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BAT Modern Beauties 2nd Series Myrna Loy No 29 1905-1993
Myrna Loy was born Myrna Adele Williams in Helena, Montana to Adelle Mae (née Johnson) and rancher David Franklin Williams, and raised in nearby Radersburg.
Her father was also a banker and real estate developer and the youngest man ever elected to the Montana state legislature. Her mother studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
During the winter of 1912, Loy's mother nearly died from pneumonia, and her father sent his wife and daughter to La Jolla, California. Loy's mother saw great potential in Southern California, and during one of her husband's visits she encouraged him to purchase real estate there.
Among the properties he bought was land he later sold at a considerable profit to Charlie Chaplin so the film maker could construct his studio there. Although Loy's mother tried to persuade her husband to move to California permanently, he preferred ranch life and the three eventually returned to Montana. Soon afterwards, Loy's mother needed a hysterectomy and insisted Los Angeles was a safer place to have it done, so she, Loy, and Loy's brother David moved to Ocean Park, where Loy began to take dancing lessons.
After the family returned to Montana, Loy continued her dancing lessons, and at the age of 12, Myrna Williams made her stage début performing a dance she had choreographed based on The Blue Bird from the Rose Dream Operetta at Helena's Marlow Theatre.
Later on her family moved to Helena where she spent her youth. At the age of 13, Myrna's father died of influenza and the rest of the family moved to Los Angeles. She was educated in L.A. and the Westlake School for Girls where she caught the acting bug. She started at the age of 15 when she appeared in local stage productions.
Loy left school at the age of 18 to help with the family's finances. She obtained work at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, where she performed in elaborate musical sequences that were related to and served as prologues for the feature film. During this period she saw Eleonora Duse in the play Thy Will Be Done, and the simple acting techniques she employed made such an impact on Loy that she tried to emulate them throughout her career Some of the stage plays were held in the now famous Grauman's Theatre in Hollywood.
Mrs. Rudolph Valentino happened to be in the audience one night who managed to pull some strings to get Myrna some parts in the motion picture industry. Her first film was a small part in the production of 'What Price Beauty?' (1925). Rudolph Valentino was looking for a leading lady in his new movie 'Pretty Ladies' (1925). Myrna tested for the role, which went to Gertrude Olmstead instead, but soon after she was hired as an extra for 'Pretty Ladies' , in which she and fellow newcomer Joan Crawford were among a bevy of chorus girls dangling from an elaborate chandelier In the silent film, Myrna would appear as an exotic femme fatale. She frequently portrayed characters of Asian or Eurasian background.
It took years for her to overcome this stereotype, and as late as 1932 she was cast as a villainous Eurasian in 'Thirteen Women' (1932). She also played a sadistic Chinese princess in 'The Mask of Fu Manchu' (1932), opposite Boris Karloff.
She was one of the few stars that would start in the silent movies and make a successful transition into the sound era
Later in the sound era, she would become a refined, wholesome character. Unable to land a contract with MGM, she continued to appear in small, bit roles, nothing that one could really call acting. In 1926, Myrna appeared in the Warner Brothers film called 'Satan in Sables' (1925) which, at long last, landed her a contract. Her first appearance as a contract player was 'The Caveman' (1926) where she played a maid. Although she was typecast over and over again as a vamp, Myrna continued to stay busy with small parts. Finally, in 1927, she received star billing in 'Bitter Apples' (1927).
Prior to that, she appeared in small roles in 'The Jazz Singer 'and a number of early lavish Technicolor musicals, including 'The Show of Shows', 'The Bride of the Regiment', and 'Under a Texas Moon'. As a result, she became associated with musical roles, and when they began to lose favour with the public, her career went into a slump.
In 1934, Loy appeared in 'Manhattan Melodrama' with Clark Gable and William Powell. When gangster John Dillinger was shot to death after leaving a screening of the film at the Biograph Theatre in Chicago, the film received widespread publicity, with some newspapers reporting that Loy had been Dillinger's favourite actress?
After appearing with Ramón Novarro in 'The Barbarian' (1933), Loy was cast as Nora Charles in the 1934 film 'The Thin Man'. Director W. S. Van Dyke chose Loy after he detected a wit and sense of humour that her previous films had not revealed.
At a Hollywood party, he pushed her into a swimming pool to test her reaction, and felt that her aplomb in handling the situation was exactly what he envisioned for Nora. Louis B. Mayer at first refused to allow Loy to play the part because he felt she was a dramatic actress, but Van Dyke insisted. Mayer finally relented on the condition that filming be completed within three weeks, as Loy was committed to start filming 'Stamboul Quest'.
'The Thin Man' became one of the year's biggest hits, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film. Loy received excellent reviews and was acclaimed for her comedic skills. She and her co-star William Powell proved to be a popular screen couple and appeared in 14 films together, one of the most prolific pairings in Hollywood history.
