Monday 22 June 2009

Barbara Stanwyck

Today Barbara Stanwyck is remembered primarily as the matriarch of the family known as the Barkleys on the TV western "The Big Valley" (1965), wherein she played Victoria, and from the hit drama "The Colbys" (1985).
But she was known to millions of other fans for her movie career, which spanned the period from 1927 until 1964, after which she appeared on television until 1986.
It was a career that lasted for 59 years.
She was born Ruby Stevens on July 16, 1907, in Brooklyn, New York.
She went to work at the local telephone company for $14 a week, but she had the urge (a dream--that was all it was) somehow to enter show business.
When not working, she pounded the pavement in search of dancing jobs.The persistence paid off. Barbara was hired as a chorus girl for the princely sum of $40 a week, much better than the wages she was getting from the phone company.
She was 17, and she was going to make the most of the opportunity that had been given her.
In 1928 Barbara moved to Hollywood, where she was to start one of the most lucrative careers filmdom had ever seen.
She was an extremely versatile actress who could adapt to any role. Barbara was equally at home in all genres, from melodramas, such as Forbidden (1932) and Stella Dallas (1937), to thrillers, such as Double Indemnity (1944),one of her best films, also starring Fred MacMurray (as you have never seen him before).
She also excelled in comedies such as Remember the Night (1940) and The Lady Eve (1941). Another genre she excelled in was westerns, Union Pacific (1939) being one of her first and TV's "The Big Valley" (1965) (her most memorable role) being her last.
In 1983, she played in the ABC hit mini-series "The Thorn Birds" (1983), which did much to keep her in the eye of the public.
She turned in an outstanding performance as Mary Carson.Barbara was considered a gem to work with for her serious but easygoing attitude on the set.
She worked hard at being an actress,and she never allowed her star quality to go to her head. She was nominated for four Academy Awards, though she never won.
She turned in magnificent performances for all the roles she was nominated for, but the "powers that be" always awarded the Oscar to someone else.
However, in 1982 she was awarded an honorary Academy Award for "superlative creativity and unique contribution to the art of screen acting."Sadly, Barbara died on January 20, 1990, leaving 93 movies and a host of TV appearances as her legacy to us.

8 comments:

bluedreamer27 said...

just love her eyes
by the way allison speaking of old stars i just watched one of my most favorite programs... are you familiar with "mysteries and scandal?"
i just love that film

bluedreamer27 said...

hello my friend just dropping by here

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Allan John A. Andres said...

Thanks for having Charlie Chaplin (Modern Times and The Kid are among my favorites), Ginger Rogers (I liked her best in Stage Door), Carole Lombard, Kate Hepburn, and Bogey 'round here.

And the mysterious Greta Garbo (Queen Christina, Camille, Grand Hotel, and Ninotchka -- these titles I tend to view again and again!)

The following, though, are (still)conspicuously absent from your list:

1. Buster Keaton
2. Groucho Marx
3. James Stewart
4. Jack Lemmon
5. Peter Sellers

Do we get to see them here soon? Please. Please. ;-)

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bluedreamer27 said...

hello alli just dropping by here
hacve a great day

bluedreamer27 said...

hello alli just visiting you here
have a great day and happy blogging
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bluedreamer27 said...

^^ hello ali
just visiting you here again

bluedreamer27 said...

hello there my friend sorry for not being here around lately...
im back now and im visiing you here
have a great day and happy blogging