Mary Astor IS Norma Desmond
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:47 am
O.k. this TV Movie may not belong in the "Silent" list, but the question does.
I had the pleasure of seeing Mary Astor in "Sunset Boulevard", an episode of a 1956 Robert Montgomery Theater program. Astor's performance made me squirm in the beginning, and I didn't think I could watch it all, but I stuck through the whole 56 minutes anyway. I realize that she was constrained by what she could do with the role. Gloria Swanson's portrayal is so deeply ingrained into the popular culture. Once I admitted to this, I could go along with it.
My question is: What Mary Astor silent film was she and Darren McGavin watching together (in the tradition of Swanson's "Queen Kelly")? I cannot find the answer to this on imdb, or any other source I tried.
Now my thoughts rush to the Miriam Hopkins version of "Sunset Boulevard" telecast only a year earlier. And I wonder what kind of silent movie clip they could have show starring Hopkins? But maybe this version no longer exists.
Thanks
Danny
I had the pleasure of seeing Mary Astor in "Sunset Boulevard", an episode of a 1956 Robert Montgomery Theater program. Astor's performance made me squirm in the beginning, and I didn't think I could watch it all, but I stuck through the whole 56 minutes anyway. I realize that she was constrained by what she could do with the role. Gloria Swanson's portrayal is so deeply ingrained into the popular culture. Once I admitted to this, I could go along with it.
My question is: What Mary Astor silent film was she and Darren McGavin watching together (in the tradition of Swanson's "Queen Kelly")? I cannot find the answer to this on imdb, or any other source I tried.
Now my thoughts rush to the Miriam Hopkins version of "Sunset Boulevard" telecast only a year earlier. And I wonder what kind of silent movie clip they could have show starring Hopkins? But maybe this version no longer exists.
Thanks
Danny