Established 1999
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Irene Dunne had elegant looks that masked her comedic talents and
a charming unassuming manner. (I’ve always thought that she looked like Greta Garbo,
only with warmth.) Her singing voice was lovely and she did musicals, as well as comedies
and dramas.
Born in 1904 (although I have another source that says her birth date was 1898) in
Kentucky, she attended the Chicago College of Music and was touring in musical shows and
performing on Broadway by the 1920's. Her first movie role was in the Oscar winning film,
"Cimarron" in 1931. She went on to play in "four hanky" films, until
she was cast in comedies with "Theodora Goes Wild" and "The Awful
Truth".
One of her most famous musicals was the first
filmed version of "Show Boat".
But, along with the comedies were touching dramatic films like "Penny Serenade" and "Anna and the King of Siam". She ended her career in the early 1950's after having graduated to the "mother" roles, including the ultimate "mother" role in "I Remember Mama."
She married Francis J. Griffin, a New York dentist, in the 1928 and remained married until his death in 1965. She had one daughter. President Eisenhower named her as alternate delegate to the U.N. General Assembly in 1959. Miss Dunne passed away in 1990.
Some of her movies I would recommend are:
The Awful Truth: A classically funny film with Cary Grant.
My Favorite Wife: Another funny film with Cary Grant.
Penny Serenade: A good tear jerker with Cary Grant. (I see a pattern of
partnership forming here.)
Anna and the King of Siam: Based on the book that later became the musical
"The King and I". She and Rex Harrison as the King give wonderful performances.
Life With Father: She is amusing, though frankly William Powell steals the movie
from her with his portrait of the domineering, but loving father.
I Remember Mama: She is the gentle, loving anchor of the family in this movie. I
feel it is her best performance and certainly at the top of my list. Definitely the one to
watch on Mother’s Day.
Never a Dull Moment: A rather predictable comedy of the sophisticated lady
marrying the rancher, but it does have Natalie Wood as Fred MacMurray’s daughter and
the charm of Ms. Dunne.
The Mudlark: She plays Queen Victoria in a story about her widowhood and the
little street urchin who helps to get her out of her mourning and back to her people.
There are other well-known movies of Ms. Dunne’s, I could list, but I haven’t seen them yet, myself. Take a look at her performances, as I will watch for these films, also. Her charm and talent really glows in all the performances I have seen.
Links to Irene Dunne Related Sites: |
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| Biographies
and Movie Performances: |
Photo Sites: | Fan And Fun Sites: |
| Internet Movie Database filmography | Irene Dunne Glamour Gallery on the Bombshells Galleries Site | Reel Classics |
| Internet Movie Database biography | Irene Dunne's Grave | |
| Chix in Flix filmography | Irene Dunne on The
Under-Rated Actors |
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Bellenet Productions – "Kentucky Konnections" Irene Dunne Page | |
| Reel Jewels | ||
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| Irene Dunne, Forgotten Treasure by Meredy on Terre Share |
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