Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 – September 25, 1959) was an American actress known for her comic roles, especially as a wisecracking sidekick.

Career

Broderick began on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

as a

chorus girl A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms s ...

in the ''Follies of 1907'', the first of

Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

's annual revues. She went on to perform in the

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

duo "Broderick & Crawford" (with her husband) until the entertainment form went out of style, moving to a solo career in her first play ''Nifties of 23''. By the late 1920s, she was playing leads and featured roles, most notably in ''

Fifty Million Frenchmen ''Fifty Million Frenchmen'' is a musical comedy with a book by Herbert Fields and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It opened on Broadway in 1929 and was adapted for a film two years later. The title is a reference to the hit 1927 song "Fifty Milli ...

''. In the early 1930s, she starred in the revues ''The Band Wagon'' and ''

As Thousands Cheer ''As Thousands Cheer'' is a revue with a book by Moss Hart and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, first performed in 1933. The revue contained satirical sketches and witty or poignant musical numbers, several of which became standards, includin ...

''. Her move to Hollywood came when her stage successes such as ''

'' were made into movies, and an image as the quick-quipping friend soon followed in support roles for the Astaire-

Rogers Rogers may refer to: Places Canada *Rogers Pass (British Columbia) * Rogers Island (Nunavut) United States * Rogers, Arkansas, a city * Rogers, alternate name of Muroc, California, a former settlement * Rogers, Indiana, an unincorporated communit ...

movies ''

Top Hat A top hat (also called a high hat, a cylinder hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat for men traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally m ...

'' and ''

Swing Time In music, the term ''swing'' has two main uses. Colloquially, it is used to describe the propulsive quality or "feel" of a rhythm, especially when the music prompts a visceral response such as foot-tapping or head-nodding (see pulse). This sens ...

''. She had leading roles in a few

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s, such as amateur sleuth

Hildegarde Withers Hildegarde Withers is a fictional character, an amateur crime-solver, who has appeared in several novels, short stories and films. She was created by American mystery author Stuart Palmer (1905–1968). Character Miss Withers "whom the census e ...

in ''

Murder on a Bridle Path ''Murder on a Bridle Path'' is a 1936 mystery film directed by William Hamilton and Edward Killy, starring James Gleason and Helen Broderick. This film was the fourth production in the Hildegarde Withers series, and the only one in which Broder ...

''. The wife of actor Lester (Pendergast) Crawford (they appear together in the 1930 eight-minute ''Nile Green'', and two 1931 seven-minute comedy shorts: ''The Spirits of 76th Street'' and ''Court Plastered''), they were the parents of

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

-winning actor

Broderick Crawford William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Willie Stark in ''All t ...

(1911–1986). Broderick's last appearance on film was with Deanna Durbin in the comedy ''Because of Him'' (1946).

Death

Broderick died after a stroke at the age of 68 on September 25, 1959."Helen Broderick" (biography), in "Leonard Maltin Classic Movie Guide" (2005), Turner Classic Movies. Her husband died in November 1962.

Complete filmography

* '' High Speed'' (1924) - Minor Role * ''

The Mystery Club ''The Mystery Club'' is a 1926 American silent mystery film directed by Herbert Blaché and starring Matt Moore, Edith Roberts and Mildred Harris.Munden p.535 It was based on a story from Arthur Somers Roche's ''Crimes of the Armchair Club''. ...

'' (1926) * ''Nile Green'' (1930 short) * ''For Art's Sake'' (1930, Short) * ''Court Plastered'' (1931, Short) - Helen Smith * '' 50 Million Frenchmen'' (1931) - Violet * ''The Spirits of 76th Street'' (1931, Short) * ''Cold Turkey'' (1931, Short) * ''

'' (1935) - Madge Hardwick * ''

To Beat the Band ''To Beat the Band'' is a 1935 American romantic comedy directed by Benjamin Stoloff using a screenplay by Rian James based on a story by George Marion, Jr. The film stars Hugh Herbert, Helen Broderick, Roger Pryor, and Fred Keating, and featu ...

'' (1935) - Mrs. Freeda McCrary * ''

Love on a Bet ''Love on a Bet'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Leigh Jason using a screenplay by P. J. Wolfson and Philip G. Epstein, based on a story by Kenneth Earl. The film stars Gene Raymond, Wendy Barrie, and Helen Broderick, and ...

'' (1936) - Aunt Charlotte * ''

'' (1936) - Hildegarde Withers * ''

The Bride Walks Out ''The Bride Walks Out'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Raymond, and Robert Young. Based on an original story by Howard Emmett Rogers, the film is about a woman forced to gi ...

