiful actress!
ReplyDeleteShe was indeed!
DeleteOh very excited about your theme! I think the first time I discovered your blog was the A to Z Challenge and you did a similar subject.
ReplyDeleteYes I did-same topic and I felt I needed to redo it with new people.
DeleteYAY! Classic actors are back! I do love your take on these guys. This poor lady... why on earth be an actor?? The quote about her preferring to slit her throat is hilarious :)
ReplyDeleteI thought that quote was a good one. I think the people who are shy and insecure like to portray someone else but I wouldn't want to be in that state all the time
DeleteSounds kind of like me if I ever became a Hollywood star. At least she didn't let the stress of it kill her.
ReplyDeleteNo and she made the money to live well
DeleteShe sure lived a long life and sure had lots of fun, that may be evident by the one day marriage? No? lol
ReplyDeleteI think you are right:)
DeleteI had no idea of those little facts about Jean. Thanks for sharing! Good luck this month. :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading bios and she is fascinating
DeleteFrom what I've read the old movie contract system could be quite demeaning. Any sane person should share her joy at being released. She sounds like a perfectionist, maybe that's why she threw up, etc. before having to perform.
ReplyDeleteYes it was. You would sign a 7 year contract with a morality clause. You were told to make whatever pictures they gave to you and if you balked they would suspend you for 6 month or so and add it to your 7 years. Some stars ended up being at the studio a long time as a result
DeleteHow perfect that you chose an insecure actress to combine with the IWSG! It seems most are either overconfident or insecure. The ambivalent actors are probably heavily medicated . Hope you're feeling better, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteJulie
They could be medicated. I would love to say I thought about combing Ms Arthur with the IWSG but I didn't think that advanced:) Still the cough
DeleteNice words and share on Jean... Great start, all the luck on all the letters!
ReplyDeleteWelcome in the "A"... as a host I am stopping by to say thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]
There's no earthly way of knowing.
Which direction we are going!
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
Thank you and this is just the beginning
DeleteShe had very distinctive, and beautiful, features. Wonder why she was so insecure, but that does make her more endearing. Thanks for this interesting snippet, Birgit.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with the rest of the alphabet.
I have no idea why she was this way but she was and she made the money and then left so...not bad:)
DeleteI'm so glad you're doing this theme again. Last year I was introduced to so many actors I'd never heard of through this and I see that will happen again this year!
ReplyDeleteOh good and you have to youtube her to just hear her voice-she was great
DeleteJean Arthur - I'd almost forgotten about her! She was beautiful and classic Hollywood.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great theme, Birgit! Nice post.
Thank you. Yes she is often forgotten but she is such a great actress
DeleteHappy A Day!
ReplyDeleteI love the theme. I've only seen two of Jean Arthur's films: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Shane and, at least between those two, I'd certainly agree with your preference.
Oh you should see "Only Angels Have Wings" and Mr. Deeds"-she was great in those 2 as well
DeleteI can't imagine you ever "boring the hell out of me" with your sense of humor! Never heard of Jean Arthur. You wonder if she had that much trouble with performing and doing scenes, why she kept pursuing it. I don't like public speaking and learned that long time ago, LOL, so avoid it like a hawk these days :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Thank you:) I always aim to please. Yes she really went through the ringer and made the director and the cast go through it too. Why she chose the profession...who knows? Glad she did though
DeleteI found this to be very interesting...not at all boring! I have never heard of this actress but I enjoyed learning about her
ReplyDeleteSmidgen Snippets & Bits
She is a great actress and glad it isn't boring
DeleteShe was fascinating on the screen, still is. I loved her voice. Beautiful woman.
ReplyDeleteShe is great and more should know about her:)
DeleteThank you for coming over! I'm happy I got the chance to get to know your blog. I’m not that into movies, so I’d probably never had found your blog without the A2Z challenge. However, your blog is well-written and interesting. I could really relate to Jean Arthur, and it was great getting to know her (of course I had no idea who she was; I seriously don’t know much about movies).
ReplyDeleteI was also thrilled about the gratitude circle! I’ll participate next time, what a great topic for a blog hop!!
A to Z challenge. www.whenthecatisaway.com Participant number 1449
Oh yes the Gratitude circle is so wonderful! You should find Vidya Sury's blog as she writes wonderfully. I actually do card making and enjoy that so much and now I branch out to do so much more:)
DeletePeople used to pants their way through this challenge :) You can do it. You are off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteThanks and I know I can:) I am the choo choo who can
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog! I'm pretty sure I would have changed my name, too!
ReplyDeleteI am not a movie buff--in fact I might watch five a year--and don't have a TV, so I can't give too much to the conversation. However, your writing is great!
LOL! You DIDN'T visit my blog, I commented on another one that you visited, and didn't close the window... Ugh. Don't mind me. I am a mess today! :P
DeleteHahahaaaa-now I must visit if I can find you:) Glad you enjoy my writing. I wouldn't know what to do without movies
DeleteThanks for writing about Jean Arthur - I had not heard of her before. Always an interesting read - you are an excellent writer! Good luck with the rest of the A-Z - as long as "G is for Germs" isn't on your list...
ReplyDeleteNope there are no Germs that were actors:)
DeleteThe quote about the Hollywood interview is funny! I've heard of her but I don't think I've ever seen one of her movies.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! You must see at least 2 of them since she starred with some of the best and she is a great actress
DeleteI knew nothing about her other than I love her as an actress, so this is great! I'm excited you're doing this, because I have a feeling I'll be learning a lot!
ReplyDeleteOh good! I am so glad you are looking at what I am posting actually. Thank you so much!
DeleteAlex is one busy guy. A lot of my blog buddies do the A to Z challenge.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
R
He is!! I am not sure how he does it
DeleteGreat start! I must make a list of movies to see, Birgit! Strange I haven't seen any of the ones you've mentioned here. Looking forward to your A to Z posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Vidya! Oh she was a classic and many of her films are true classics
Delete