Born 108 years ago, on this very day, in Brooklyn, Thelma Ritter is one of my favorites, the
very essence of the term Character Actor. Thelma Ritter's career was full of
excellent supporting roles. She received 6 Oscar nominations, the most for an
actor with no wins (tied with Deborah Kerr). But who needs a win with a body of
work this strong: A Letter to 3 Wives,
All About Eve, The Mating Season, With A
Song In My Heart, Birdman of Alcatraz, Rear Window, & my favorite Ritter
film performance- Pillow Talk.
I adore Thelma Ritter. She is one of the classiest
character actors to have lent an individualistic groove across cinema screens
of her time. Ritter had cool. She could coolly wither many a co-star away with
just one line of dialogue. She played wives, mothers, maids, housekeepers, wise
types, tough cookies, working class women, solidly real women, take no lip
& mince no words women.
I nominate Ritter for the Post Apocalyptic Bohemian Award for Coolest Character actor of the 1950s &1960s. Don't you feel that she
deserves it?
yup.
ReplyDeleteOh wow....I was just thinking about her today!
ReplyDeleteBut then I do that a lot actually. :)
I confuse her with Ruth Gordon.
ReplyDeleteLove Thelma Ritter, who enlivened any film she was in. Just saw 'The Model and the Marriage Broker',which -despite the awfully clunky title - was delightful, with Jeanne Crain and Thelma in top form. Of course, Thelma's Oscar nominations were all for Best Supporting Actress, whilst Deborah's were for Best Actress. In 1956, they actually made a film together, the underrated 'The Proud and Profane', with William Holden.It's well worth a look.
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