Search: 35 results found for "Irene McMillan Abbott"

Indomitable Simone Irene McMahon

Jennifer McMahon

R 577.00

Often called the First Lady of Hollywood, Irene Dunne, in a long and distinguished screen career, juggled comedies, dramas, and musicals with aplomb, and all three genres were represented in her five Academy Award nominations. Her television career was equally successful, including appearances as host or guest on numerous comedies, dramas, and variety shows. Active in many civic and philanthropic causes, she also served as an alternate delegate to the United Nations. All aspects of her career are documented in this first in-depth study of her work, including much information never previously chronicled.The opening biographical overview features reminiscences from colleagues such as James Stewart and Ralph Bellamy. Dunne's multiple careers on stage and in motion pictures, radio, and television are fully detailed in separate chapters, as are her recordings, song sheets, and numerous awards and nominations. An annotated bibliography records the diverse writings by and about her, and a list of magazine covers featuring Dunne over a period of twenty years is appended. All sections are fully cross-referenced and indexed. Photographs are also included--ranging from her childhood to her last public appearance as a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1985. A worthy tribute to this talented and beloved actress, this book will be an important source for research on Irene Dunne and her world.

Irene Dunne

This is the first full-length biography of Irene Dunne, one of the most versatile actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age. A recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors award in 1985, Dunne's acting highlights include five Best Actress Oscar nominations, occurring in almost as many different genres: the Western Cimarron (1931), the two screwball comedies Theodora Goes Wild (1936) and The Awful Truth (1937), the romantic comedy Love Affair (1939), and the populist I Remember Mama (1948). Her other memorable films include My Favorite Wife (1940), Penny Serenade (1941), Anna and the King of Siam (1946), and Life with Father (1947). After delving into Dunne's childhood and early acting forays, the book reveals details about key events in her life and career, including a difficult, bi-coastal marriage. The author also examines Dunne's pivotal roles on stage and in film, her movement among the genres of melodrama and screwball comedy, her ties to director Leo McCarey, and her post-war film career. Gehring's research and insightful analysis shed light on what made Irene Dunne so unique and her performances so memorable. Includes 16 pages of photos.