"The glamour of Hollywood has never worn thin for me. I'm just as excited today over autograph fans as I was the day I arrived, and just as disappointed if I'm ignored."
It's Sunday, traditional home of "our kind of music" (© David Jacobs), especially that music of a long-lost era of glamour. And no-one epitomises those stylish years of Hollywood better than the five-times Oscar-nominated actress, singer and style icon Irene Dunne (born 108 years ago today).
In thirty years of films, Miss Dunne starred alongside Randolph Scott, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Charles Boyer, Barbara Bel Geddes, Rex Harrison, Van Johnson and many more. Jerome Kern wrote songs specifically for her. Later in her career, she discovered a penchant for comedy, and once her movie career was over she became a favourite guest on popular US television programmes such as The Jack Benny Show and What's My Line. Lucille Ball was allegedly a huge fan.
Anyhow, here is the beautiful lady herself in a magnificent Art Deco setting, with one of the numbers Jerome Kern composed for her, with Fred Astaire conducting the orchestra. How life should be...
Interesting facts about Irene Dunne:
- the fur she wore in that clip from Roberta cost 9,000 dollars in 1935. During filming, she had a special bodyguard following her around - to protect the dress!
- she apparently began her glittering career when she bumped into showman Florenz Ziegfeld in an elevator the day she returned from her honeymoon. He cast her in his touring theatrical version of Showboat and a talent scout from RKO happened to be in the audience for one of her performances.
- she was the first woman ever elected to the board of directors at the Technicolor corporation.
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