With John Garfield in Gentleman’s Agreement, Elia Kazan, 1947.
The image says a lot, I hope; all I’ve got to add is that 95 is not a bad age to go for anyone, but in particular not a bad age to go for a grande dame, so bless her. The only time I was in her presence was at the New York première of Bertolucci’s The Dreamers in the fall of 2003. She apparently fainted during the picture, and had to be assisted out. Although I’m an admirer of the film, I have to admit I’ve always liked to think that this was her way of walking out on it without looking as if she was editorializing.
I remember her in All About Eve – “on her knees I presume” (or something like that). Was it really a more innocent age, or do we just think it was?
This certainly is sad news. I did not like Gentleman’s Agreement but thought Celeste Holm was brilliant in it (and deserving of her Best Supporting Actress Oscar).
A wonderful actress, and that photo makes me imagine an alternate version of GENTLEMEN’S AGREEMENT, focused on Holm and Garfield (who give the best performances in the film). As my wife and I always say, anyone who would choose Dorothy Maguire over Celeste Holm, well…That says it all about Gregory Peck’s character in that film, doesn’t it?
I can’t think of many films – maybe of any films – that are as almost completely miscast and yet as entertaining as HIGH SOCIETY (and no, I’m not talking about the Bowery Boys movie, unlike the Academy that year). Almost completely, that is, except for Holm as Elizabeth Imbrie; as good as Ruth Hussey was in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY in the same role, Holm was better. And, of course, loved her in GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT and ALL ABOUT EVE. In a way, I’d like to think her last words on earth were her final line as the unseen Addie Ross in A LETTER TO THREE WIVES; “Heigh ho; good night, everybody.” R.I.P.
Her friend (and mine) Marsha Hunt is the same age. Marsha is in excellent shape with many people looking after her. But she’s far from alone in being saddeend by Celeste Holm’s passing.
I was lucky enough to see her live on stage on Broadway many years ago in Arthur Laurent’s “Invitation to a March.” Her co-star was Jane Fonda and Sondheim wrote the incidental music.
Memories…
Not a good day for actresses: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/movies/isuzu-yamada-actress-who-worked-with-kurosawa-dies-at-95.html?_r=2&hpw
Three thespians, all born in 1917, passing within a few days of each other. Should Herbert Lom and Joan Fontaine be worried? 🙁
A bit off-topic, but re: lipranzer’s HIGH SOCIETY comment–as a near-fanatical partisan of that film, I’d also like to say a word for Louis Calhern’s magnificent, and magnificently weird, Uncle Willie. Along with the divine Ms. Holm, another fine piece of casting.
Calhern is almost always awesome, especially in the 50s. HIGH SOCIETY was actually his last film. He was only 61.
As lovely and talented as Holm was on screen, I still automatically think of her narration-only role as Addie Ross in A LETTER TO THREE WIVES. Perfection.