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Sitting Pretty (1948 Film)
''Sitting Pretty'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Walter Lang from a screenplay by F. Hugh Herbert, adapted from the novel ''Belvedere'' by Gwen Davenport. The film stars Robert Young, Maureen O'Hara, and Clifton Webb, about a family who hires the mysterious Lynn Belvedere to babysit their rowdy children. Upon its release by 20th Century Fox in April 1948, ''Sitting Pretty'' became a box-office success. Webb received critical praise for his performance of Belvedere, which spawned two sequels. Plot In the suburban Hummingbird Hill, lawyer Harry King and his wife Tacey have trouble retaining a nanny for their three young, rambunctious boys: Larry and Tony, both of whom get into frequent mischief with the family dog Henry; and baby Roddy. When the latest in a string of servants (all women) quits, Tacey advertises for a replacement and hires Lynn Belvedere sight unseen. However, she discovers that Lynn Belvedere is actually a man upon his arrival, a mysterious one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walter Lang
Walter Lang (August 10, 1896 – February 7, 1972) was an American film director. Early life Walter Lang was born in Tennessee. As a young man he went to New York City where he found clerical work at a film production company. The business piqued his artistic instincts and he began learning the various facets of filmmaking and eventually worked as an assistant director. However, Lang also had ambitions to be a painter and left the United States for a time to join the great gathering of artists and writers in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris, France. Things did not work out as Lang hoped and he eventually returned home and to the film business. Career In 1925, Walter Lang directed his first silent film, '' The Red Kimono''. In the mid-1930s, he was hired by 20th Century Fox where, as a director, he "painted" a number of the spectacular colorful musicals for which Fox Studios became famous for producing during the 1940s. One of Lang's most recognized films is the lavish adapt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lynn Belvedere
Lynn Aloysius Belvedere is a fictional character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel ''Belvedere'', and later adapted for film and television. Novel ''Belvedere'' was written in 1947 by Gwen Davenport. Set during the final months of World War II, it concerns a writer who goes to work as a nanny for a dysfunctional family in suburban Louisville. Tacey King, a frustrated housewife and college-trained sculptor with two young boys and a baby girl, lives with her husband Harry in a lightly fictionalized stand-in for the wealthy Mockingbird Valley community (here called "Hummingbird Hill"). Tacey takes out an advertisement in the ''Saturday Review of Literature'' for a "struggling young novelist who would welcome pleasant room, board, in exchange sitting with children evenings," hoping to secure free domestic assistance during the wartime labor shortage, as well as liven up the house with an artistic presence. Belvedere replies to the ad, and Tacey invites him to interview for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mira McKinney
Mira McKinney (October 23, 1892 – May 2, 1978) was an American actress. Personal life and death McKinney was married to Edd X. Russell. McKinney died in 1978 in Los Angeles, California, aged 85. She was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition. Selected filmography *''Modern Times (film), Modern Times'' (1936) - Minister's Wife *''Fury (1936 film), Fury'' (1936) - Hysterical Townswoman at Trial (uncredited) *''The President's Mystery'' (1936) - Phony Townswoman (uncredited) *''Captains Courageous (1937 film), Captains Courageous'' (1937) - Bit Role (uncredited) *''Meet the Missus (1937 film), Meet the Missus'' (1937) - Baving Beauty (uncredited) *''The Case of the Stuttering Bishop'' (1937) - Ida Gilbert *''Blazing Sixes'' (1937) - Aunt Sarah Morgan *''Back in Circulation'' (1937) - First Matron ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marion Marshall
Marion Marshall (June 8, 1929 – September 24, 2018) was an American actress. Career Marshall's first film appearances were in the 20th Century Fox films ''Gentleman's Agreement'' and '' Daisy Kenyon'' in 1947 (although they were both uncredited). She went on to play roles (many minor) in over 25 more films until 1967. Marshall had a small but significant role in '' I Was a Male War Bride'' (1949) as the best friend of Ann Sheridan's leading character. She was featured prominently in three Martin and Lewis comedy films, '' The Stooge'', '' Sailor Beware'' and '' That's My Boy'', with stars Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Among her television appearances, she guest starred twice on ''Perry Mason'' in 1959. She played murderer Irene Bedford in "The Case of the Shattered Dream," and title character Ginny Hobart in "The Case of the Spurious Sister". Personal life Marshall married three times, her first husband being the cameraman Allen Davey. In 1950 she was engaged to director ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grayce Hampton
Grayce Hampton (28 March 1876 – 20 December 1963) was a British film and stage actress. Her name was often seen as Grace Hampton. Hampton studied at a convent in Brussels, and a teacher there introduced her to Augustus Harris, who arranged for her to perform in one of his productions. After that, she acted in other Harris productions at the Drury Lane Theater in London. Hampton emigrated to the United States with Henry Irving's production of ''Robespierre''. She found work on Broadway and then in Hollywood as a film actress in generally character roles such as the 1932 comedy '' The Unexpected Father''. Broadway plays in which Hampton appeared included ''Suspect'' (1940), ''Point Valaine'' (1935), ''Her Majesty the Widow'' (1934), ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1926), '' Easy Virtue'' (1925), ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (1924), ''Pelleas and Melisande'' (1923), ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1923), ''Malvaloca'' (1922), and ''Fall and Rise of Susan Lenox'' (1920). Hampton performed i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Field
