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. 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. She was born on december 2, 1926 in sweetwater texas to homer. This book is a focused biographical account of the life of oscar winning hollywood actress, marie dressler. 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.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Marie dressler stars opposite greta garbo in anna christie, screening this saturday as part of tiff cinematheque special screenings. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read marie dressler. The title of marie dresslers autobiography, confessions of an ugly duckling sums up her career in a nutshell. May 07, 2019 the stage was her home for most of her life. She enjoyed more success with dinner at eight 1933 and tugboat annie 1933. She was born on november 9, 1868, at cobourg, ontario. Martin dressler by steven millhauser book club discussion. The star fervently gave herself to causes like actors rights, the sale of ww i bonds, and womens rights.
The eminent american comedienne marie dressler in the life story of an ugly duckling. Unconquerable nature decreed that she must therefore play comedy and this she did. Is it possible to deduce her own feelings for martin. What is significant about the evening visit she and martin pay to the building site for the dressler pp. 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. Peters anglican church, where as a child marie would sing. 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.
Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Actress marie dressler born leila marie koerber was a leading american comedienne during the silent era. She thanks rosemary and the alumnae crew for the opportunity and the warm welcome. 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. Marie dressler was a canadianamerican stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent. 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 14 when she joined a theater group and she went on to work on stage and in light opera. Always credited her good friend, screenwriter frances marion, with literally saving her life. Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all. Exclusive marie dressier, whose smiles, tears, triumphs and even her grumpy old ways in character parts throbbed from screens throughout the world, died today.
In 1931, she won the oscar for best actress for min and bill 1930. She starred with charlie chaplin in the first ever featurelength comedy tillies punctured romance and later in min and bill for which she won. 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. As marie told it, and as captured in the book, she owes her late life success to frances marion.
She will forever be remembered for her exchange with jean harlow in dinner at eight. Her father was a music teacher in cobourg and the organist at st. The first of her two autobiographies, the life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924. At age 14 she joined a stock company, going on to become a seasoned veteran in light. Marie dressler, canadianborn comedian and singer who achieved her greatest success toward the end of her life. Cobourg, now houses a small but moern interactive museum of about her life.
It profiles her early life and how her career took off in hollywood. Marie dressler, thank you for the incredible life story that we get to share. 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. Marie dressler gives us no information as to where she and bonita began working with the. Marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. Betty lee rises to the challenge by illuminating the life and times of this most beloved actress. First of all, what made you decide to write a book on marie dressler, a performer who died in 1934. Marie dressler was the heavyset mother figure of the movies. That she became a star at age 60 was an achievement that told depressionbattered audiences it was never too late.
Marie dressler 18681934 once you saw her, you would not forget her. Marie dressler, the grandest old trouper of them all once. 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. Always seeing herself as physically unattractive, she wrote an autobiography, the life story of an ugly duckling. 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. Mankiewicz and direction by george cukor gave some immortal screen luminaries a chance to shine. Lee succeeds better in presenting dresslers private life, which she views as one built largely on strong allegiances, both personal and political. Marie dressler was born as leila marie koerber in cobourg on november 9, 1869. Dressler the actressan earthy, droll, deeply physcial presencefails to come alive. She was an amazing, unique, powerful lady, made wise through her endurance of so much hardship after her massive early fame. Kitty packard splendida battuta tratta dal film di cukor. 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. Catherine is excited at her first opportunity to perform with alumnae theatre in queen marie. In 1914, she was in the first fulllength film comedy.
To find out more about the history of vaudeville and vaudevillians like marie dressler, consult no applause, just throw money. 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. By 1892, she was on broadway and she later became a star comedienne on the vaudeville circuit. Well, she does seem to be a member of the obscurati, doesnt she. In this film still waterfront inn owner min marie dressler loves her fisherman boyfriend wallace beery. 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. Things that stood out about jean harlow in the movie, dinner at eight. 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. I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dresslers life. Marie dressler 18691934 was no beauty, but her perfect comic timing and everywoman appeal to theater and moviegoers ensured a popularity that began in vaudeville and climaxed with min and bill, tugboat annie, and her legendary delivery of the classic closing line in dinner at eight. My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at eight, delivered to the impossibly sexy jean harlowe. I love the detail, the atmosphere, the background of marie dressler s life. 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.
