Great Lost Babes of the Thirties (An Occasional Series)

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posted September 24, 2008 6:53 AM

You know, I could natter on about how I caught the original Topper the other day on Turner Classic Movies, and how I was reminded of what a deft comic actress Constance Bennett was, but frankly some mornings you really don't need an excuse to post a glamour shot. So let's just face facts -- this woman was a major dish.

constance benett III.jpg

[Pretty cute, no? And check out the picture I was going to use except it was too big for the page]

A few things I already knew about Bennett: She was Joan Bennett's sister. For a time in the early Thirties, she was the highest paid actress in the industry. And in 1932, she starred in What Price Hollywood, the superior pre-Code original version of the story that would be remade three times under the title A Star is Born (it's not currently available on DVD, alas).

Something I learned about Bennett while looking for a justification to use that photo: She was the aunt of wart-faced 80s talk show host Morton Downey Jr..

Coming tomorrow: We blow open the shocking story of Zazu Pitt's candy recipe cookbook!

6 Comments

doncjesuis said:

I love the post title, and hope to read additional posts in this series.

September 24, 2008 8:02 AM

Gummo said:

What Price Hollywood sounds interesting. I love pre-Code films; the whole attitude is different, even when there's nothing overtly salacious or tittilating going on.

Hopefully, TCM or some enterprising DVD co. will make it available sometime.

September 24, 2008 8:04 AM

Anonymous said:

amc had a constance bennett marathon -

her sister Barbara Bennett was portrayed in the 1981 film Mommie Dearest by actress Jocelyn Brando, older sister to actor Marlon Brando.
jocelyn brando was on broadway in the 50s

September 24, 2008 8:13 AM

Warren Terra said:

Wow she is hot!

September 24, 2008 8:21 AM

Steve Simels said:

Apparently Morton Downey Jr. is no longer the cultural signifier he once was.
:-)

September 24, 2008 3:38 PM

mndean said:

Constance might have been quite the thing in the early thirties, but she sorta hit the skids after the code (along with a lot of other actresses), and only climbed back in the public's conscience with the two Topper films. I've seen her in some code films and she really was not coming off well in them until Topper. Besides, I hear that she rejected many parts which doesn't do much for a person's acting career.

BTW, wasn't Morton Downey that piano-playing Irish singer I used to see sometimes in shorts? Steve re: Mort Jr., being buried tends to make one less a cultural signifier. People forget fast. Example: we can talk Zasu Pitts all day long, but 90% of the public sez, "Who?". Five percent of those left may have a vague memory of an '80s band with that name.

September 26, 2008 6:20 PM

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