Mary Wickes: I Know I've Seen That Face Before (Hollywood Legends Series) - Hardcover

Taravella, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1604739053 ISBN 13: 9781604739053

Publisher: University Press of Mississippi, 2013

Synopsis

Moviegoers know her as the housekeeper in White Christmas, the nurse in Now, Voyager, and the crotchety choir director in Sister Act. This book, filled with never-published behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway and Hollywood, chronicles the life of a complicated woman who brought an assortment of unforgettable nurses, nuns, and housekeepers to life on screen and stage.

Wickes (1910–1995) was part of some of the most significant moments in film, television, theatre, and radio history. On that frightening night in 1938 when Orson Welles recorded his earth-shattering “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, Wickes was waiting on another soundstage for him for a rehearsal of Danton's Death, oblivious to the havoc taking place outside.

When silent film star Gloria Swanson decided to host a live talk show on this new thing called television, Wickes was one of her first guests. When Lucille Ball made one of her first TV appearances, Wickes appeared with her―and became Lucy's closest friend for more than thirty years. Wickes was the original Mary Poppins, long before an umbrella carried Julie Andrews across the rooftops of London. And when Disney began creating 101 Dalmatians, Wickes was asked to pose for animators trying to capture the evil of Cruella De Vil.

The pinched-face actress who cracked wise by day became a confidante to some of the day's biggest stars by night, including Bette Davis and Doris Day. Bolstered by interviews with almost three hundred people, and by private correspondence from Ball, Davis, Day, and others, Mary Wickes: I Know I've Seen That Face Before includes scores of never-before-shared anecdotes about Hollywood and Broadway. In the process, it introduces readers to a complex woman who sustained a remarkable career for sixty years.

About this title

About the Author

Steve Taravella is a longtime journalist and communications specialist. He has received eleven writing awards, including the Dag Hammarksjold Award for Human Rights Advocacy in Journalism and the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award.

From the Inside Flap

The full story of one of Hollywood's most accomplished character actresses

Reviews

Whether donning a nun’s habit opposite Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act or a nurse’s uniform in Now, Voyager with Bette Davis, Wickes’ appearances in dozens of the most beloved plays, films, and television shows of the twentieth century ensured that she would be forever recognizable, if not identifiable, to even the most casual cineast. Noticeably tall and blessed, or cursed, with a prominent nose and recessive chin, Wickes would not be any casting director’s first call for a romantic lead. But her quick wit, abundant charm, and professional dedication made her their dream choice for many iconic supporting roles. Though she became typecast portraying nuns, nurses, and maids, Wickes brought a queenly demeanor and quirky humor to even the most quotidian characters, an ethic that won her the respect and friendship of many Broadway and Hollywood celebrities, most notably Lucille Ball, who considered Wickes her dearest friend. Divulging the kind of insider details that entertainment buffs adore, Taravella also delivers a scholarly, affectionate, and vivid biography of a legendary actress. --Carol Haggas

Edition details

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1604739053
• ISBN 13: 9781604739053
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 370