FRANCES GIFFORD
Davis & Stanwyck. Myrna & Irene. See...I don't have to give you their first or last names. You know who I'm talking about. And they can take care of themselves. They are Stars. Their brilliance shine like beacons through the decades. And they garner new fans year after year. But there are The Others; those who are just as attractive, just as talented, but bridesmaids...just under the radar of fame’s klieg lights.
And such is the case with Frances Gifford.
I’m always pleasantly surprised when I see her in a film. (I haven’t yet memorized her filmography). The last surprise happened as I was watching some Esther Williams films featured a couple of weeks ago. I came in the middle of "THRILL OF A ROMANCE" (though I was recording it from the beginning) and there she was.
"THRILL OF A ROMANCE" Starring ESTHER WILLIAMS
I Jumped for joy when I saw her, a reaction I pretty much reserve for Theresa Harris and Margaret Lindsay. And no doubt, a pretty strong reaction you may say. Okay...I'll give you that.
Frances Gifford holds her own standing next to many of Hollywood’s leading ladies with her good looks and her talent. There’s a maturity, grace and gravitas to her that she imbues her characters with. She’s beautiful; not in a sultry Ava/Rita-way or bombshelling the heck out of our senses like Harlow or Marilyn do. Gifford has a plain unadorned beauty. She has a great voice. And that smile...
...THE PRETTIEST SMILE IN HOLLYWOOD
Gifford is featured in “MARRIAGE IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR” starring LANA TURNER. Here, Lana is at her most Lana-ish. Your eyes are on her, no doubt. She’s like kittenish cotton candy. But Gifford's quiet elegance has a pull of its own that I find affecting. I’ve seen Gifford opposite Ava Gardner and Esther Williams, and she holds her own next to Ava’s sensuality and Esther’s healthiness.
So far, I’ve seen Frances Gifford in "OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES” “CRY HAVOC” “RIDING HIGH” and "SHE WENT TO THE RACES.” No I don't have a comprehensive analysis of her performance in each of those movies and I can see you from here breathing a sigh of relief on THAT score (Tee hee!)
But if you do want to read a great article about her, check out the Master, Moira Finnie, who writes here: http://moirasthread.blogspot.com/2010/1 ... fford.html about Gifford.I’ve yet to see her in her hit serial "JUNGLE GIRL” but my favorite film of Frances Gifford's is "THE ARNELO AFFAIR.” She’s lovely here, all tortured longing for her distracted workaholic husband. His ( insane ) inattentiveness to her leaves room for her to come under the charm and spell of John Hodiak (who wouldn’t right ladies?) She is tremulously ready to dip her toe into the waters of infidelity. Her son in the film is played by Dean Stockwell and their relationship looks wholly believable.
"LUXURY LINER" featuring George Brent and Jane Powell
I didn't care much for "LUXURY LINER." Lots of music strung together by scenes. Jane Powell's voice is amazing.(And she's doing a fantastic job as host while Robert is away). But I watched it for Frances Gifford. She got to stand on a M-G-M soundstage. She was beautifully dressed to the nines. And again, she gives a believable accessible performance. But I must say I really enjoy her performance in "MARRIAGE IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR." I hunkered down to watch it again a couple of weeks ago, b’cuz Frances Gifford is featured in it. She plays Sissy Mortimer, married and having an affair with one of her husband’s alcoholic business partners.Yikes! Pretty daring stuff playing it so close to home. Lana Turner, the not-ready-for-prime-time-wife picks up on the affair between Gifford and Hugh Marlowe (later “married” to Celeste Holm in ”ALL ABOUT EVE”). Gifford is a bit off-hand, a tad huffy about Lana’s being judgmental about the affair. She plays the scene softly, without histrionics. (I shudder to think of Bette Davis railing against the accusations). There’s a poise about Gifford that I see from her handful of scenes. A quick quip and a beautiful smile. But there’s something more about her.
Apparently Gifford's paramour in the movie (HUGH MARLOWE) brings his new wife to the dinner party. The scene was brilliantly laid out by director Robert Z. Leonard. I was very impressed with how he allowed each character's moment to play out simultaneously as the scene progresses. You, the viewer, have many places to look: the guilty lover, the unsuspecting husband, the knowing friend, the clueless friend, and the lovestruck bride...holding on until she must let go. But the scene is Frances Gifford's and she she's up to it. She throws caution to the wind. No, not in her acting but in a very controlled way. Her character is so blinded by love, she's focused totally on her paramour to the exclusion of everyone at the dinner table. She quite unabashedly digs at him, knowing more about his habits than their friendship warrants. With each dagger of implied intimacy that Gifford lands, she looks more and more triumphant. She cannot stop herself. She stands at the precipice and dives caring not if there's water in the pool. The respective spouses do a nice subtle job of revealing their dawning discovery. I loved the actress who played Hugh Marlowe's bride, SHIRLEY PATTERSON. She was good...solid. She starts off as an outsider with that touch of ingratiation. Then she moves to subtle possessiveness of her husband by holding on to his arm as Gifford lands her blows. Then she runs when she can'ts stands no more.
And I liked Hugh Marlowe's reaction. As the daggers hit its mark, Gifford look like she's daring him to deny them. But he quietly resignedly says: "Yess, Sissy."
It's her scene all the way. Her implosion is a wonder to behold. Is Frances Gifford exciting, fiery? Well...no. Is she very different...more distinctive from any other of a dozen really good actresses of her time? I guess not. Could only reach a certain rung of the Hollywood ladder. I might not be making a very good case in defense of her unjust neglect. But she's earnest and sincere and I feel like I feel her warmth.
And I always believe her. Guess that's mostly the criteria I need.