Mary Field (born Olivia Rockefeller; June 10, 1909 – June 12, 1996) was an American film actress who primarily appeared in supporting roles. Early life She was born in New York City. As a child, she never knew her biological parents; during her infancy, she was left outside the doors of a church with a note pinned to her saying that her name was Olivia Rockefeller. She was later adopted.''Mary Field'' by Doug McClelland, ''Film Fan Monthly'', October 1973 She attended the Brentwood Hall School in Westchester County, New York. Hollywood and television In 1937, she was signed under contract to Warner Bros. Studios and made her film debut in ''The Prince and the Pauper'' which was released that year. Her other screen credits include parts in such films as ''Jezebel'' (1938), ''Cowboy from Brooklyn'' (1938), '' The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse'' (1938), '' Eternally Yours'' (1939), '' When Tomorrow Comes'' (1939), '' Broadway Melody of 1940'', '' Ball of Fire'' (1941), '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Christy
Robert Kenneth Christy (November 23, 1894 – July 23, 1962) was an American television, film, and radio character actor. Early life Robert Kenneth Christy was born on November 23, 1964, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, to Laura E Christy (née Campbell) and Francis Marion Christy. Personal life Ken married Wilma J Hildebrand in Detroit, Michigan on June 14, 1920, and they later divorced. He then married Barbara Ellen Meikle (professionally known as Barbara Bronell) of Spokane, Washington, a well-known dancer in the area. The couple toured together in Charles George's "Sensations of 1927", a musical comedy revue road show, which featured Barbara's dancing and Ken's comedy. They had one son together. According to census records, Christy served in World War I.Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960'', 2nd ed., Vol. 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. . p. 16. Career Radio The actor started his career on radio programs. From the early 1930s, he had a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Arnt
Charles E. Arnt (August 20, 1906 – August 6, 1990) was an American film actor from 1933 to 1962. Arnt appeared as a character actor in more than 200 films. Arnt was born in Michigan City, Indiana, the son of a banker. He graduated from Phillips Academy and Princeton University. While at Princeton, he helped to found the University Players and was president of the Princeton Triangle Club theatrical troupe. He became a banker after he graduated from college. In the early 1930s, Arnt acted with the University Repertory Theater in Maryland. On Broadway, he appeared in ''Carry Nation'' (1932), ''Three Waltzes'' (1937), and ''Knickerbocker Holiday'' (1938). In 1962, Arnt retired from acting and began to import and breed Charolais cattle on a ranch in Washington state. Arnt died in Orcas Island, Washington. Selected filmography * '' Roman Scandals'' (1933) – Caius, the Food Taster (uncredited) * '' Ladies Should Listen'' (1934) – Albert, the manservant * '' Ready for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Sydes
Thomas Anthony Sydes (May 4, 1941 – June 20, 2015) was an American child actor on film and television. Biography Sydes was born May 4, 1941, in North Hollywood, California. He was the son of Thomas and Ruth Sydes, and he had a brother, Jonathan, and two sisters, Debbie and Carol. Sydes made his film debut in ''Claudia and David'' (1946). Sydes' last film appearance was in '' Gunsmoke in Tucson'' (1958). After his retirement from acting, Sydes joined the United States Army in 1963, and was stationed in Vietnam, Germany, and Italy. He earned a National Defense Service Medal and a Purple Heart for his 20 years of service. Sydes founded A&A Auction Gallery in 1980, and became a member of the National Auctioneers Association. Sydes was married to the former Ann Driscoll. They had two daughters and a son: Elizabeth, Thomas Jr. and Tiffany. Sydes died in Springfield, Virginia Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, Fairfax County, Vir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willard Robertson
Willard Robertson (January 1, 1886 – April 5, 1948) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in more than 140 films from 1924 to 1948. He was born in Runnels, Texas and died in Hollywood, California. Biography Robertson first worked as a lawyer in Texas, but he left his profession for a sudden interest in acting after being encouraged to do so by Joseph Jefferson. Robertson's initial venture onto the stage did not last. He returned to the practice of law as an attorney with the Interstate Commerce Commission. During World War I, he was an administrator in the Chicago office of the federal railway police. He appeared on Broadway in 16 plays from 1907 to 1930. Robertson played supporting roles in many Hollywood films from 1930 until the year he died, typically portraying men of authority such as doctors, elected officials, military officers, and lawyers. He played Jackie Cooper's stern but loving father in the drama ''Skippy (film), Skippy'' (1931) and its sequel ''So ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Betty Ann Lynn
Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn (August 29, 1926 – October 16, 2021) was an American actress. She played Thelma Lou, Deputy Barney Fife's girlfriend, on ''The Andy Griffith Show''. During the 1940s and 1950s, she appeared in many films, including '' Sitting Pretty'' (1948), '' June Bride'' (1948), the original ''Cheaper by the Dozen'' (1950), and '' Meet Me in Las Vegas'' (1956). She also played a major role in an episode of the television series ''Little House on the Prairie''. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1926, Betty Lynn was the only child of Elizabeth Ann (née Lynn) and George A. Dailey. Her father was a civil engineer, who worked initially as a municipal employee for Kansas City and later as a private contractor. Her mother, described as "an accomplished mezzo-soprano", taught Betty in her early childhood to sing and enrolled her in the Kansas City Conservatory of Music when she was only five years old. Prior to that, according to federal census records, her ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Russell (actor)
John Lawrence Russell (January 3, 1921 – January 19, 1991) was an American film and television actor, most noted for his starring role as Marshal Dan Troop in the ABC Western television series '' Lawman'' from 1958 to 1962 and his lead role as international adventurer Tim Kelly in the syndicated TV series '' Soldiers of Fortune'' from 1955 to 1957. Early life Born in Los Angeles to insurance company executive John Henry Russell and his wife, Amy Requa, John Lawrence Russell was the eldest of three children. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a student athlete. Following the start of World War II, he joined the United States Marine Corps, though he was initially rejected because of his height (). He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on November 11, 1942, and was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment. His division was sent to Guadalcanal, where he served as an assistant intelligence officer. He contracted malaria and returned home with a medic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
