Donna Reed

Donna Reed
Born Donna Belle Mullenger
(1921-01-27)January 27, 1921
Denison, Iowa, U.S.
Died January 14, 1986(1986-01-14) (aged 64)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Cause of death Pancreatic cancer
Resting place Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation Actress
Years active 1941–1985
Spouse(s) William J. Tuttle (m. 1943; div. 1945)
Tony Owen (m. 1945; div. 1971)
Grover Asmus (m. 1974–86)
Children 4

Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American film and television actress and producer. Her career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in more than 40 films. She is well known for her role as Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. In 1953, she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Lorene Burke in the war drama From Here to Eternity.

Reed is probably most widely known for her work in television, notably as Donna Stone, a middle-class American mother and housewife in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–66), in which her character was more assertive than most other television mothers of the era. She received numerous Emmy Award nominations for this role and the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star in 1963. Later in her career, Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing in the 1984–85 season of the television melodrama, Dallas; she sued the production company for breach of contract when she was abruptly fired upon Geddes' decision to return to the show.

Early life

She was born Donna Belle Mullenger on a farm near Denison, Iowa, the daughter of Hazel Jane (née Shives; 1899–1975) and William Richard Mullenger (1893–1981).[1] The eldest of five children, she was raised as a Methodist.[2] After graduating from Denison High School, Reed planned to become a teacher, but was unable to pay for college. She decided to move to California to attend Los Angeles City College on the advice of her aunt. While attending college, she performed in various stage productions but had no plans to become an actress. After receiving several offers to screen test for studios, Reed eventually signed with MGM, but insisted on finishing her education first.[3]

Career

Donna Reed as Mary Hatch and James Stewart as George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life

In 1941 after signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Reed made her film debut in The Get-Away opposite Robert Sterling; she was billed as Donna Adams. MGM soon changed her name to Donna Reed, as there was anti-German feeling during World War II.[4] She starred in The Courtship of Andy Hardy and had a supporting role with Edward Arnold in Eyes in the Night (1942). In 1943, she appeared in The Human Comedy with Mickey Rooney, and in They Were Expendable in 1945.

Her "girl-next-door" good looks and warm onstage personality made her a popular pin-up for many GIs during World War II. She personally answered letters from many GIs serving overseas.[5]

In 1945, Reed struggled with an English accent and with a passive, underwritten role as Gladys Hallward in the first cinema adaptation of the Oscar Wilde novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In 1946, she was lent to RKO Pictures for the role of Mary Bailey in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. The film has since been named as one of the 100 best American films ever made by the American Film Institute and is regularly aired on television during the Christmas season.[6]

Following the release of It's a Wonderful Life, Reed appeared in Green Dolphin Street (1947) with Lana Turner and Van Heflin. In 1949 she expressed a desire for better roles.[7] Several years later, she performed in Scandal Sheet (1952).

In 1953, Reed played the role of Alma "Lorene" Burke, girlfriend of Montgomery Clift's character, in the World War II drama From Here to Eternity. The role earned Reed an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 1953.[8]

The Donna Reed Show

From 1958 to 1966, Reed starred in The Donna Reed Show, a television series produced by her then-husband, Tony Owen. The show featured her as Donna Stone, the wife of pediatrician Alex Stone (Carl Betz) and mother of Jeff (Paul Petersen) and Mary Stone (Shelley Fabares). The show ran for eight seasons on ABC.[9] Reed won a Golden Globe Award and earned four Emmy Award nominations for her work on the series.

Reed described her show as "[...] a realistic picture of small town life with an often humorous twist. Our plots revolve around the most important thing in America—a loving family."[10] In the show, Reed's character, Donna Stone, is a loving mother and wife, but also a strong, smart woman with feelings and a sense of humor.[11] But some feminists criticized the show, asserting that it promoted submissiveness among housewives. In a 1979 interview, Reed, who had raised four children, responded, "I played a strong woman who could manage her family. That was offensive to a lot of people."[12] In a 1984 television interview, Reed said of her show, "I felt that I was making, for women, a statement. This mother was not stupid. She wasn't domineering, but she was bright and I thought rather forward-thinking, happily married."[13]

In a 2008 interview, Paul Petersen (who played her son Jeff Stone in the series) said,

"That's what the show was really about, the importance of family. That's where life's lessons are transmitted, generation to generation. There's a certain way in which these are transmitted, with love and affection." Petersen also stated that "[The Donna Reed Show] depicts a better time and place. It has a sort of level of intelligence and professionalism that is sadly lacking in current entertainment products. The messages it sent out were positive and uplifting. The folks you saw were likable, the family was fun, the situations were familiar to people. It provided 22-and-a-half-minutes of moral instruction and advice on how to deal with the little dilemmas of life."[14]

Dallas

Donna Reed as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow in Dallas

When The Donna Reed Show ended its run in 1966, Reed took time off from acting to focus on raising her children and engaging in political activism. She returned to acting in the 1970s, appearing in various guest spots in television series and television movies.[15]

