Mary Frances Gifford (December 7, 1920 – January 22, 1994) was an American actress who played leads and supporting roles in many 1930s and 1940s movies.

Early years

Gifford was born and raised in Long Beach, California, and at the age of 16, applied to

UCLA School of Law The UCLA School of Law is one of 12 professional schools at the University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA Law has been consistently ranked by '' U.S. News & World Report'' as one of the top 20 law schools in the United States since the inception ...

with no intention of pursuing an acting career. With a friend, she visited the studios of

Samuel Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn (born Szmuel Gelbfisz; yi, שמואל געלבפֿיש; August 27, 1882 (claimed) January 31, 1974), also known as Samuel Goldfish, was a Polish-born American film producer. He was best known for being the founding contributor an ...

to watch a film being made, and while there, was spotted by a talent scout, who brought her to the attention of Goldwyn, who signed her to an acting contract.

Career

James Dunn and Frances Gifford in cockpit (cropped)

After only receiving minor roles, Gifford moved to

RKO RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheu ...

, where she was cast in several uncredited supporting roles in films of the late 1930s, including ''

Stage Door ''Stage Door'' is a 1937 RKO film directed by Gregory La Cava. Adapted from the play of the same name, it tells the story of several would-be actresses who live together in a boarding house at 158 West 58th Street in New York City. The film ...

'' (1937) starring Katharine Hepburn and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

.Maltin 1994, p. 331. Gifford married actor James Dunn on Christmas Day 1937. In 1939, she landed her first leading role in the low-budget '' Mercy Plane'', opposite her husband. A planned retirement was interrupted briefly when she played another uncredited role in James Stewart's break-out film '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939). Gifford played several more minor roles before she was, in 1941, lent to Republic Pictures and cast in the role which would arguably produce her most enduring fame: as the semiclad Nyoka in ''

Jungle Girl A jungle girl (so-called, but usually adult woman) is an archetype or stock character, often used in popular fiction, of a female adventurer, superhero or even a damsel in distress living in a jungle or rainforest setting. An alternate depiction i ...

'', a 15-chapter

movie serial A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...

, based very loosely on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The role was the first time since

Pearl White Pearl Fay White (March 4, 1889 – August 4, 1938) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career on the stage at the age of six, and later moved on to silent films appearing in a number of popular serials. Dubbed the "Queen of ...

in the silent era that an actress had played the lead in the movie serial genre. The following year, Republic made a sequel ''

Perils of Nyoka ''Perils of Nyoka'' is a 1942 Republic serial directed by William Witney. It stars Kay Aldridge as Nyoka the Jungle Girl, a character who first appeared in the Edgar Rice Burroughs-inspired serial ''Jungle Girl''. Plot Nyoka, with help from La ...

'', but Gifford was no longer available and the heroine's part was played by Kay Aldridge. In the

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

feature '' The Reluctant Dragon'' (1941), Gifford had a leading role as Doris, a studio artist. With Gifford's film career gaining momentum and Dunn's on the decline, partly due to his struggles with

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...

, the marriage had failed by 1942. She left RKO for Paramount Pictures, where she acted in several films, including ''

The Glass Key ''The Glass Key'' is a novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. First published as a serial in '' Black Mask'' magazine in 1930, it then was collected in 1931 (in London; the American edition followed 3 months later). It tells the story of a ga ...

'' (1942) in which she portrayed the same small role of "Nurse" that Ann Sheridan had played in the 1935 original version, albeit expanded in the remake. In 1943, she made another jungle movie, costarring with

Johnny Weissmuller Johnny Weissmuller (born Johann Peter Weißmüller; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was an American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century. H ...

in ''

Tarzan Triumphs ''Tarzan Triumphs'' is a 1943 adventure film in which Tarzan fights the Nazi Germany, Nazis. Johnny Weissmuller had portrayed the Edgar Rice Burroughs character in six films with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but this was his first with the producer Sol ...

'' at RKO. That year, she also left Paramount and moved to the prestigious

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

studio with the sponsorship of an MGM executive.Maltin 1994, p. 332. At MGM, she had more success, playing leading roles in such films as ''

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes ''Our Vines Have Tender Grapes'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by Roy Rowland and starring Edward G. Robinson and Margaret O'Brien. Background The film is based on the 1940 novel of the same name by George Victor Martin about the Norw ...

