topic Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM in TV and Movies

ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Oznell — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:21:29 GMT

Starting at 7:15 with "Sister Kenny", and ending with her brilliant comedy triumph "His Girl Friday".

As always, my favorite of her drama entries is the extraordinary adaptation of the O'Neill play, "Mourning Becomes Electra", at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. I urge Russell fans who haven't seen this to check it out.

Transposed in time to 19th century New England, Russell

tears into the part of a disappointed daughter in a wealthy, "secrets-adultery-and-scandal"- wracked household. Shaken by the aftermath of Civil War service, the family members gather again in their venerable manor and long-suppressed emotions begin to ignite....

There's a fab cast, with a young Kirk Douglas notable as Rosalind Russell's baffled suitor, and Michael Redgrave, Katina Paxinou, Raymond Massey, Leo Genn all helping to create the haunting atmosphere of dread.

Of course, Russell was nominated for Best Actress that year, and it was a major upset and shock to Hollywood when she lost to Loretta Young-- everyone believed that Russell's mighty performance had put a lock on Oscar.

Here's the full schedule of her films:

http://www.tcm.com/schedule/index.html?tz=est&sdate=2020-06-04

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

golding76 — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:48:08 GMT

Russell's presence in a movie never failed to enthrall me. Her voice, her delivery, her mannerisms always captivated me.

oznell, do you remember that I once mentioned that I wondered if her moving of her hands/fingers in her inimitable way (movements that enchanted me) were a way to keep her hands and fingers comfortable from the pain inflicted by her rheumatoid arthritis? The more I've thought about this, the more I think it is true.

Those who suffer from RA know how movement itself greases up the joints and makes movement less painful. I am certain she did not have the meds available to her that we have today to mitigate the pain and discomfort of RA. (Of course she probably took something, but I have no idea of what was available to her in her day.) Movement was all she had to keep the pain at bay, in my humble opinion.

ETA: Her birthday is tomorrow, June 4. Delighted that TCM is honoring her.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Shelbelle — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:59:53 GMT

Wasnt Roz the perfect Auntie Mame?? I adore a lesser known film of hers from 1961 called A Majority of One, where she plays a Jewish widow falling for a Japanese man played by Alec Guiness, lovely little film, and she played it to perfection. Airs sometimes on TCM.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

alliswell — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:32:24 GMT

Although not on the TCM schedule, one of my favorite Rosalind Russell films is "A Majority of One," with Sir Alec Guinness:

"Since her beloved son was killed in World War II, Bertha Jacoby (Rosalind Russell) has nursed a grudge against the entire country of Japan. But when her son-in-law (Ray Danton) is offered a diplomatic position in Tokyo, he and her daughter (Madlyn Rhue) suggest she come and live with them.

On the ship, the widowed Bertha tentatively makes friends with the courtly widower Koichi Asano (Alec Guinness). As the relationship blossoms, her daughter and son-in-law deal with their own prejudices."

Rosalind Russell won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

lil spot — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:38:33 GMT

@alliswell wrote:

Although not on the TCM schedule, one of my favorite Rosalind Russell films is "A Majority of One," with Sir Alec Guinness:
"Since her beloved son was killed in World War II, Bertha Jacoby (Rosalind Russell) has nursed a grudge against the entire country of Japan. But when her son-in-law (Ray Danton) is offered a diplomatic position in Tokyo, he and her daughter (Madlyn Rhue) suggest she come and live with them.
On the ship, the widowed Bertha tentatively makes friends with the courtly widower Koichi Asano (Alec Guinness). As the relationship blossoms, her daughter and son-in-law deal with their own prejudices."

Rosalind Russell won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance.

@alliswell @Shelbelle I absolutely adore the film "A Majority of One".

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Oznell — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 22:15:44 GMT

I do remember your mention of that, @golding76 , and it is a fascinating observation and makes sense to me. I wonder at how early an age she was diagnosed? Hate to think of all those with rheumatoid arthritis who suffer silently, year after year... and as you say, during her time, with fewer medication options.

