The last of the great British movie stars died today. Jean Simmons, that demure (though not-so-squeaky clean in real life), English rose of Hollywood, and movie star since the 1940s lost her battle with cancer at the age of 80.To me Simmons was a bigger star than the unofficial "Queen" of the Brits Elizabeth Taylor, yet like Taylor, Simmons possessed a steely strength and talent under her considerable beauty, which kept her working steadily for over 60 years.
I loved her performances, and even in some of her more crappy films, she always stood out from the crowd..... who could forget her characters such as Young Estella in Great Expectations (1946),Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls ,Varinia in Spartacus (1960),Sister Falconer in Elmer Gantry (1960) and my personal favourite, Julie Maragon in The Big Country (1958),a film that she was famously quoted to have quipped "Who do I have to fuck to get off this movie?"
I am sure by blog friends Bel-Ami and Alex will have more articulate tributes to Miss Simmons, suffice to say, another great old dame of British cinema has disappeared forever
Really sad news, this.
ReplyDeleteI guess it was kind of nice that she came back to Britain for what turned out to be her final film, Shadows in the Sun.
A good interview here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/jul/18/2
I thought you were very articulate in your tribute!
ReplyDeleteI loved her with Spencer Tracy in "The Actress" and like you enjoyed her in "Spartacus." I also thought she was terrific in "The Happy Ending." And lets not forget her late career appearance in the Star Trek: The Next Generation...So much talent and presence unmatched by many actresses today!
"Old" Hollywood actors and actresses are/were the best of the best. Always sad when another passes on. I just love 'Old' Hollywood, the Golden Age.
ReplyDeleteyes, I tip my hat to her.
ReplyDeleteYes, another star's light dimmed.I must call my mom and tell her.
ReplyDeleteI guess the thing about Jean Simmons was that she was always an excellent leading lady but very seldom the actual star of the film.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, unlike Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Olivia De Havilland or even, on occasion, Deborah Kerr, she never actually carried the weight of the film herself.
She was a great talent - though one of those actors who never went in for accents, as I noticed watching Guys and Dolls last night - and an extraordinary beauty.
We'll miss her enormously - they really don't make stars like her any more.
"bel" never looked at her career that way but you are right
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