Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford, and her actress mother, Lillian Mansfield, Ann was destined for show business. Not long after her birth, her family moved to California, where she made her stage debut in 1925.
Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Waterfront Lady (1935). Ann's talent was readily apparent, and she was signed to three films in 1935: Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935), and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends, John Wayne and Gene Autry.
By the time Ann was 17, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of Polly Benedict in the popular Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as Polly was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year: Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann found time to play in other productions, too. One that is still loved today is the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol (1938), in which she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past.
In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played Careen O'Hara, Scarlett's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it just for Ann. The film was unquestionably a super hit. Ann then resumed making other movies.
While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, was under the watchful eye of movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer kept performers' salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was decidedly underpaid during his glory years at MGM. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing him the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise.
In 1942 at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and freelanced her talent. Ann was still in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played Gertrude Griswold in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948.
After that, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972, in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega hit Titanic (1997) but turned it down. She happily enjoyed her retirement being constantly deluged with fan mail and granting several interviews and appearances.
Ann Rutherford died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.
Fotos
Películas (70)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009 · Self (archive footage)
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
1988 · Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976 · Grayson's Studio Secretary
They Only Kill Their Masters
1972 · Gloria
Operation Haylift
1950 · Clara Masters
Adventures of Don Juan
1948 · Donna Elena
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947 · Gertrude Griswold
Inside Job
1946 · Claire Norton
Murder in the Music Hall
1946 · Gracie
The Madonna's Secret
1946 · Linda 'Morgan' North
Bedside Manner
1945 · Lola Cross
Two O'Clock Courage
1945 · Patty Mitchell
Take It or Leave It
1944 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bermuda Mystery
1944 · Constance Martin
Whistling in Brooklyn
1943 · Carol Lambert
Happy Land
1943 · Lenore Prentiss
Show-Business at War
1943 · Self
Whistling in Dixie
1942 · Carol Lambert
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1942 · Polly Benedict
Orchestra Wives
1942 · Connie Ward Abbot
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
1942 · Polly Benedict
This Time for Keeps
1942 · Katherine 'Kit' White
Flag of Mercy
1942 · Clara's Student
Badlands of Dakota
1941 · Anne Grayson
Life Begins for Andy Hardy
1941 · Polly Benedict
Whistling in the Dark
1941 · Carol Lambert
Washington Melodrama
1941 · Laurie Claymore
Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
1941 · Polly Benedict
Keeping Company
1940 · Mary Thomas
Wyoming
1940 · Lucy Kincaid
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940 · Self
Pride and Prejudice
1940 · Lydia Bennet
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
1940 · Polly Benedict
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940 · Self
The Ghost Comes Home
1940 · Billie Adams
Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things
1940 · Polly Benedict (uncredited)
Judge Hardy and Son
1939 · Polly Benedict
Gone with the Wind
1939 · Carreen O'Hara
Dancing Co-Ed
1939 · Eve Greeley
These Glamour Girls
1939 · Mary Rose Wilston
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
1939 · Polly Benedict
Angel of Mercy
1939 · Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
The Hardys Ride High
1939 · Polly Benedict
Four Girls in White
1939 · Patricia 'Pat' Page
A Christmas Carol
1938 · Spirit of Christmas Past
Dramatic School
1938 · Yvonne
Out West with the Hardys
1938 · Polly Benedict
Love Finds Andy Hardy
1938 · Polly Benedict
Judge Hardy's Children
1938 · Polly Benedict
Of Human Hearts
1938 · Annie Hawks
You're Only Young Once
1937 · Polly Benedict
The Bride Wore Red
1937 · Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
The Devil Is Driving
1937 · Kitty Wooster
Public Cowboy No. 1
1937 · Helen Morgan
Carnival in Paris
1937 · Lisette
Espionage
1937 · Train Passenger
Annie Laurie
1936 · Annie Laurie
Down to the Sea
1936 · Helen Pappas
The Lonely Trail
1936 · Virginia Terry
The Harvester
1936 · Ruth Jameson
Comin' 'Round the Mountain
1936 · Dolores Moreno
Doughnuts and Society
1936 · Joan Dugan
The Lawless Nineties
1936 · Janet Carter
The Oregon Trail
1936 · Anne Ridgeley
The Singing Vagabond
1935 · Lettie Morgan
The Fighting Marines
1935 · Frances Schiller
Melody Trail
1935 · Millicent Thomas
Waterfront Lady
1935 · Joan O'Brien
Student Tour
1934 · Student
Series (11)
The Bob Newhart Show
1972 · Aggie Harrison
Love, American Style
1969 · Mrs. Glassmire
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Perry Mason
1957 · Evelyn Cartright Forbes, Judith Thurston, Ellen Chase, Mona Hodge
Panic!
1957
MGM Parade
1955 · Self
Climax!
1954 · Edith Enders, Mary Townsend, Bette Sullivan
General Electric Theater
1953 · Joan
Danger
1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950 · Lacy Holden
Suspense
1949 · Sally Hastings