In the 1984–85 season of the television series Dallas, Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing. Of the show, Reed explained in a 1984 interview,

"One of the main reasons Dallas is successful is the family. They all stick together. They may squabble, but they pull for one another and live under one roof, which is really tribal, and it's not true anymore! And I think deep down, everyone misses that."[13]

When Bel Geddes agreed to return to the role for the 1985–86 season, Reed was abruptly fired.[16] Reed failed in attempts to stop the 1985–86 season from going into production while she tried to get reinstated in the role of Miss Ellie.[16] She sued for breach of contract, later settling out of court for over $1 million.[17]

Personal life

Reed, Tony Owen, and their four children in 1959. Standing is Penny Jane; seated from left are Tony, Jr., Mary and Tim.

From 1943 to 1945, Reed was married to make-up artist William Tuttle. After they divorced, in 1945 she married producer Tony Owen (b. 1907–d.1984). They raised four children together: Penny Jane, Anthony, Timothy, and Mary Anne (the two older children were adopted). After 26 years of marriage, Reed and Owen divorced in 1971.

Three years later, Reed married Grover W. Asmus, a retired United States Army colonel. They remained married until her death in 1986.[1][18]

Political views

Reed, who was a registered Republican, was interested in politics. Her interest was piqued during the Vietnam War when she became concerned that her oldest son, Tony, might be drafted. In 1967, Reed became a peace activist and co-chaired the anti-war advocacy group, Another Mother for Peace. The group's slogan was, "War is not healthy for children and other living things."[19][20] In a 1971 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Reed said, "In the beginning, we felt [Tony] should serve his country in a noncombatant role. But he wouldn't even accept that, feeling the whole thing was immoral. He didn't trust the government or the military. I've learned a lot from Tony."[21]

In addition to opposing the Vietnam War, Reed also opposed nuclear power plants. She supported Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy from Minnesota in the 1968 presidential election. He was a strong anti-war advocate.[22]

Death

Donna Reed's grave

Donna Reed died of pancreatic cancer in Beverly Hills, California, on January 14, 1986, 13 days shy of her 65th birthday. She had been diagnosed with the illness three months earlier and told it was at a terminal stage. Her remains are interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.[17][23]

Legacy

"[Donna Reed] definitely became my second mother. She was a role model and remains so to this day. I still periodically hear her voice in my head when I am making a decision about doing something, I hear her urging me on to make the stronger decision of the two. I just adored her."[30]

Fabares also described Reed as "a real Iowa girl. There is a bedrock decency to people in the Midwest. They are thoughtful and ready to help you if something needs to be done. She never lost that Midwest girl."[30]

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
1947 Lux Radio Theatre episode: It's A Wonderful Life
1948 Lux Radio Theatre episode: You Were Meant For Me
1949 Lux Radio Theatre episode: High Barbaree
1949 Lux Radio Theatre episode: Deep Waters
1951 Lux Radio Theatre episode: To Please A Lady
1952 Screen Guild Theatre episode: The Mating of Millie[31]
1954 Lux Radio Theatre episode: The Naked Jungle
1955 Lux Radio Theatre episode: Rawhide