Her successes in 'Manhattan Melodrama' and 'The Thin Man' marked a turning point in her career and she was cast in more important pictures. Such films as 'Wife vs. Secretary' (1936) with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, and 'Petticoat Fever' (1936) with Robert Montgomery gave her opportunity to develop comedic skills.
She made four films in close succession with William Powell: 'Libelled Lady' (1936), which also starred Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, 'The Great Ziegfeld' (1936), in which she played Billie Burke opposite Powell's Florenz Ziegfeld, the second Thin Man film, 'After the Thin Man' with Powell and James Stewart, and the romantic comedy 'Double Wedding' (1937).
With the outbreak of World War II, Loy all but abandoned her acting career to focus on the war effort and work closely with the Red Cross. She was so fiercely outspoken against Adolf Hitler that her name appeared on his blacklist. She helped run a Naval Auxiliary Canteen and toured frequently to raise funds.
She returned to films with 'The Thin Man Goes Home' (1945). In 1946 she played the wife of returning serviceman Fredric March in 'The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946). In later years, she considered this her proudest acting achievement. She appeared again with Grant in 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' (1948), and with Clifton Webb in 'Cheaper by the Dozen' (1950).
After 1950, Loy's film career continued sporadically. In 1952 she starred in the Cheaper by the Dozen sequel, ' Belles on Their Toes'. She played opposite Montgomery Clift and Robert Ryan in' Lonely hearts' (1958).
In 1974, she was a supporting actress in 'Airport 1975'. Loy played Mrs. Devane, a heavy drinking woman, imbibing in Jim Beam & Olympia Beer mixed together. She played a foil to Sid Caesar. Alongside the film starred fellow silent film star Gloria Swanson.
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Centre in 1988.
Although Loy was never nominated for an Academy Award for any single performance, after an extensive letter writing campaign and years of lobbying by screenwriter and then-Writers Guild of America, West board member Michael Russnow, who enlisted the support of Loy's former screen colleagues and friends such as Roddy McDowall, Sidney Sheldon, Harold Russell and many others, she received a 1991 Academy Honorary Award "for her career achievement". She accepted via camera from her New York home, simply stating, "You've made me very happy. Thank you very much." It was her last public appearance in any medium.
Myrna Loy died on December 14, 1993, in New York City at age 88.
BAT Modern Beauties 2nd Series Myrna Loy No 29 1905-1993
Myrna Loy was born Myrna Adele Williams in Helena, Montana to Adelle Mae (née Johnson) and rancher David Franklin Williams, and raised in nearby Radersburg.
Her father was also a banker and real estate developer and the youngest man ever elected to the Montana state legislature. Her mother studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
During the winter of 1912, Loy's mother nearly died from pneumonia, and her father sent his wife and daughter to La Jolla, California. Loy's mother saw great potential in Southern California, and during one of her husband's visits she encouraged him to purchase real estate there.
Among the properties he bought was land he later sold at a considerable profit to Charlie Chaplin so the film maker could construct his studio there. Although Loy's mother tried to persuade her husband to move to California permanently, he preferred ranch life and the three eventually returned to Montana. Soon afterwards, Loy's mother needed a hysterectomy and insisted Los Angeles was a safer place to have it done, so she, Loy, and Loy's brother David moved to Ocean Park, where Loy began to take dancing lessons.
After the family returned to Montana, Loy continued her dancing lessons, and at the age of 12, Myrna Williams made her stage début performing a dance she had choreographed based on The Blue Bird from the Rose Dream Operetta at Helena's Marlow Theatre.
Later on her family moved to Helena where she spent her youth. At the age of 13, Myrna's father died of influenza and the rest of the family moved to Los Angeles. She was educated in L.A. and the Westlake School for Girls where she caught the acting bug. She started at the age of 15 when she appeared in local stage productions.
Loy left school at the age of 18 to help with the family's finances. She obtained work at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, where she performed in elaborate musical sequences that were related to and served as prologues for the feature film. During this period she saw Eleonora Duse in the play Thy Will Be Done, and the simple acting techniques she employed made such an impact on Loy that she tried to emulate them throughout her career Some of the stage plays were held in the now famous Grauman's Theatre in Hollywood.
Mrs. Rudolph Valentino happened to be in the audience one night who managed to pull some strings to get Myrna some parts in the motion picture industry. Her first film was a small part in the production of 'What Price Beauty?' (1925). Rudolph Valentino was looking for a leading lady in his new movie 'Pretty Ladies' (1925). Myrna tested for the role, which went to Gertrude Olmstead instead, but soon after she was hired as an extra for 'Pretty Ladies' , in which she and fellow newcomer Joan Crawford were among a bevy of chorus girls dangling from an elaborate chandelier In the silent film, Myrna would appear as an exotic femme fatale. She frequently portrayed characters of Asian or Eurasian background.
