She had style and a sense of humor and, judging from the breezy informality of this Donald Gordon Collection photo, was fun to be around. (Contrast this shot with the slick studio-generated photo below.) Looks like Rosalind Russell was caught by the late Donald on her way to the set — dig that wild chapeau.
She wasn’t one of the biggest stars, or one of the brightest, but Russell was one of the stalwart movie stars of the 1940s and 50s.
See her in 1940’s His Girl Friday and 1939’s The Women and watch a comedy genius. But Russell also did drama, sometimes as lead (1948’s The Velvet Touch) and sometimes in support (1956’s Picnic).
She’s best remembered for 1957’s Auntie Mame. She created the role on Broadway (and won a Tony) then recreated it on film (but lost in the Oscar race that year). The movie was nominated in the best picture category but was eclipsed by the Vincente Minnelli musical Gigi costarring Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier. Fair enough.
But, in our view, Russell should have walked off with the best actress Oscar. Instead, the winner was Susan Hayward for the melodrama, I Want To Live. The Academy may well have gotten it wrong that time.
If you see only one Russell film, however, make it Howard Hawks’ His Girl Friday. This reworking of The Front Page with the brilliant idea of casting Hildy Johnson as a woman and making her the ex-wife of nemesis Walter Burns (played exuberantly by Cary Grant) is as funny today as it was 73 years ago.
The fast talking patter and overlapping dialogue was inventive for it’s time. And this film set the tone for all future Russell vehicles. That was a good thing since Russell had been criticized for her overplaying in some of her movies. (Yes, that’s Roz with Cary Grant above.)
Our go-to critic, British author David Thomson, for example, wrote this: You only realize how good a film ‘His Girl Friday’ is when you remember that Rosalind Russell is in it. Top-speed comedy and the unyielding aggression of Cary Grant actually managed to control the loudness, bossiness and over emphasis that have spoiled most of her films.
We don’t agree fully with that harsh assessment but Thomson does make a valid point. An added bonus of costarring with Grant was that it was he who introduced Russell to her one and only husband (their marriage lasted for 35 years), Frederick Brisson. The couple lived in elegant Hollywood splendor in a mansion sporting white and gold, designs that even caught the eye of a dyspeptic George Sanders.
Russell also received Oscar nominations for 1942’s My Sister Eileen and for 1946’s Sister Kenny. Confirming that she could handle heavier dramatic material, she was nominated (as was her costar Michael Redgrave) for her performance in a 1947 edition of Eugene O’Neill’s play, Mourning Becomes Electra.
Born in Connecticult in 1907, Russell was a lifelong Roman Catholic. She died in 1976 at the age of 69 of breast cancer.
I believe Rosalind Russell is a very underrated actress. Even today after watching the majority of her films, I rarely think of her when thinking of leading Hollywood actresses. I think the fact that she often played very strong women onscreen and was often unmatched by her male co-stars keep her films from being better remembered.
I’m afraid your go-to critic and I would come to blows should we cross paths.
You’re probably right Patricia, what does any critic know? It’s all subjective, personal opinion.
Rosalind Russell was special I think just like Eve Arden and others.
In so many films they were just playing the same feisty character, and that’s what audiences liked and came to rely on.
If you really want to see HOLLYWOOD movie lovers at their worst, arguing, bisecting every petty point in a movie, just book a TCM cruise with them. Or even watch the sparks fly at a TCM film festival screening, or leave an unpopular comment on it’s internet forum.
Having spent a lifetime in the industry, being third generation… having built up a rather large HOLLYWOOD book and stills collection, and an even larger DVD library… having met and interviewed so many iconic people in the business… I can honestly say, that what passes for HOLLYWOOD entertainment today with rare exception is pure garbage. It’s in-your-face propaganda that’s been CGI-ed to death.
We were so lucky to have performers the likes of Rosalind Russell etc., etc… And who cares if someone disagrees, or doesn’t like what you like. Remember, it’s only a MOVIE!