My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at eight, delivered to the impossibly sexy jean harlowe. Unconquerable nature decreed that she must therefore play comedy and this she did. November 1914, wimbledon, surrey, england, a germanborn former officer in the crimean war. At age 14 she joined a stock company, going on to become a seasoned veteran in light. The first of her two autobiographies, the life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924. Things that stood out about jean harlow in the movie, dinner at eight. Mankiewicz and direction by george cukor gave some immortal screen luminaries a chance to shine. 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. Billy marie dressler, age 92, passed away unexpectedly on wednesday, december 12, 2018 at manor park, a nursing home in midland texas. 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.
Always seeing herself as physically unattractive, she wrote an autobiography, the life story of an ugly duckling. She starred with charlie chaplin in the first ever featurelength comedy tillies punctured romance and later in min and bill for which she won. Will rogers paid tribute to marie dressler on the radio just before her death in 1934. Billy dressler obituary midland, tx midland reporter. She enjoyed more success with dinner at eight 1933 and tugboat annie 1933. Lee brings dressler to life as a ebullient, bombastic, outrageous, but loveable woman. Marie dressler bio, facts, family famous birthdays. 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. 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 born on december 2, 1926 in sweetwater texas to homer. Dressler the actressan earthy, droll, deeply physcial presencefails to come alive. Her father was a music teacher in cobourg and the organist at st. 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.
Marie dressler was no beauty but she was talented and during the depression she had the capability to take peoples minds off their problems. The fall and rise of marie dressler slant magazine. Lee succeeds better in presenting dresslers private life, which she views as one built largely on strong allegiances, both personal and political. Toronto journalist betty lees meticulously researched biography gives a thorough account of dresslers life and appreciative evocation of her art. 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.
Always credited her good friend, screenwriter frances marion, with literally saving her life. Marie dresslers imdb page shows 30 acting credits from 19141933. Marie dressler interview part 1 marie dressler foundation. 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. 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. She received another academy award nomination for emma 1932. 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. She was an amazing, unique, powerful lady, made wise through her endurance of so much hardship after her massive early fame. Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all once. Is it possible to deduce her own feelings for martin. Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound. Marie dressler stars opposite greta garbo in anna christie, screening this saturday as part of tiff cinematheque special screenings. She was homely, overweight, and over the hill, but there was a time when marie dressler outdrew such cinema sex.
Martin dressler by steven millhauser book club discussion. 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. See more ideas about marie dressler, silent film, actresses. Read marie dressler the unlikeliest star by betty lee available from rakuten kobo. Cobourg, now houses a small but moern interactive museum of about her life.
Marie dressler was the heavyset mother figure of the movies. Dec 11, 2014 marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. 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. Sep 21, 2006 dressler died in 1934, a little angry that she couldnt enjoy her unlikely run of luck for a little while longer. The star fervently gave herself to causes like actors rights, the sale of ww i bonds, and womens rights. What roles does martin mentally assign to the various women in his life. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. You know, a lot of days i think i was too hard on grand hotel.
Marie dresslers original name was leila marie koerber. Marie dressler died in santa barbara, california and is interred in a crypt in the. I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dresslers life. The eminent american comedienne marie dressler in the life story of an ugly duckling. Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all. Marie was with the elite of hollywood, doing bond selling tours during the first world war. 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. My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at. Life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924.
Biography for marie dressler turner classic movies. Marie dressler, thank you for the incredible life story that we get to share. 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. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. He would ultimately write the definitive book on the. Marie dressler was born leila marie koerber on nov. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read marie dressler. Exclusive marie dressier, whose smiles, tears, triumphs and even her grumpy old ways in character parts throbbed from screens throughout the world, died today. Kitty packard splendida battuta tratta dal film di cukor. Peters anglican church, where as a child marie would sing.
Well, she does seem to be a member of the obscurati, doesnt she. The title of marie dresslers autobiography, confessions of an ugly duckling sums up her career in a nutshell. Marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. 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. First of all, what made you decide to write a book on marie dressler, a performer who died in 1934. In 1914, she was in the first fulllength film comedy. In the early 1930s, marie dressler 18681934 was the most loved movie star in the.
My own story by marie dressler goodreads share book. This book is a focused biographical account of the life of oscar winning hollywood actress, marie dressler. Marie dressler was a canadianamerican stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent. In 1931, she won the oscar for best actress for min and bill 1930. That she became a star at age 60 was an achievement that told depressionbattered audiences it was never too late. She was 14 when she joined a theater group and she went on to work on stage and in light opera.
But once i started looking at her life, i was hooked. Marion was a cub reporter when she interviewed marie in 1911 on tour in san francisco. May 07, 2019 the stage was her home for most of her life. 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. This book also highlights her most important achievements as an actress before describing her last days and how she passed away. Marie dressler was born as leila marie koerber in cobourg on november 9, 1869. 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. 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. 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. She thanks rosemary and the alumnae crew for the opportunity and the warm welcome. After much time spent trying to find her, marion contacted dressler about a major role in the callahans and the murphys 1927. Actress marie dressler born leila marie koerber was a leading american comedienne during the silent era. I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dressler s life. 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.
In all, marie dressler appeared in more than 40 films but only achieved superstardom near the end of her 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 an. 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. It profiles her early life and how her career took off in hollywood. 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. 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. 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, canadianborn comedian and singer who achieved her greatest success toward the end of her life. 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. She was one of the two daughters of anna nee henderson, a musician, and alexander rudolph koerber b. The book that made vaudeville famous, available at amazon, barnes and noble, and wherever nutty books are sold. What is significant about the evening visit she and martin pay to the building site for the dressler pp.
The films ending conversation between jean harlow and marie dressler is very precode. A few years ago, author matthew kennedy wrote a marie dressler bio appropriately titled marie dressler. Anna christie 1930 was the movie where garbo talks, but everyone noticed marie as marthy. 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. Successful on stage in vaudeville and comic operas, she was also successful in film. She was born on november 9, 1868, at cobourg, ontario. Marie dressler 18681934 once you saw her, you would not forget her. Catherine is excited at her first opportunity to perform with alumnae theatre in queen marie. Full text of marie dressler loses life battle see other formats marie dressier loses life battle. As marie told it, and as captured in the book, she owes her late life success to frances marion. Despite being a trained opera singer and a gifted actress, she had the body of a football player and the face of a mastiff. The unlikeliest star by betty lee 1997, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. 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.
Hamilton, alice bell, dora and gerda, marie haskova, caroline, emmeline, mrs. 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. She will forever be remembered for her exchange with jean harlow in dinner at eight. By 1892, she was on broadway and she later became a star comedienne on the vaudeville circuit. 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. To find out more about the history of vaudeville and vaudevillians like marie dressler, consult no applause, just throw money. In this film still waterfront inn owner min marie dressler loves her fisherman boyfriend wallace beery. Today we take a look at the life of marie dressler. 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. 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. Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound era. Look back 90 years and the career of sixtysomething movie star, marie dressler, appears all the more incredible. Marie dressler, hollywood actress, who received a best actress oscar for her dramatic performance in min and bill 1930.
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