'' (1945) opposite Edward G. Robinson and ''

She Went to the Races ''She Went to the Races'' is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring James Craig, Frances Gifford and Ava Gardner. The screenplay concerns a team of scientists who discover a seemingly foolproof way of discovering ...

'' (1945), receiving billing over

Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...

, followed by the more notable '' The Arnelo Affair'' (1947). Gifford also played in supporting roles, including ''

Thrill of a Romance ''Thrill of a Romance'' (also known as ''Thrill of a New Romance'') is an American Technicolor romance film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1945, starring Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by Tommy D ...

'' (1945) with Esther Williams, and '' Luxury Liner'' (1948) with

Jane Powell Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce; April 1, 1929 – September 16, 2021) was an American actress, singer, and dancer who first appeared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals in the 1940s and 50s. With her soprano voice and girl-next-door image ...

Car accident and later years

On December 31, 1947, Gifford was almost killed in a car accident at age 27 in which she received severe head injuries, resulting in a drastic change in her personality. She "sustained a fractured and cut nose." A film executive who was with her in the car had a compound fracture of a leg. The event sidelined her career and caused a sharp decline in her health. She began to lose confidence in her abilities and found it difficult to come back to films. Losing her contract with MGM, she attempted a comeback in two early 1950s films, Frank Capra's '' Riding High'' (1950) with Bing Crosby and ''

Sky Commando ''Sky Commando'' is a 1953 American war film released by Columbia Pictures, directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Dan Duryea, Frances Gifford and Mike Connors (credited as "Touch Conners"). The Cold War period provides the background, althoug ...

'' (1953) with

Dan Duryea Dan Duryea ( , January 23, 1907 – June 7, 1968) was an American actor in film, stage, and television. Known for portraying a vast range of character roles as a villain, he nonetheless had a long career in a wide variety of leading and second ...

. During the 1950s, her mental and physical health declined to the point where she was placed into

Camarillo State Mental Hospital Camarillo State Mental Hospital, also known as Camarillo State Hospital, was a public psychiatric hospital for patients with both developmental disabilities and mental illness in Camarillo, California. The hospital was in operation from 1936 to ...

in 1958. She spent almost the entire next 25 years in and out of various institutions. In 1983, Richard S. Fisher, a journalist for a film magazine, tracked Gifford down, who had lately been volunteering at the Pasadena, California, City Library, having apparently recovered. She spent her final years in quiet obscurity and died of emphysema in a convalescent center in Pasadena at the age of 73. Her

cremains Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre is ...

are interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Gifford was of the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

faith and a lifelong

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.

Recognition

In 1941, Gifford was selected as "the ideal Pan-American girl" by 200 chapters of the Pan-American League on college campuses across the United States.

Partial filmography

*''

New Faces of 1937 ''New Faces of 1937'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to '' The Producers'' (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures r ...

'' (1937) - Showgirl *'' The Big Shot'' (1937) - Bertram's Secretary (uncredited) *''

'' (1937) - Mary McGuire (uncredited) *''

Woman Chases Man ''Woman Chases Man'' is a 1937 romantic comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea. Plot B.J. Nolan tries to get his millionaire son Kenneth to invest $100,000 in a housing development called Nolan Heig ...

'' (1937) *'' There Goes the Groom'' (1937) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Living on Love ''Living on Love'' (1937) is an American romantic comedy film released by RKO Radio Pictures. Directed by Lew Landers, it stars James Dunn, Whitney Bourne, and Joan Woodbury. The film is a remake of the RKO film ''Rafter Romance'' (1933). It is ...

'' (1937) - Bus Passenger (uncredited) *''

Bringing Up Baby ''Bringing Up Baby'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a number of predic ...

'' (1938) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Night Spot ''Night Spot'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Lionel Houser. The film stars Harry Parke, Allan Lane, Gordon Jones, Joan Woodbury, and Lee Patrick. The film was released on February 25, 1938, by RKO P ...