It took years for her to overcome this stereotype, and as late as 1932 she was cast as a villainous Eurasian in 'Thirteen Women' (1932). She also played a sadistic Chinese princess in 'The Mask of Fu Manchu' (1932), opposite Boris Karloff.
She was one of the few stars that would start in the silent movies and make a successful transition into the sound era
Later in the sound era, she would become a refined, wholesome character. Unable to land a contract with MGM, she continued to appear in small, bit roles, nothing that one could really call acting. In 1926, Myrna appeared in the Warner Brothers film called 'Satan in Sables' (1925) which, at long last, landed her a contract. Her first appearance as a contract player was 'The Caveman' (1926) where she played a maid. Although she was typecast over and over again as a vamp, Myrna continued to stay busy with small parts. Finally, in 1927, she received star billing in 'Bitter Apples' (1927).
Prior to that, she appeared in small roles in 'The Jazz Singer 'and a number of early lavish Technicolor musicals, including 'The Show of Shows', 'The Bride of the Regiment', and 'Under a Texas Moon'. As a result, she became associated with musical roles, and when they began to lose favour with the public, her career went into a slump.
In 1934, Loy appeared in 'Manhattan Melodrama' with Clark Gable and William Powell. When gangster John Dillinger was shot to death after leaving a screening of the film at the Biograph Theatre in Chicago, the film received widespread publicity, with some newspapers reporting that Loy had been Dillinger's favourite actress?
After appearing with Ramón Novarro in 'The Barbarian' (1933), Loy was cast as Nora Charles in the 1934 film 'The Thin Man'. Director W. S. Van Dyke chose Loy after he detected a wit and sense of humour that her previous films had not revealed.
At a Hollywood party, he pushed her into a swimming pool to test her reaction, and felt that her aplomb in handling the situation was exactly what he envisioned for Nora. Louis B. Mayer at first refused to allow Loy to play the part because he felt she was a dramatic actress, but Van Dyke insisted. Mayer finally relented on the condition that filming be completed within three weeks, as Loy was committed to start filming 'Stamboul Quest'.
'The Thin Man' became one of the year's biggest hits, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film. Loy received excellent reviews and was acclaimed for her comedic skills. She and her co-star William Powell proved to be a popular screen couple and appeared in 14 films together, one of the most prolific pairings in Hollywood history.
Her successes in 'Manhattan Melodrama' and 'The Thin Man' marked a turning point in her career and she was cast in more important pictures. Such films as 'Wife vs. Secretary' (1936) with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow, and 'Petticoat Fever' (1936) with Robert Montgomery gave her opportunity to develop comedic skills.
She made four films in close succession with William Powell: 'Libelled Lady' (1936), which also starred Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, 'The Great Ziegfeld' (1936), in which she played Billie Burke opposite Powell's Florenz Ziegfeld, the second Thin Man film, 'After the Thin Man' with Powell and James Stewart, and the romantic comedy 'Double Wedding' (1937).
With the outbreak of World War II, Loy all but abandoned her acting career to focus on the war effort and work closely with the Red Cross. She was so fiercely outspoken against Adolf Hitler that her name appeared on his blacklist. She helped run a Naval Auxiliary Canteen and toured frequently to raise funds.
She returned to films with 'The Thin Man Goes Home' (1945). In 1946 she played the wife of returning serviceman Fredric March in 'The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946). In later years, she considered this her proudest acting achievement. She appeared again with Grant in 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' (1948), and with Clifton Webb in 'Cheaper by the Dozen' (1950).
After 1950, Loy's film career continued sporadically. In 1952 she starred in the Cheaper by the Dozen sequel, ' Belles on Their Toes'. She played opposite Montgomery Clift and Robert Ryan in' Lonely hearts' (1958).
In 1974, she was a supporting actress in 'Airport 1975'. Loy played Mrs. Devane, a heavy drinking woman, imbibing in Jim Beam & Olympia Beer mixed together. She played a foil to Sid Caesar. Alongside the film starred fellow silent film star Gloria Swanson.
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Centre in 1988.
Although Loy was never nominated for an Academy Award for any single performance, after an extensive letter writing campaign and years of lobbying by screenwriter and then-Writers Guild of America, West board member Michael Russnow, who enlisted the support of Loy's former screen colleagues and friends such as Roddy McDowall, Sidney Sheldon, Harold Russell and many others, she received a 1991 Academy Honorary Award "for her career achievement". She accepted via camera from her New York home, simply stating, "You've made me very happy. Thank you very much." It was her last public appearance in any medium.
Myrna Loy died on December 14, 1993, in New York City at age 88.