Dec 11, 2014 also, make sure to check out jeff cohens look at the aborted 1930 mgm musical the march of time, in which marie dressler had a role. She was homely, overweight, and over the hill, but there was a time when marie dressler outdrew such cinema sex symbols as garbo, dietrich, and harlow. Full text of marie dressler loses life battle see other formats marie dressier loses life battle. Dressler was a super star in her 60s, not an easy fete. Marion was a cub reporter when she interviewed marie in 1911 on tour in san francisco. I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dresslers life. She starred with charlie chaplin in the first ever featurelength comedy tillies punctured romance and later in min and bill for which she won. That she became a star at age 60 was an achievement that told depressionbattered audiences it was never too late. She will forever be remembered for her exchange with jean harlow in dinner at eight. Billed as the only biography of the most popular actress in the world, this meticulously researched life story of queen marie dressler 18681934 by toronto globe writer lee manages to walk t. Toronto globe feature writerreporter lees biography of actress dressler gives the reader a vivid view of the life of her subject and a social history of theater and.
Billy marie dressler, age 92, passed away unexpectedly on wednesday, december 12, 2018 at manor park, a nursing home in midland texas. Dec 11, 2014 marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. Catherine is excited at her first opportunity to perform with alumnae theatre in queen marie. Lees biography of actress dressler gives the reader a vivid view of the life of her. This book is a focused biographical account of the life of oscar winning hollywood actress, marie dressler. The fall and rise of marie dressler by dan callahan as the talkies and the depression hit hollywood practically simultaneously, an old vaudeville trouper named marie dressler found the greatest triumph of her spotty career. Her stage debut came at age five in a local performance put on by her mother, leading the outgoing child to discover that she possessed a knack for winning people over.
Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all once. Marie dresslers imdb page shows 30 acting credits from 19141933. Marie dressler, canadianborn comedian and singer who achieved her greatest success toward the end of her life. Marie dressler 18681934 once you saw her, you would not forget her. The title of marie dresslers autobiography, confessions of an ugly duckling sums up her career in a nutshell. Life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924. Proof that movie stars need not be pictureperfect, dresslers determination was as immense as her skills and the status she earned made for a most unique success story. After much time spent trying to find her, marion contacted dressler about a major role in the callahans and the murphys 1927. In 1931, she won the oscar for best actress for min and bill 1930.
Proof that movie stars need not be pictureperfect, dressler s determination was as immense as her skills and the status she earned made for a most unique success story. Marie dressler, thank you for the incredible life story that we get to share. Details of james henry daltons installation as a thirteenyearlong presence in marie dresslers life is still somewhat of a mystery, partly because of the actresss. The story of dresslers career is one of the most anomalous and curious of show business tales, and kennedy does a thorough, passionate job of bringing her art and her dramatic story back to life. Marie dressler died in santa barbara, california and is interred in a crypt in the. Exclusive marie dressier, whose smiles, tears, triumphs and even her grumpy old ways in character parts throbbed from screens throughout the world, died today. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. The book that made vaudeville famous, available at amazon, barnes and noble, and wherever nutty books are sold. Despite being a trained opera singer and a gifted actress, she had the body of a football player and the face of a mastiff. Marie dressler is the real queen of our movies, the actorhumorist said of the woman who reigned supreme in theaters across the country in the preceding years. Marie dressler, hollywood actress, who received a best actress oscar for her dramatic performance in min and bill 1930. Marie dressler was the heavyset mother figure of the movies. Marie dresslers original name was leila marie koerber. Marie dressler 18691934 was no beauty, but her perfect comic timing and everywoman appeal to theater and moviegoers ensured a popularity that began in vaudeville and climaxed with min and bill, tugboat annie, and her legendary delivery of the classic closing line in dinner at eight.
November 1914, wimbledon, surrey, england, a germanborn former officer in the crimean war. The fall and rise of marie dressler slant magazine. Today we take a look at the life of marie dressler. She demonstrates a charming wit and spouts some great insights into the entertainment industry and life in general. What is significant about the evening visit she and martin pay to the building site for the dressler pp. She was homely, overweight, and over the hill, but there was a time when marie dressler outdrew such cinema sex. Marie dressler bio, facts, family famous birthdays.
