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Joan Blondell DiscographyActor Credits
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Joan Blondell Biography |
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Her marriage to Michael Todd was an emotional and financial disaster. Todd was a heavy spender who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling. They also went through a controvery bankruptcy during their marriage. Michael Todd ran through Blondell`s saving and eventually left her for much younger Elizabeth Taylor. Joan was best friends with fellow Warner brothers contract player Bette Davis, and very good friends with Dona Drake. Made six movies with James Cagney.
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Trivia |
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BiographyMeasurementsBust: 37" - Waist: 1 " Hips: 36"Trivia and QuotesQuotes "In the `20s, you were a face. And that was enough. In the `30s, you also had to be a voice. And your voice had to match your face, if you can imagine that. `Jimmy Cagney` and Eddie Robinson had voices that were as important as the characters they played. You knew what you were getting even before you paid for the ticket." "There`s a very fine line between underacting and not acting at all. And not acting is what a lot of actors are guilty of. It amazes me how some of these little numbers with dreamy looks and a dead pan are getting away wit it. I`d hate to see them on stage with a dog act." [on Al Jolson] The screen didn`t give him enough space to project in. I remember as a kid seeing him on stage and I think to this day there have been two great performers in the world: one is Jolson and the other is Judy Garland. They had some kind of magic in front of people that no one could surpass -- they were sheer, magnificent talent beyond belief. [on Bette Davis] When Bette`s good, she`s real good. When she`s bad, she`s awful. But at least she`s not afraid to bat an eyelash. [on Clark Gable] It was the joy of your life to know Clark Gable. He was everything good you could think of. He had delicious humor, he had great compassion, he was always a fine old teddy bear. In no way was he conscious of his good looks, as were most other men in pictures at that time. Clark was very unactorly. [on director Edmund Goulding] He did something that drove actors crazy. He`d get out there and act out everybody`s role for them -- even the women! And we were supposed to imitate him. We wanted to give our own interpretations. [on Jean Harlow] You know, she never wore underclothes and she was walking past the guys on "Public Enemy" one day and James Cagney said, "How do you hold those things up?" and she said, "I ice them." And she was very serious. [on Leslie Howard] Leslie Howard was a darling flirt. He`d be caressing your eyes and have his hand on someone else`s leg at the same time. He was adorable. He was a little devil and just wanted his hands on every woman around. He just loved ladies.Trivia According to the July 24, 1944, issue of Time Magazine, Blondell divorced Dick Powell on the grounds of cruelty alleging that "when she objected to the incessant coming and going of guests, Powell crooned: `If you don`t like it, you can get the hell out.`". Her marriage to theatrical impresario Michael Todd was an emotional and financial disaster. Todd was a heavy spender who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling (high-stakes bridge was one of his weaknesses) and went through a controversial bankruptcy during their marriage. While continuing to live the high-life on a huge estate in New York`s Westchester County, the irresponsible Todd ran through Blondell`s savings, and then eventually dumped her for the much younger Elizabeth Taylor. Made six movies with James Cagney at Warner Brothers - more than any other individual actress. Cagney said that the only woman he loved other than his wife was Blondell. Profiled in "Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames" bu Ray Hagen and Laura Wagner (McFarland, 2004). She playfully called her friend Bette Davis`s four ex-husbands "The Four Skins" since they were all gentiles. Was nominated for Broadway`s 1958 Tony Award as best supporting or featured actress (dramatic) for "The Rope Dancers.". | ||
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