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1941 The Get-Away Maria Theresa 'Terry' O'Reilly Alternative title: The Getaway
1941 Shadow of the Thin Man Molly
1941 Babes on Broadway Jonesy's Secretary Uncredited
1942 Personalities Uncredited
1942 The Bugle Sounds Sally Hanson
1942 The Courtship of Andy Hardy Melodie Eunice Nesbit
1942 Mokey Anthea Delano
1942 Calling Dr. Gillespie Marcia Bradburn
1942 Apache Trail Rosalia Martinez
1942 Eyes in the Night Barbara Lawry
1943 The Human Comedy Bess Macauley
1943 Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case Marcia Bradburn Alternative title: Crazy to Kill
1943 The Man from Down Under Mary Wilson
1943 Thousands Cheer Customer in Red Skelton Skit
1944 See Here, Private Hargrove Carol Holliday
1944 Gentle Annie Mary Lingen
1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray Gladys Hallward
1945 They Were Expendable Lt. Sandy Davyss
1946 Faithful in My Fashion Jean Kendrick
1946 It's a Wonderful Life Mary Hatch Bailey Alternative title: Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
1947 Green Dolphin Street Marguerite Patourel
1948 Beyond Glory Ann Daniels
1949 Chicago Deadline Rosita Jean D'Ur
1951 Saturday's Hero Melissa Alternative title: Idols in the Dust
1952 Scandal Sheet Julie Allison Alternative title: The Dark Page
1952 Hangman's Knot Molly Hull
1953 Trouble Along the Way Alice Singleton Alternative title: Alma Mater
1953 Raiders of the Seven Seas Alida
1953 From Here to Eternity Alma "Lorene" Burke Winner: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
1953 The Caddy Kathy Taylor
1953 Gun Fury Jennifer Ballard
1954 They Rode West Laurie MacKaye
1954 Three Hours to Kill Laurie Mastin
1954 The Last Time I Saw Paris Marion Ellswirth/Matine
1954 The Ford Television Theatre Lydia Campbell Episode: "Portrait of Lydia"
1955 The Far Horizons Sacajawea Alternative title: The Untamed West
1955 Tales of Hans Anderson Episode: "Wee Willie Winkie"
1956 The Benny Goodman Story Alice Hammond
1956 Ransom! Edith Stannard Alternative title: Fearful Decision
1956 Backlash Karyl Orton
1956 Beyond Mombasa Ann Wilson
1957 General Electric Theater Rayna Episode: "Light from Tormendero"
1957 Suspicion Letty Jason Episode: "The Other Side of the Curtain"
1958 The Whole Truth Carol Poulton
1958–66 The Donna Reed Show Donna Stone 275 episodes
1960 Pepe Herself Cameo
1974 Yellow-Headed Summer
1979 The Best Place to Be Sheila Callahan Television movie
1983 Deadly Lessons Miss Wade Television movie
1984 The Love Boat Polly/Gwen 2 episodes
1984–85 Dallas Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow 24 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title Result
1953 Academy Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role From Here to Eternity Won
1963 Golden Globe Award Best TV Star – Female The Donna Reed Show Won
1964 Golden Apple Awards Most Cooperative Actress
–
 Won
1959 Emmy Award Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series The Donna Reed Show Nominated
1960 Emmy Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support) The Donna Reed Show Nominated
1961 Emmy Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) The Donna Reed Show Nominated
1962 Emmy Award Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) The Donna Reed Show Nominated
2004 TV Land Awards The Most Irreplaceable Replacement Dallas Nominated
2006 TV Land Awards The Most Irreplaceable Replacement Dallas Nominated

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Donna Reed Biography (1921–1986)". Film Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ Field, Eunice. "My Story is Not for Children—or Prudes". Donna Reed Show. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ Royce 1990, p. 2.
  4. ↑ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the Silent Era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 628. ISBN 1-55783-551-9.
  5. ↑ Rohter, Larry (May 24, 2009). "Dear Donna: A Pinup So Swell She Kept G.I. Mail". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ Royce 1990, p. 5.
  7. ↑ Schallert, Edwin. "Donna Reed Declares Self in Revolt Against Sweet, Simple, Negative Roles", Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 Oct 1949: D1
  8. ↑ Phillips, Gene D. (1999). Major Film Directors of the American and British Cinema. Lehigh University Press. p. 118. ISBN 0-934223-59-9.
  9. ↑ Olson 2000, pp. 82–83.
  10. ↑ " "DonnaReedShow.com" Check |url= value (help).
  11. ↑ "Don't Call The Donna Reed Show 'Situation Comedy'".
  12. ↑ Gilbert, Tom (2011-12-27). "Donna Reed's show reflects an era when mother, too, knew best". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  13. 1 2 Rona Barrett Remembers Donna Reed (1921–1986) on YouTube
  14. ↑ "Life was better in 'Donna Reed' world".
  15. ↑ "Donna Reed Biography (1921–1986)". biography.com. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  16. 1 2 "Donna Reed Loses Bid for 'Dallas' Role". The New York Times. 1985-06-19. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  17. 1 2 "The Television Generation Mourns Its Favorite Surrogate Mother, Tough but Tender Donna Reed". People. 1986-01-27. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  18. ↑ Scott Royce, Brenda (1990). Donna Reed: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 7. ISBN 0-313-26806-1.
  19. ↑ "Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search".
  20. ↑ Hevly, Bruce William; Findlay, John M. (1998). The Atomic West. University of Washington Press. p. 208. ISBN 0-295-97716-7.
  21. ↑ "Her New Role: A Mother for Peace". Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  22. ↑ Kauffman, Bill (2011-12-29) "Iowa Votes for Peace", The American Conservative, 29 December 2011
  23. ↑ Donna Reed at Find a Grave
  24. ↑ "Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts". donnareed.org. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  25. ↑ Whye, Mike (2004). The Great Iowa Touring Book: 27 Spectacular Auto Trips. Big Earth Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 1-931599-35-1.
  26. ↑ Fultz, Jay (1998). In Search Of Donna Reed. IA: University of Iowa Press. ISBN 0-87745-625-9.
  27. ↑ "Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts". donnareed.org. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  28. ↑ "Now Playing: Donna Reed – (TCM Original) May 2010". tcm.com. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  29. ↑ "Now Playing: Donna Reed: Star of the Month – (TCM Original) Mary Anne Owen". tcm.com. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  30. 1 2 King, Susan (2011-12-26). "Classic Hollywood: 'The Donna Reed Show'". Los Angeles Times.
  31. ↑ Kirby, Walter (April 13, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

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