Will rogers paid tribute to marie dressler on the radio just before her death in 1934. Actress marie dressler born leila marie koerber was a leading american comedienne during the silent era. Dressler next starred in the twoact production roly polywithout the law 1912 and wore a number of hats for marie dresslers all star gambol 19, serving as star, stager, book author, and both scenic and costume designer. By 1892, she was on broadway and she later became a star comedienne on the vaudeville circuit. To movie audiences suffering the hardships of the great depression, she was everywoman, and in the early 1930s her charming mixture of pathos and comedy packed movie theaters everywhere. Marie dressler born leila marie koerber, november 9, 1868 july 28, 1934 was a canadianamerican stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent film and depressionera film star.
In the early 1930s, marie dressler 18681934 was the most loved movie star in the. Her father was a music teacher in cobourg and the organist at st. May 07, 2019 the stage was her home for most of her life. But once i started looking at her life, i was hooked. Unconquerable nature decreed that she must therefore play comedy and this she did.
Large, rumbly and rubberfaced, able to pile tripletake onto doubletake, dressler was a queen of schtick who was also able to create a disciplined sort of deepseated pathos. Mankiewicz and direction by george cukor gave some immortal screen luminaries a chance to shine. Mgm originally promoted dinner at eight by touting the allstar cast, but this is no runofthemill omnibus picture. My own story by marie dressler goodreads share book. Marie dressler stars opposite greta garbo in anna christie, screening this saturday as part of tiff cinematheque special screenings. In this film still waterfront inn owner min marie dressler loves her fisherman boyfriend wallace beery. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read marie dressler. Dec 16, 2018 billy marie dressler, age 92, passed away unexpectedly on wednesday, december 12, 2018 at manor park, a nursing home in midland texas. Sep 21, 2006 dressler died in 1934, a little angry that she couldnt enjoy her unlikely run of luck for a little while longer. She enjoyed more success with dinner at eight 1933 and tugboat annie 1933. This book explores in striking detail the full span of her life, taking in her. Things that stood out about jean harlow in the movie, dinner at eight. Martin dressler by steven millhauser book club discussion.
Library of congress a star of vaudeville and silent films and author of the book life story of an ugly duckling, marie dressler landed her very first. Fate cast me to play the role of an ugly duckling with no promise of swanning i have played my life as a comedy rather than the tragedy many would have made of it. Marie dressler was a canadianamerican stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent. Marie dressler was no beauty but she was talented and during the depression she had the capability to take peoples minds off their problems. In 1914, she was in the first fulllength film comedy. A few years ago, author matthew kennedy wrote a marie dressler bio appropriately titled marie dressler. The first of her two autobiographies, the life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924.
I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dressler s life. She was born on december 2, 1926 in sweetwater texas to homer. Marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. Always seeing herself as physically unattractive, she wrote an autobiography, the life story of an ugly duckling. I guess ill be the only person on the internet who doesnt spoil it for you, but its almost worth sitting through the whole film for. The films ending conversation between jean harlow and marie dressler is very precode. Also, make sure to check out jeff cohens look at the aborted 1930 mgm musical the march of time, in which marie dressler had a role. Biography for marie dressler turner classic movies. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The star fervently gave herself to causes like actors rights, the sale of ww i bonds, and womens rights.
Marie dressler interview part 1 marie dressler foundation. She thanks rosemary and the alumnae crew for the opportunity and the warm welcome. Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound era. Well, she does seem to be a member of the obscurati, doesnt she. She starred with charlie chaplin in the first ever featurelength comedy tillies punctured romance and later in min and bill for which she won an. Hamilton, alice bell, dora and gerda, marie haskova, caroline, emmeline, mrs. Cobourg, now houses a small but moern interactive museum of about her life.