Didn't know her birthday was tomorrow and the occasion of this fun minifest. My candidate for a lesser-aired film of hers to be shown, would be "The Velvet Touch", a film noir she made with Sydney Greenstreet, Leon Ames and Claire Trevor, set in the theater world...

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

golding76 — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 22:39:35 GMT

oznell,

I found the piece that first informed me that Rosalind Russell suffered from RA. Oh, how she suffered. Thank heavens she had her Catholic faith and her dear family to sustain her. To her credit, she also advocated for those suffering from RA.

Lifted from the article:

Rosalind shared our privacy about RA pain

During the years when Roz could still work, she did not make any fuss about her RA. Once, when it interfered with her abilities, she let others think there was a technical problem. Her husband Frederick wrote that she was extremely private about her Rheumatoid Arthritis, even to him:

“During the 16 years of secret anguish and pain, which began in 1959 and included two mastectomies that were never made public and the terrible onslaught of the worst kind of rheumatoid arthritis in 1969 that culminated in her last two years of total, private agony, she lived by this poem-prayer that she wrote: Trust Him, when darkest thoughts assail thee, Trust Him when thy faith is small. Trust Him, when to simply trust Him is the hardest thing of all. Roz gave the greatest performance of her dazzling 40-year career during those fast agonizing years. Although she was wracked with pain, she never gave up, never let on. She refused to lean on sedatives or psychiatry or the physical props of crutches or a wheelchair. And she refused to talk about her illness, even to me. She continued her unrelenting charitable and humanitarian endeavors.”

Roz refused to acknowledge publicly how bad the RA pain was. Most people I’ve met with RA are the same way, insisting that we make others comfortable with our awkwardly agonizing situation. Roz would say, “I’m fine.” And when the RA prevented her from acting any longer, she battled pain and disability to remain a public figure. In the quote from Helen Reddy’s book (see image), note the way that Rosalind arose when it was time to stand on the stage.

Roz shared our positive approach to battling the cruelty of RA

Rosalind was such an optimist that friends say she hoped for a miracle with her RA almost to the end of her battle.

I read several accounts of a public appearance in 1974 where Rosalind was photographed with Joan Crawford (see below). The newspaper photographs of that night were not flattering and Joan refused to appear publicly again. But Roz would not be deterred. She would not hide what she called her “chipmunk cheeks” (induced by steroids) or her disfigured hands. She was quoted as saying that “Taking joy in life is a woman’s best cosmetic.”

Then, Rosalind became a determined advocate for RA awareness Rosalind used her celebrity to advocate for awareness & research. “Frustrated that doctors knew very little about arthritis, she successfully lobbied Congress to pass the National Arthritis Act,” cipdusa.org.

During the 1970’s Rosalind served on the National Commission on Arthritis and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases. In 1978, two years after her death, Congress awarded the Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis to the University of California San Francisco. Today, “The Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis at UCSF is a strong international force improving the quality of life for people with the world’s number one crippling disease.”

One biographer wrote: “There may not have been any more movie roles, but there was one in real life that was perfect casting: arthritis activist. Since no one would be writing parts for an arthritic actress on cortisone, Rosalind decided to create her own starring vehicle that she could adapt to whatever group she was addressing. When she was not being hospitalized for stomach blockages (caused by cortisone), she was out campaigning for arthritis research. It was her final role, but it was in her own script” (page 251, Forever Mame by Bernard ******).

Rosalind Russell is special to me as a woman fighting RA

Rosalind Russell excelled at humor on the screen and in her life. Her Catholic faith was also very important to her, writing poems and prayers of bravery and determination. She often referred to life as a rope with knots for her to climb as she came closer to Heaven. Rosalind was extremely modest about her both her achievements and her suffering.

You can hear all of that in her short acceptance speech at the Oscars in March 1973, only two and a half years before her death. Her lifelong friend Frank Sinatra presents Rosalind with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars. In her last sentence, you can hear her refer to her severe Rheumatoid Arthritis with pneumonia and complications from treatment, and breast cancer with two mastectomies merely as “while I was not quite well.”