'' (1936) - Mattie Dodson * ''

'' (1936) - Mabel Anderson * ''

Smartest Girl in Town ''Smartest Girl in Town'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley, written by Viola Brothers Shore, and starring Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, Helen Broderick, Eric Blore, Erik Rhodes and Harry Jans. It was released on November ...

'' (1936) - Mrs. Gwen Mayen * ''

We're on the Jury ''We're on the Jury'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ben Holmes and starring Victor Moore and Helen Broderick Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 – September 25, 1959) was an American actress known for her comic roles, especia ...

'' (1937) - Mrs. Agnes Dean, aka Mrs. Jonathan Ashley Dean * '' Meet the Missus'' (1937) - Emma Foster - Mrs. Mid-Western * '' The Life of the Party'' (1937) - Pauline * '' She's Got Everything'' (1937) - Aunt Jane Carter * ''

Radio City Revels ''Radio City Revels'' is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Bob Burns, Jack Oakie and Ann Miller. The film's sets were designed by the art director Van Nest Polglase. Although set in New York City, sp ...

'' (1938) - Gertie Shaw * ''

The Rage of Paris ''The Rage of Paris'' is a 1938 American comedy film made by Universal Pictures. The movie was directed by Henry Koster, and written by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson. It won the Venice Film Festival for Special Recommendation. Re-issued by Re ...

'' (1938) - Gloria Patterson * '' The Road to Reno'' (1938) - Aunt Minerva * '' Service de Luxe'' (1938) - Pearl * '' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) - Amanda Griffith * '' Naughty but Nice'' (1939) - Aunt Martha Hogan * ''

Honeymoon in Bali ''Honeymoon in Bali'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film. It is also known by the alternative titles ''Husbands or Lovers'' and ''My Love for Yours''. Virginia Van Upp's screenplay was based on the short stories "Our Miss Keane" by Grace S ...

'' (1939) - Miss Lorna 'Smitty' Smith * '' The Captain Is a Lady'' (1940) - Nancy Crocker * ''

No, No, Nanette ''No, No, Nanette'' is a musical comedy with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, music by Vincent Youmans, and a book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, based on Mandel's 1919 Broadway play ''My Lady Friends''. The farcical story involves th ...

'' (1940) - Mrs. Susan Smith * ''

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

'' (1941) - Theo Clairmont * ''

Nice Girl? ''Nice Girl?'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Walter Brennan, Robert Stack, and Robert Benchley. Based on the play ''Nice Girl?'' by Phyllis Duganne, the film is about a y ...

'' (1941) - Cora Foster * ''

Father Takes a Wife ''Father Takes a Wife'' is a 1941 American comedy film starring Gloria Swanson and Adolphe Menjou. Silent screen queen Gloria Swanson returned to films after a seven-year absence. Eight years later, Swanson staged another comeback in the classic ...

'' (1941) - Aunt Julie * ''Picture People No. 3: Hobbies of the Stars'' (1941, Short) - Narrator * ''

Stage Door Canteen The Stage Door Canteen was an entertainment venue for American and Allied servicemen that operated in the Broadway theatre district of New York City throughout World War II. Founded by the American Theatre Wing (ATW) in 1942, the entertainers we ...

'' (1943) - Helen Broderick * ''

Chip Off the Old Block ''Chip Off the Old Block'' is 1944 American comedy musical film starring Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, and Ann Blyth. It was Blyth's film debut. The son of a strict Navy man, O'Connor falls in love with a girl from a performing family (Ann Blyt ...

'' (1944) - Glory Marlow Sr. * '' Her Primitive Man'' (1944) - Mrs. Winthrop * ''

Three Is a Family ''Three Is a Family'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Marjorie Reynolds, Charlie Ruggles, and Fay Bainter. The film was nominated for an Academy Awards, Academy Award for Academy Award for Best Sound, Best So ...

'' (1944) - Irma * ''

Love, Honor and Goodbye ''Love, Honor and Goodbye'' is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Arthur Phillips, Lee Loeb and Dick Irving Hyland. The film stars Virginia Bruce, Edward Ashley, Victor McLaglen, Nils Asther, Helen Broderick ...

'' (1945) - Mary Riley * ''

Because of Him ''Because of Him'' is a 1946 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone. Plot Kim Walker (Deanna Durbin) is an ambitious waitress who dreams of being on the stage. ...

'' (1946) - Nora (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Broderick, Helen 1891 births 1959 deaths American film actresses American stage actresses Vaudeville performers 20th-century American actresses