After much time spent trying to find her, marion contacted dressler about a major role in the callahans and the murphys 1927. Billy marie dressler, age 92, passed away unexpectedly on wednesday, december 12, 2018 at manor park, a nursing home in midland texas. But once i started looking at her life, i was hooked. In all, marie dressler appeared in more than 40 films but only achieved superstardom near the end of her life. 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. The fall and rise of marie dressler slant magazine. See more ideas about marie dressler, silent film, actresses. She received another academy award nomination for emma 1932. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new.
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. 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. She demonstrates a charming wit and spouts some great insights into the entertainment industry and life in general. Marie dressler was no beauty but she was talented and during the depression she had the capability to take peoples minds off their problems. A few years ago, author matthew kennedy wrote a marie dressler bio appropriately titled marie dressler. 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. You know, a lot of days i think i was too hard on grand hotel. Marie dressler was born leila marie koerber on nov. 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. 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. Today we take a look at the life of marie dressler. Dressler was a super star in her 60s, not an easy fete.
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. Life story of an ugly duckling, was published in 1924. This book gives a lot of insight of old hollywood and how the studio bosses owned their stable of stars. Successful on stage in vaudeville and comic operas, she was also successful in film. 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. 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. Marie dressler interview part 1 marie dressler foundation. What roles does martin mentally assign to the various women in his life. Dec 11, 2014 marie dressler made her hollywood comeback in the late 1920s. My first knowledge of dressler was the famous line in dinner at. Mgm originally promoted dinner at eight by touting the allstar cast, but this is no runofthemill omnibus picture. This book also highlights her most important achievements as an actress before describing her last days and how she passed away. Full text of marie dressler loses life battle see other formats marie dressier loses life battle.
He would ultimately write the definitive book on the. In the early 1930s, marie dressler 18681934 was the most loved movie star in the. My own story by marie dressler goodreads share book. Lee brings dressler to life as a ebullient, bombastic, outrageous, but loveable woman. Hamilton, alice bell, dora and gerda, marie haskova, caroline, emmeline, mrs. Marion was a cub reporter when she interviewed marie in 1911 on tour in san francisco. November 1914, wimbledon, surrey, england, a germanborn former officer in the crimean war. Marie was with the elite of hollywood, doing bond selling tours during the first world war. Marie dressler died in santa barbara, california and is interred in a crypt in the. Will rogers paid tribute to marie dressler on the radio just before her death in 1934. Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound era.
Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound. 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. Lees biography of actress dressler gives the reader a vivid view of the life of her. Marie dresslers original name was leila marie koerber. Look back 90 years and the career of sixtysomething movie star, marie dressler, appears all the more incredible. Toronto journalist betty lees meticulously researched biography gives a thorough account of dresslers life and appreciative evocation of her art.
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. The films ending conversation between jean harlow and marie dressler is very precode. Biography for marie dressler turner classic movies. The book does drag on a bit in the middle, but overall this does not distract from the joy it was to read this. Marie dressler, hollywood actress, who received a best actress oscar for her dramatic performance in min and bill 1930. Sep 21, 2006 dressler died in 1934, a little angry that she couldnt enjoy her unlikely run of luck for a little while longer. 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. The eminent american comedienne marie dressler in the life. Read marie dressler the unlikeliest star by betty lee available from rakuten kobo. 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. The unlikeliest star by betty lee 1997, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay.
Marie dresslers imdb page shows 30 acting credits from 19141933. Anna christie 1930 was the movie where garbo talks, but everyone noticed marie as marthy. 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. In 1919 she took part in the stage actors strike, along with ethel barrymore. This book explores in striking detail the full span of her life, taking in her. Despite being a trained opera singer and a gifted actress, she had the body of a football player and the face of a mastiff.
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