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1-14 of 14
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The youngest of The Marx Brothers, Zeppo was put into the role of the straight man after his brother Gummo left the act. Zeppo also acted as an understudy to all three of his brothers, and he has been said to have played Grouchos part better than Groucho himself. After playing small parts in the first five Marx Brothers movies, Zeppo felt his talent wasn't being used to its full extent and left the act to join Gummo as an agent. Somewhat of a mechanical whiz, Zeppo invented a wristwatch that would monitor the pulse rate of cardiac patients, and his company, Marman Products, produced clamping devices which were used in the first atomic bomb raids over Japan in 1945. Zeppo died on November 30, 1979, from cancer.- Actress
- Writer
- Music Department
Toothy, oval-faced Britisher Joyce Grenfell with her stark, equine features charmed and humored audiences both here and abroad on radio, stage, film and TV for nearly four decades. Lovingly remembered as a delightfully witty revue artist, monologist and raconteur, she inherited her bold talents from her eccentric socialite mother, who just so happened to be American and the sister of Lady Nancy Astor.
Well-to-do Joyce Irene Phipps was born on February 10, 1910, in London, one of five daughters of renowned American-born architect Paul Phipps (1880-1953) and American socialite Nora Langhorne (1889-1955) after they established residence in England. She was the niece of British politician Nancy Astor and second cousin to American actress Ruth Draper. Joyce was educated both in London and Paris, attending the Francis Holland School in London, and the Claremont Fan Court School, in Surrey and Mlle Ozanne's finishing school in Paris in her late teens.
Her first job in the entertainment business was as a radio critic columnist. In 1939, she appeared in her very first revue, "The Little Revue," wherein her spot-on impersonations, characterizations and satirical songs became an instant hit. One song "I'm Going to See You Today", which she herself wrote in 1942, became her signature song. Other revues followed ("Diversion," "Light and Shade," "Penny Plain," Sigh No More") and she also performed in one-woman shows ("Meet Joyce Grenfell," "Joyce Grenfell at Home"). During World War II, she often performed for British troops. Much of the music from her later shows was in collaboration with composers and pianists Richard Addinsell and William Blezard and in the 1960's they began performing world wide (England, Australia, United States).
Eventually the irrepressible Joyce became sought after for films, finding a fine opening playing wealthy, gawky-appearing matrons in droll, rollicking comedies. She made her feature film debut in a minor role with the romantic dramedy Adventure for Two (1943) (aka The Demi-Paradise) starring Laurence Olivier. She went on to make several war-era films with her characters usually adding an eccentric twist, including The Lamp Still Burns (1943), While the Sun Shines (1947), Alice in Wonderland (1949) (as the Ugly Duchess/Doormouse), Poet's Pub (1949) and A Run for Your Money (1949). The best of the campy lot came in the 1950's in films starring master comic farceur Alastair Sim. There interactions were always broad highlights -- she as the gym teacher at an all-girl's school in The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950); as Sim's longtime fiancée Elizabeth "Fluffy" Robson in Laughter in Paradise (1951); and her second-billed role as policewoman-turned-teacher plant Sgt. Ruby Gates with Sim the headmistress in The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954). The last mentioned was followed by two 'Trinian' sequels, Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) and The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960).
Elsewhere during this productive decade, Joyce not only brightened other movie comedies such as The Galloping Major (1951), Genevieve (1953), Man with a Million (1954) and Happy Is the Bride (1958), but provided comedy relief for a few dramas as well including the Hitchcock thriller Stage Fright (1950), plus The Magic Box (1951), The Pickwick Papers (1952) and Forbidden Cargo (1954). She was a frequent guest on the BBC's musical quiz show Face the Music (1967). Joyce's comic fame extended to America as well with the Broadway shows "Joyce Grenfell: Requests the Pleasure (1955) and Joyce Grenfell: Monologue and Songs (1958) and appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show," "The Dick Cavett Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show."