'' (1938) - Nightclub Patron (uncredited) *'' Maid's Night Out'' (1938) - Ticket Seller - Octopus Concession (uncredited) *'' Having a Wonderful Time'' (1938) - Salesgirl (uncredited) *''

Sky Giant ''Sky Giant'', also known as ''Ground Crew'' and ''Northern Flight'', is a 1938 drama film directed by Lew Landers. The film stars Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Joan Fontaine. The plot revolves around a love triangle with two pilots in love with ...

'' (1938) - Stewardess (uncredited) *'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) - Hopper Girl (uncredited) *'' Mercy Plane'' (1939) - Brenda Gordon *''

Forty Little Mothers ''Forty Little Mothers'' is a 1940 American comedy-drama film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Eddie Cantor. Plot Out-of-work professor Gilbert Jordan Thompson stops a suicidal stranger named Marian Edwards from jumping off a pier and he ...

'' (1940) - Granville Girl (uncredited) *'' Hold That Woman!'' (1940) - Mary Mulvaney - aka Mary Parker *'' The Reluctant Dragon'' (1941) - Doris (Studio Artist) *''

Border Vigilantes ''Border Vigilantes'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Frances Gifford, Victor Jory, Ethel Wales and Morris Ankrum. The film ...

'' (1941) - Helen Forbes *'' West Point Widow'' (1941) - Daphne *''

'' (1941, Serial) - Nyoka Meredith *''

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...

'' (1941) - Salesgirl (uncredited) *'' The Remarkable Andrew'' (1942) - Miss Halsey *''

Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die ''Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die'' is a 1942 American Western film about the Gunfight at the OK Corral. It is directed by William McGann and stars Richard Dix as Wyatt Earp, Kent Taylor as Doc Holliday and Edgar Buchanan as Curly Bill ...

'' (1942) - Ruth Grant *''

Beyond the Blue Horizon ''Beyond the Blue Horizon'' is a 1971 studio album by American jazz guitarist George Benson. It was his first album released by CTI Records, CTI and included organist Clarence Palmer, drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Ron Carter, and percussionis ...

'' (1942) - Charlotte (uncredited) *''

'' (1942) - Nurse *'' My Heart Belongs to Daddy'' (1942) - Grace Saunders *'' Star Spangled Rhythm'' (1942) - Herself (uncredited) *''

American Empire American imperialism refers to the expansion of American political, economic, cultural, and media influence beyond the boundaries of the United States. Depending on the commentator, it may include imperialism through outright military conquest ...

'' (1942) - Abigail 'Abby' Taylor *''

'' (1943) - Zandra *''

Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour ''Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Hugh Bennett and written by Edwin Blum and Aleen Leslie. The film stars Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, John Litel, Olive Blakeney, Diana Lynn and Frances Gifford. The fi ...

'' (1943) - Hilary Dane *'' Cry 'Havoc''' (1943) - Helen Domeret *''

Marriage Is a Private Affair ''Marriage is a Private Affair'' is a 1944 war-comedy film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, based on novel ''Marriage Is a Private Affair'' (1941) by Judith Kelly. It stars Lana Turner, Frances Gifford and James Craig. Plot During World War II ...

'' (1944) - Sissy Mortimer *''

'' (1945) - Maude Bancroft *''

'' (1945) - Viola Johnson *''

'' (1945) - Dr. Ann Wotters *'' Little Mister Jim'' (1946) - Jean Tukker *'' The Arnelo Affair'' (1947) - Anne Parkson *'' Luxury Liner'' (1948) - Laura Dene *'' Riding High'' (1950) - Margaret Higgins *''

'' (1953) - Jo McWethy

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Jewell, Richard B. and Vernon Harbin. ''The RKO Story''. London: Octopus Books, 1982. . * Maltin, Leonard. ''Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia.'' New York: Dutton, 1994. . * McClelland, Doug. ''The Golden Age of B Movies.'' New York: Bonanza Books, 1978. . * Weiss, Ken and Ed Goodgold. ''To be Continued ...: A Complete Guide to Motion Picture Serials.'' New York: Bonanza Books, 1973. .

External links

Frances Gifford bioAllmovie bio
* *

from ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Gifford, Francis 1920 births 1994 deaths 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American television actresses Deaths from emphysema Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Actresses from Long Beach, California Paramount Pictures contract players Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City California Democrats American Roman Catholics American librarians American women librarians