Mary Astor

[RedRiver]

This is an actress who's full of surprises. This is an actress. She's gentle and pure in DODSWORTH. Firm and devoted in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Best remembered as cold and manipulative, a role she delivers thoroughly, but capable of so much more. Interesting, our 21st century opinions of her looks. I don't find her attractive either. But in her day, somebody must have! Her characters in the Huston films are clearly intended to be lookers.

[intothenitrate]

...also I love her voice.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

intothenitrate, Mary Astor has an absolutely distinct timbre and verve. I think part of her voice's attraction is that her lovely enunciation has such rhythm.

Larry, thanks for reposting your Mary Astor post. Entertaining and interesting as always!

Knitty, Astor's role in "Meet Me In St. Louis," startled me as well. I couldn't believe it was the same woman! What a transformation.

And I just have to repost this photo of Mary Astor because it is such a stunning image. She is so lovely!

[RedRiver]

her lovely enunciation has such rhythm

Sam Spade makes a certain statement, I don't remember what. Ms. Astor simply, and precisely, responds with, "'Tis." Her interpretation of the dialogue is downright musical, as is everyone's in this artful, splendid movie.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

So true, Red!

[charliechaplinfan]

Okay. George told this story to Jon Tuska during a latter-day interview. As always at that stage of his life, George was asked why he turned down the Sam Spade role in THE MALTESE FALCON. In this talk with Tuska, George said the main reason was that he'd listened to his agent. One factor to be considered was the film was a remake and the previous versions had caused no excitement at the box office. Of course there was also the fact that Huston was an untried director. But what Raft's agent Myron Selznick also mentioned was that he was going to have to play opposite an "unattractive" actress. During the interview Raft never mentioned if that actress was Mary Astor or if that was the deciding factor in George's turning down the part.

Gosh it doesn't reflect well on Myron Selznick, one can only think that he didn't know which actress had been cast or perhaps Myron had his own axe to grind, it wasn't characteristic of George to criticise a leading lady. I always wonder about Mary's character in the Maltese Falcon, her voice and demeanour suggested a woman of the world and had an underlying attraction but she was made up to look older than she was.

A favourite movie of mine is Red Dust, yes it's Gable and Harlow at their steamiest but matching them is Mary, the original object of Gable's lust. It's a precode delight.

I'm not that enamoured with roles of mothers in films, they're on the whole thankless roles usually supporting others, but Mary is a rarity, I haven't watched Mary in Little Women but have watched her in Meet Me in St Louis and she stands out despite having Garland and Margaret O'Brien in the cast.

[Rita Hayworth]

So true, Red!

I agree too!

[Western Guy]

Well Alison, another consideration may have been that Myron was using whatever tactic at hand to keep George from doing the film, which actually seems unlikely given the number of refusals Raft gave at Warners, thus affecting Selznick's commissions, I'm sure.

Or . . . perhaps George told Tuska that story merely to justify his turning down the role. Don't forget, in later years when Bela Lugosi's career was going down the toilet he liked to tell reporters that he had turned down the role of the monster in FRANKENSTEIN. At times he'd boldly go forward by stating that it was he who suggested Karloff for the role.

I reckon that the actor's ego (especially when a career boo-boo is recognized) needs that self-boosting.

[JackFavell]

Mary Astor is for me an incredibly great actress. She's not the actress you worship when you are 12, or even 18. Like Boyer, she is too subtle and adult to be understood in youth. When you've lived, you come to appreciate the nuance of a Mary Astor.

As to the hairdo, my take on it and on Mary's performance is that this is a woman of deeply lustful and perverted nature, ruled by money, no...wait. ruled by her own needs, putting those first. She is...what's the word? Psychotic? Is that when someone has no empathy? No emotional connection to anyone at all? Anyway, so she's all these things, but she is also playing a role: that of an innocent woman, a pure, upright womanly woman... hence the hairdo, tightly coiffed, held together in some weird balancing act, neat as a pin, it screams honesty and truthfulness. She's wearing a suit dress with a little frill at the front, not low at all, no exposure - the very thing for a modest, upright woman to wear. It matches her character, the one Brigid's playing, and also the careful, manipulative, underhanded killer she really is. I think it works.

If you haven't seen it, try Act of Violence. I swear, you'll never forget her in this movie. Her whisper still sends shivers down my spine. She's chilling and sad in the film and I think it's her best performance out of so many great ones. I also love her in The Great Lie - a huge, terrific, funny, sad, and evil performance! And she fake plays the piano better than ANYONE IN CLASSIC FILM. She never puts a foot wrong as far as I am concerned, and from a woman who was so very unsure of her acting abilities. What I love most about her is her sense of humor. My second favorite is as Princess Centimillia in Palm Beach Story. She's a scream!

[knitwit45]

Jacks, that isn't fake piano playing. She was a gifted pianist, I believe that is the path she wanted to take, but was forced into acting by a domineering father who was only interested in the money she could earn.
I think the word you are looking for is sociopath. And it describes her Brigid perfectly!

[Vecchiolarry]

Dear Wendy and Nancy,

Yes, Mary Astor could play the piano and sometimes entertained at parties....

And yes, she was a sociopath and a psychopath too in "The Maltese Falcon", as well as a liar.
I also didn't care for that hairdo, but I seem to recall that it had to do with Veronica Lake being made to cut her hair for safety reasons and actresses setting an example to factory girl workers. Bette Davis was startled to see Mary's bravery in hacking off her hair so short.
I don't know if "The Maltese Falcon" or "The Great Lie" was shot first but Bette has stated in interviews that she was quite proud of Mary for doing it....
Thankfully, it grew out nicely later..

Larry

[JackFavell]

Sociopath! Yes! That's it!

No wonder her piano playing was so good....

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Jackie and Knitty,
I loved her playing the piano in Meet Me in St. Louis.


And Larry, thanks for explaining the short "do." It finallly makes sense!

[knitwit45]

I think the piano playing scene in MMISL is my favorite in the entire movie. Well, that and when John Truett comes dancing out from behind the Christmas tree. And then the scene when Grandpa asks Judy to be his date. And of course when we see the ladies in their Spring dresses..... Oh, forget it.......

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Yes, and yes, and yes! I love when Leon Ames sings to her. It is so sweet! Just like what real people who loved each other used to do. And I always want to make homemade ketchup and one of those huge layer cakes after those scenes.

My favorite Marjorie Main line from that film is "Cabbage has a cabbage smell." It's such an innocuous little line, but what she does with it.

And Mary Astor just looked so lovely throughout that whole film. I adored her after Meet Me in St. Louis.