In an era of harlow, garbo and crawford, it was homely old marie dressler that won the coveted exhibitors poll as the most popular actress for three consecutive years. Peters anglican church, where as a child marie would sing. Kitty packard splendida battuta tratta dal film di cukor. Successful on stage in vaudeville and comic operas, she was also successful in film. Is it possible to deduce her own feelings for martin. Look back 90 years and the career of sixtysomething movie star, marie dressler, appears all the more incredible. Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all. In all, marie dressler appeared in more than 40 films but only achieved superstardom near the end of her life. Early in the century, marie dressler was hailed as one of america s finest comics, with a 20year string of broadway and vaudeville successes including the lady slavey, miss prinnt, higgledy piggledy, the man in the moon, and tillie s nightmare. Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. First of all, what made you decide to write a book on marie dressler, a performer who died in 1934. Marie dressler was born leila marie koerber on nov.
Lee succeeds better in presenting dresslers private life, which she views as one built largely on strong allegiances, both personal and political. Dressler was born leila marie koerber in cobourg, ontario, one of two daughters born to alexander rudolph koerber, an austrian and a former officer in the crimean war, and anna annie henderson, a musician. On the contrary, rather than cramming as many big names as possible into a lumbering vehicle, the movies impeccably crafted script by edna ferber and herman j. Lee brings dressler to life as a ebullient, bombastic, outrageous, but loveable woman. She was one of the two daughters of anna nee henderson, a musician, and alexander rudolph koerber b. Anna christie 1930 was the movie where garbo talks, but everyone noticed marie as marthy. He would ultimately write the definitive book on the. Marie dressler was born as leila marie koerber in cobourg on november 9, 1869. Toronto journalist betty lees meticulously researched biography gives a thorough account of dresslers life and appreciative evocation of her art. This book also highlights her most important achievements as an actress before describing her last days and how she passed away. The eminent american comedienne marie dressler in the life story of an ugly duckling.
She was an amazing, unique, powerful lady, made wise through her endurance of so much hardship after her massive early fame. Betty lee rises to the challenge by illuminating the life and times of this most beloved actress. The unlikeliest star by betty lee 1997, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. What roles does martin mentally assign to the various women in his life.
It profiles her early life and how her career took off in hollywood. Early in the century, marie dressler was hailed as one of americas finest comics, with a 20year string of broadway and vaudeville successes including the lady slavey, miss prinnt, higgledy piggledy, the man in the moon, and tillies nightmare. My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at. Marie was with the elite of hollywood, doing bond selling tours during the first world war.
To find out more about the history of vaudeville and vaudevillians like marie dressler, consult no applause, just throw money. Even more important to the plot of min and bill is the love min has for her adopted daughter and the sacrifices she is willing to make for said daughters benefit. Billy dressler obituary midland, tx midland reporter. See more ideas about marie dressler, silent film, actresses. She received another academy award nomination for emma 1932. Read marie dressler the unlikeliest star by betty lee available from rakuten kobo. She was 14 when she joined a theater group and she went on to work on stage and in light opera. Marie dressler 18691934 became an unlikely star and oscar winner in her sixties, but sadly she died just 4 years after winning her oscar for.
This book gives a lot of insight of old hollywood and how the studio bosses owned their stable of stars. A s the talkies and the depression hit hollywood practically simultaneously, an old vaudeville trouper named marie dressler found the greatest success of her spotty career. As marie told it, and as captured in the book, she owes her late life success to frances marion. At age 14 she joined a stock company, going on to become a seasoned veteran in light. She was born on november 9, 1868, at cobourg, ontario. Marie dressler gives us no information as to where she and bonita began working with the. The book does drag on a bit in the middle, but overall this does not distract from the joy it was to read this. The eminent american comedienne marie dressler in the life. Dressler the actressan earthy, droll, deeply physcial presencefails to come alive. My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at eight, delivered to the impossibly sexy jean harlowe. You know, a lot of days i think i was too hard on grand hotel. Always credited her good friend, screenwriter frances marion, with literally saving her life. In 1919 she took part in the stage actors strike, along with ethel barrymore. Library of congress a star of vaudeville and silent films and author of the book life story of an ugly duckling, marie dressler landed her very first role in a feature film in 1914at the age of 44 years old.
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