Eleanor Parker

Happy Birthday to

Eleanor Parker

89 today

I do have a system for choosing the birthdays to celebrate, but it does mean that some performers get repeated more than others, which in turn means I have little to say about some performers that I haven't already said. For instance Ms Parker has had her birthday commemorated 3 times here. Hopefully Alex and Andrew have both caught up on some of her more obscure movies over that time (no pressure chaps). I recently rewatched The Man with the Golden Arm and her ridiculously over the top performance as Frank Sinatra's crippled wife Zosch is delightfully manic.

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Eleanor Parker

Happy Birthday to

Eleanor Parker

88 today

She might be predominantly remembered for the Baroness (boo hiss) in The Sound of Music but it's worth remembering Ms Parker was a versatile leading lady in the 50's picking up 3 Academy Awards nominations. Saying that it is the Baroness that sticks in the mind, and tell me have you noticed her eyebrows in the scene where she tells Maria to go - they are acting all of their own volition it's a joy to watch.

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Eleanor Parker

Happy birthday to

Eleanor Parker

86 today

When I used to watch The Sound of Music as a kid I adored the Baroness. In a story that shoehorned songs in at every moment she was always able to ignore the impulse to burst out. I liked that a lot. Of course she also did a lot of acting... Whether it was her icy conversation with Maria at the ball, or keeping her dignity as she lets Captain Von Trapp slip away, she was at the top of her game. And this is from an actress who gave superb performances in Caged and Detective Story, although she could be pure ham at times (see The Man with the Golden Arm).

Since I have grown older though her performance as the Baroness has dimished. I blame a close friend who I went to see a sing-a-long showing of The Sound of Music, and who shouted out during the ball: "Look at the Baroness's eyebrows."

They're all over the place - bouncing around her forehead from one shot to another. Go on watch the scene and you'll be surprised at how quickly they move.

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