Ending her career with character roles in the films The Old Dark House (1963), The Americanization of Emily (1964) and in a scene-stealing cameo as Ingrid Bergman's companion in The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), Joyce would put out highly popular comedy albums over the years ("It Was a Funny Old Life," "Ordinary Morning," etc.). Her last performance on stage would be in 1973 before Queen Elizabeth and her guests at Windsor Castle. Soon after, a severe eye infection resulted in the loss of sight in the affected eye and she chose to retire.
Six years later the eye was diagnosed as cancerous and, though it was removed and replaced with an artificial eye, Joyce's health declined, dying of complications from her ocular cancer on November 30, 1979 at home. Long wed (from 1929) to Reginald Pascoe Grenfell (1903-1993), a lieutenant colonel in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, grandson of the 4th Earl Grey, ninth Governor General of Canada, she was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1946 and posthumously (1998) commemorated on a postage stamp.- Allen Vincent was born on 28 August 1903 in Spokane, Washington, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), Johnny Belinda (1948) and The Face Behind the Mask (1941). He died on 30 November 1979 in California, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pedro Lazaga was born on 3 October 1918 in Valls, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. He was a director and writer, known for La patrulla (1954), María Morena (1952) and Los chicos del Preu (1967). He died on 30 November 1979 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain.- Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Arno Assmann was born on 30 July 1908 in Breslau, Silesia, Germany [now Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland]. He was an actor and director, known for Immer will ich dir gehören (1960), Der Opernball (1978) and Die Ersten und die Letzten (1966). He was married to Lore Ostermann and Heide Heidemann. He died on 30 November 1979 in Herrsching am Ammersee, Bavaria, West Germany.- Gabrielle Dorziat was born on 15 January 1880 in Épernay, Marne, France. She was an actress, known for Patricia (1942), Samson (1936) and La fin du jour (1939). She was married to Michel de Zogheb. She died on 30 November 1979 in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France.
- Writer
- Animation Department
- Director
Dick Huemer was born on 2 January 1898 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941) and Alice in Wonderland (1951). He died on 30 November 1979 in Burbank, California, USA.- Marcel Rouzé was born on 12 May 1901 in Gouvieux, Oise, France. He was an actor, known for Dishonorable Discharge (1957), Marc et Sylvie (1965) and The Ladies of the Bois de Boulogne (1945). He died on 30 November 1979 in Paris, France.
- Editor
- Editorial Department
Tom Biggart was born on 5 October 1907 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Tom was an editor, known for The Great Morgan (1946), Adventure in Music (1944) and Hazel (1961). Tom died on 30 November 1979 in Ojai, California, USA.- Writer
- Cinematographer
- Music Department
Vladimir Mass was born on 19 February 1896 in Moscow, Russian Empire [now Russia]. He was a writer and cinematographer, known for Trembita (1968), Moscow Laughs (1934) and Cherry Town (1963). He died on 30 November 1979 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia].- Tamaki Yoshiwara was born on 17 May 1901. He was an actor, known for The Letter (1929). He died on 30 November 1979 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Andrzej Polkowski was born on 23 November 1922 in Kalisz, Wielkopolskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Zaczarowany rower (1955), Knights of the Teutonic Order (1960) and The Saragossa Manuscript (1965). He died on 30 November 1979 in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Jim had the kind of personality that went as well with the celebrities as it did with the crew. During his career he worked on the movie "The Sting" with Redford and Newman and with Mel Brooks on Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety. He enjoyed working with Steve Martin on the movie "The Jerk" and took his family to see the location of the mansion it was filmed in. He often worked with his good friend Gaylin Schultz who was well known and respected in the business as a long time key grip. Other films he worked on included The Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood, When A Stranger Calls and many others. His death came when he was tragically young, just getting going really at 49 years of age. This Biography and Update have been provided by his daughter Joni Ball Sanford, who has been a Hollywood history buff since childhood.- Georgette Mertzhradt was born in 1903 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]. She was an actress, known for Forró vizet a kopaszra! (1972), The Witness (1969) and A járvány (1976). She died on 30 November 1979 in Budapest, Hungary.