๐ญ๐ฅPaulette Goddard๐ฅ๐ญ
American actress Paulette Goddard,born Pauline Marion Levy, spent her teen years as a Broadway chorus girl,gaining attention when she was featured reclining on a prop crescent moon inthe 1928 Ziegfeld musical Rio Rita. In Hollywood as early as 1929, Goddardreportedly appeared as an extra in several Hal Roach two-reel comedies, makingconfirmed bit appearances in a handful of these short subjects wearing a blondewig over her naturally raven-black hair. Continuing as a blonde, she appearedas a "Goldwyn Girl" in the 1932 Eddie Cantor film Kid from Spain, where she was awarded several close-ups.
Goddard's career went into fullgear when she met Charlie Chaplin, who was looking for an unknown actress toplay "The Gamin" in his 1936 film Modern Times. When Charlie made advances toward her she famously said โArenโt I a little too old for you?โ shewas 21yrs younger than him at 26yrs. Struck by the actress's breathtakingbeauty and natural comic sense, Chaplin not only cast her in the film, but fellin love with her. It is still a matter of contention in some circles as towhether or not Chaplin and Goddard were ever legally married (Chaplin claimedthey were; it was his third marriage and her second), but whatever the case,the two lived together throughout the 1930s. Goddard's expert performances insuch films as The Young in Heart (1938) and The Cat and the Canary (1939) enabled her to ascend to stardom without Chaplin's sponsorship,but the role she truly craved was that of Scarlett O'Hara in the 1939 epic GoneWith the Wind. Unfortunately, that did not work out, and Vivien Leigh landedthe part.
After working together in The Great Dictator(1940), Goddard and Chaplin's relationship crumbled; by themid-1940s she was married to another extremely gifted performer, BurgessMeredith. The actress remained a box-office draw for her home studio Paramountuntil 1949, when (presumably as a result of a recent flop titled Bride of Vengeance) she received a phone call at home telling her bluntly that hercontract was dissolved. Goddard's film appearances in the 1950s were in suchdemeaning "B" pictures as Vice Squad (1953) and Babes in Baghdad (1953). Still quite beautiful, and possessed of a keener intellect thanmost movie actors, she retreated to Europe with her fourth (or third?) husband,German novelist Erich Maria Remarque (All Quiet on the Western Front). This union was successful, lasting until Remarque's death.Coaxed out of retirement for one made-for-TV movie in 1972 (The SnoopSisters), Goddard preferred to remain in her lavish Switzerland (Oddlyenough this is where Charlie Chaplin also choose to live at the end of hislife) home for the last two decades of her life. Charlie Chaplin died in 1977,Paulette Goddard 1980, she was 21 yrs younger than Charlie.
plus-circle Add Review
plus-circle Add Review
comment
Reviewer: JTDIVER - - March 2, 2024
Subject: RubyAsRed
Yul Brynner & Montgomery Clift are both on my to do list. I am a big fan of both.
When I graduated from Purdue in 1985 Yul Brynner was performing โThe King and Iโ on Broadway. I was determined to go see him live in New York. My younger brother lives in New York, so my plan was to have Thanksgiving with my brotherโs family and see Yul. He died of lung cancer in October. I have a VIP lifetime membership and was upgraded to first class on my flight and sat next to Patrick Ewing who was going my way to eat Thanksgiving with his Georgetown coach (his mother had died).
On my return trip I sat next to John J. Mellencamp (John Cougar) He was wearing his High School future farmers jacket. He is from Seymour Indiana. I am much taller than him (he 5'7") so he asked me if I would walk with him to the baggage claim and fend-off the screaming fans. No one came close but the noise hurt my ears. I wish I had asked him how they knew he would be there. John is a couple years older than me. Patrick wouldn't talk at all, but John never stopped talking.
JTDIVER
Reviewer: RubyAsRed - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - February 29, 2024
Subject: Incredible
It's amazing how many good old movies you're providing -- thank you!
Not to be importunate, but if you had an interest in providing a Yul Brynner or Montgomery Clift collection, I would be thrilled to pieces. (Big pieces, easily reassembled.)