In the summer of 1976, Rosalind finally had hip replacement surgery and never recovered fully. She died in November at age 69. Sinatra said at her funeral service: “God got up Sunday morning and said, ‘Better send for Roz. She’s suffered enough.’”

More on Rosalind Russell

There’s a DVD narrated by Kathleen Turner based upon Rosalind Russell’s autobiography Life is a Banquet. “Long an advocate for those with disabilities, late in life this unique and pioneering talent was struck with severe rheumatoid arthritis, which derailed her career. Thereafter, Russell championed the needs of millions also suffering from the disease… Whether consider

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Oznell — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 22:50:21 GMT

What an extraordinary woman, @golding76 -- thank you for that information, much of which I didn't know. She was heroic! I knew she was devout, and am sure that her faith was fundamental to the courage and grace and endurance she mustered right to the end.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

drizzellla — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 23:17:25 GMT

Rosalind Russell's son Lance was a guest at the 2014 TCM Film Festival. You might want to check out the video on YouTube.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

golding76 — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 03:14:39 GMT

"A Class Act"

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/276267758364169766/

If you would like to be inspired by an example of modesty, kindness and a genuinely charitable nature, click on the link above. In it, Rosalind Russell receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1973 Oscars ceremony. What a beautiful and gracious soul this woman had.

Rosalind Russell in Gypsy.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

beckyb1012 — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 13:21:15 GMT

I loved her best in the 1939 "The Women", Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

spiderw — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:16:45 GMT

Rosalind Russell, an excellent actress who is one of my favorites rated with Davis and Stanwyck and should have received an Oscar for at least one of her performances. She could do it all , a true movie star.

My favorite Rosalind Russell movie role is Miss Sidney in my favorite movie, Picnic. I absolutely loved her as the school teacher showing all different emotions and feelings throughout the movie. That performance should have won her an Oscar in my opinion.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

golding76 — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:25:42 GMT

I am in full agreement with you, spider woman. That was an exquisite, heart-wrenching and soul-searing performance. How masterfully she conveyed the pent-up frustrations of a spinsterish schoolmarm desperately trying to free herself from that description. She wanted to live, to have conubial bliss...

How she yearned for a new and different life -- and was willing to grab it no matter on what terms it was handed to her.

A master class in acting, that's for sure.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Mindy D — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:34:04 GMT

I'm watching His Girl Friday right now. 👍👍👍

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

catsgalore5354 — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:13:29 GMT

@Oznell --Thanks for the heads up on Rosalind Russell. I watched "Mourning Becomes Electra" yesterday. What a good movie. Never seen it before! She was excellent in it.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

just bee — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:38:47 GMT

And don't forget another favorite: The Trouble with Angels (1966).

@Oznell

And stop reminding me I don't have TCM anymore! Curse you, Comcast!

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Moonlady — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:45:18 GMT

Wasn't she one of the best?

Let's not forget The Trouble with Angels. Who else but Rosalind Russell could elevate this movie (No offense to director, Ida Lupino lol) with her multi-faceted portrayal of Mother Superior.

That, and a wonderful cast (including the dependably amusing Mary Wickes), actually make this another one of her masterpieces. And it was very well received at the time. Even at TCM, where it has aired before, with close to five-star reviews in all categories.

I always admired her ability to be funny without being offensive.

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Moonlady — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:47:09 GMT

@just bee

LOL Great minds....!

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Witchy Woman — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:51:13 GMT

@spiderw

Picnic = one of my very favorite. I can hear the song in my head now. Always brings tears to my eyes!

Re: ROSALIND RUSSELL FEST THURSDAY TCM

Witchy Woman — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:54:50 GMT

@beckyb1012

What beauties!

I have seen "The Women" many times and love it more each time. Caught a bit of it last night.

Every performance is fascinating....Joan is the perfect "imperfect" woman!

"Jungle Red" nail polish says it all.

Just a classic...