|
Claudette Colbert had one of the longest careers in
Hollywood. Her sophisticated charm and elegance is still evident in her films.
Born Lily Chauchoin in Paris in 1907 (although I have another source that lists that date as 1903), she came to New York at the age of six. She made many silent pictures, but it was with the "talkies" that she really became a star. Early in her career she did a couple screen siren roles in "Sign of the Cross" and "Cleopatra", but her forte was comedy.
One of her first comedies was the one she won the Academy Award
for, "It Happened One Night". Legend has it that she didn’t expect to win
and came from the train station in her street clothes to accept the Oscar. But, along with
the comedies were several excellent
dramas, which I
have listed below.
In the 50's she returned to Broadway and also had several TV performances. Her last film was the television film, "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles in 1987. (See what her co-star, Steven Collins has to say about her on his web site: Steven Collins on Claudette Colbert) She was married twice, the second to Dr. Joel Pressman (1935 until his death in 1968) of whom she said, "I married a wonderful doctor, and I was very happy - period." She passed away in 1996.
Some of her movies I would recommend are:
Sign of the Cross: A film of the early Christian movement and the fight against
the Romans. She plays a very sexy lady and has an infamous scene bathing in ass milk.
It Happened One Night: Known more now as the film she for which she won
the Academy Award, but it still holds up as entertaining road picture.
Cleopatra: Another film in which she gets to play a seductive
temptress.
Imitation of Life: Yes, there was another version before the Lana
Turner one of the 50's.
Tovarich: A charming comedy with Charles Boyer as Russian Royals who
escape to Paris after the Revolution.
Boom Town: A rowdy love story set in an oil town with Clark Cable and Spencer
Tracy.
Palm Beach Story: A rollicking Preston Sturges comedy with Rudy Vallee
and Mary Astor at their funniest in supporting roles.
Since You Went Away: A good WWII story with a strong cast including
Shirley Temple and Jennifer Jones.
The Egg and I: A duck-out-of-water movie that has one of her favorite
co-stars, Fred McMurray.
So Proudly We Hail: A great story of WWII nurses that has many
fascinating performances, including Veronica Lake and Paulette Goddard.
Three Came Home: Heart-wrenching tale of woman internees held by the
Japanese in WWII. Sessue Hayakowa’s performance as the head of the camp is
surprisingly human and in the end his story is as tragic as those he imprisons. I cannot
recommend this film enough. I still cry at the end, no matter how many times I see it.
Links to Claudette Colbert Related Sites: |
||
| Biographies
and Movie Performances: |
Photo Sites: | Fan andFun Sites: |
| Internet Movie Database - Filmography | Reel Classics | |
| Internet Movie Database - Biography | Pet Photo Labels - picture as Cleopatra | Classic Movies |
| Movie Actors site | Steven Collins on Claudette Colbert | |
| Movie Magazine International Tribute | Tri-baby’s "They had faces then" photos: | Obituary |
| Canoe Internet Network Filmography | Palm Beach Story photo | |
| Videoflicks Filmography | Movie Mirror photo | |
| Chix in Flix Filmography | Claudette Glamour photo | |
