12 Comments

I loved Vertigo.

The scene where she and Jimmy Stewart are discussing the strapless bra she is designing and he says somthing about it being like an extension bridge sort of thing was so funny. She played the loyal girlfriend in that very well.

She was a good Miss Ellie too.

She had a long life but it is still sad to see her go.

The linked obit didn’t mention that she was the daughter of designer Norman Bel Geddes, the man who onced defined what the future was going to look like.

Funny how we make fun of Hollywood make-believe, pretending that as reality-based critters we aren’t too influenced or impressed by mere entertainers, yet when one of the older stars passes away, we read of their career milestones, and automatically place our own selves back into those times, seeing our forgotten selves again so vividly that it can only be the light of that stardust that Ronald Reagan once mentioned in a speech (a speech which for me put new light on the whole meaning of the power of fantasy, of our needful trips into the fantastic).

For better or for worse, there’s nothing else like it, and these people are parts of our own lives.

I remember her very well for her roles in two of my most favorite movies – as Bobbie Meredith in “The Five Pennies” and Katrin in “I Remember Mama”.

I never was a Dallas fan, so I didn’t even realize until today that she was “Miss Ellie”.

I think I will have to hold my own tribute today with a showing of The Five Pennies – some of the most incredible Jazz and a rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” that always sends shivers up my spine.

Thank you for that, acassa…The Battle Hymn does that to me, too…and I love the jazz from that era. You’ve given me a much-needed movie tip. Bless you.

Buddy… The Five Pennies was my first introduction to Jazz and to Louis Armstrong.

If you are a fan of either – this movie will not disappoint.

It’s also a good chance to see Danny Kaye do an amazing job in a non-comedic role.

Ahh…jeez…Louis Armstrong and Danny kaye…I can’t wait! Louis Armsttrong was so much in the background of so many things, movies, radio, TV (esp) back then that he seemed sort of pop, everyday, generic. Then comes the time when conditions are right and you happen to see and hear what he’s doing, and, well, your head explodes, and you’re a jazz person evermore.

Are there any movie stars around today who look as wholesome as Barbara Bel Geddes? as normal? I can’t think of any.

Barbara, Miss Ellie, was the only consistantly good natured character on “Dallas”. She most probably was that way in real life too.

Though a smarmy soap opera, I always loved “Dallas” as I lived there at the time and used to frequent many of the places used as locales in the show. I had the opportunity to see many of the actors up close and personal too, as the large real estate company that I worked for at the time used to manage and lease the First International Building which was the fictional headquarters of Ewing Oil. They filmed in and around the building several times a year.

I think I only saw Barbara there once…..Ewing women were not particularly welcome down at the office!!

Katrin (I Remember Mama) was my favorite Bel Geddes role. She was luminous. I always thought she should have had a bigger career. I would like to have seen her as Maggie the cat. RIP.

“I Remember Mama” is a treasured classic. Every single actor and character is uniquely memorable. Barbara Bel Geddes along with Irene Dunne are both etched into my childhood memories as the sort of women one would want to emulate “when I grow up”. Their beauty and grace in that movie were inspirational to say the least.

Don’t miss this nice stuff.