Edna May Oliver Explained

Edna May Oliver
Birth Name:Edna May Nutter
Birth Date:November 9, 1883
Birth Place:Malden, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death Place:Malibu, California, U.S.
Resting Place:Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1897–1941

Edna May Oliver (born Edna May Nutter, November 9, 1883 – November 9, 1942) was an American stage and film actress. During the 1930s, she was one of the better-known character actresses in American films, often playing tart-tongued spinsters.

Career

Born in Malden, Massachusetts, the daughter of Ida May and Charles Edward Nutter, Oliver quit school at age 14 to pursue a stage career.

She achieved her first success in 1917 on Broadway in Jerome Kern's musical comedy Oh, Boy!, playing the hero's comically dour Aunt Penelope.[1] In 1925, Oliver appeared on Broadway in The Cradle Snatchers, costarring Mary Boland, Gene Raymond, and Humphrey Bogart.[2] Oliver's most notable stage appearance was as Parthy, wife of Cap'n Andy Hawks, in the original 1927 stage production of the musical Show Boat.[3] She reprised her role in the 1932 Broadway revival,[4] but turned down the chance to play Parthy in the 1936 film version to play the Nurse in that year's film version of Romeo and Juliet.

Her film debut was in 1923 in Wife in Name Only. She continued to appear in films until Lydia in 1941. She first gained major notice in films for her appearances in several comedies starring the team of Wheeler & Woolsey, including Half Shot at Sunrise, her first film under her RKO Radio Pictures contract in 1930. Usually in featured parts, she starred in ten films, including Fanny Foley Herself (1931) and Ladies of the Jury (1932). She played wealthy, domineering Aunt March in the 1933 version of Little Women.

Oliver's most popular star vehicles were mystery-comedies, starring as spinster sleuth Hildegarde Withers from the popular Stuart Palmer novels. The series ended prematurely when she left RKO to sign with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935; the studio attempted to continue the series with Helen Broderick and then ZaSu Pitts as Withers.

While at MGM, David O. Selznick cast Oliver in two film versions of novels by Charles Dickens, as the prim, acidic Miss Pross A Tale of Two Cities (1935), starring Ronald Colman, and as the title character's eccentric aunt, Betsy Trotwood in David Copperfield (also 1935).

She appeared in the Shirley Temple film Little Miss Broadway (1938) as the landlord of a hotel for vaudevillians who wants to shut it down. She also performed in two 1939 movie musicals: with Tyrone Power in the Sonja Henie skating film Second Fiddle, and in a supporting role as the agent of the title characters in the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. A 1940 comic performance as Laurence Olivier's Mr. Darcy's domineering aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice and a 1941 role as Merle Oberon's grandmother in Lydia concluded her film career.

She was also cast in noncomedic films such as Cimarron (1931), Ann Vickers (1933), and Romeo and Juliet (1936).

Death

Oliver died on her 59th birthday in 1942 shortly after being diagnosed with abdominal cancer, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.[5]

Awards and honors

Oliver received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Drums Along the Mohawk (1939).[6]

Stage

(This list is limited to New York/Broadway theatrical productions.)

Date! scope="col"
TitleRole
December 5, 1916 - January 1917The Master[7]
February 20, 1917 – March 30, 1918Oh BoyMiss Penelope Budd[8]
November 25, 1919 – January 7, 1920The Rose of ChinaMrs. Hobson[9]
February 2, 1920 – May 1, 1920My Golden GirlMrs. Judson Mitchell[10]
November 1, 1920 – December 11, 1920The Half MoonMrs. Francis Adams Jarvis[11]
September 26, 1921 – unknownWait 'Til We're MarriedAunt Meridian[12]
November 28, 1921 – December 1921Her Salary ManMrs. Sophie Perkins[13]
September 6, 1922 – September 1922Wild Oats LaneJune[14]
February 10, 1923 – June 1923IceboundHannah[15]
October 13, 1924 – November 15, 1924In His ArmsMrs. John Clarendon[16]
January 13, 1925 – February 1925IsabelMrs. John Clarendon[17]
September 7, 1925 – October 1926Cradle SnatchersEthel Drake[18]
December 27, 1927 – May 4, 1929Show Boat Parthy Ann Hawks[19]
May 19, 1932 – October 22, 1932Show Boat Parthy Ann Hawks[20]

Filmography

Year! scope="col"
TitleRoleStudio/distributor
1923Wife in Name OnlyMrs. DornhamPyramid Pictures[21]
1923Three O'Clock in the MorningHettyC. C. Burr Pictures[22]
1924Restless WivesBenson's SecretaryC. C. Burr Pictures[23]
1924IceboundHannahFamous Players–Lasky[24]
1924ManhattanMrs. TrapesFamous Players–Lasky[25]
1925The Lucky DevilMrs. McDeeFamous Players–Lasky[26]
1925Lovers in QuarantineAmelia PincentFamous Players–Lasky[27]
1925The Lady Who LiedFirst National Pictures
1926The American VenusMrs. NilesFamous Players–Lasky[28]
1926Let's Get MarriedJ. W. SmithFamous Players–Lasky[29]
Year! scope="col"
TitleRoleStudio/Distributor
1929The Saturday Night KidMiss StreeterParamount Productions[30]
1930Half Shot at SunriseMrs. MarshallRKO Pictures[31]
1931CimarronMrs. Tracy WyattRKO Pictures[32]
1931Forbidden AdventureBessie TateParamount Productions[33]
1931Fanny Foley HerselfFanny FoleyRKO Pictures[34]
1931Laugh and Get RichSarah AustinRKO Pictures[35]
1931Cracked NutsAunt Minnie Van VardenRKO Pictures[36]
1932The Penguin Pool MurderMiss Hildegarde Martha WithersRKO Pictures[37]
1932Ladies of the JuryMrs. Livingston Baldwin CraneRKO Pictures[38]
1932The ConquerorsMatilda BlakeRKO Pictures[39]
1932Hold 'Em JailVioletRKO Pictures[40]
1933Ann VickersMalvina WormserRKO Pictures[41]
1933Meet the BaronDean PrimroseMGM[42]
1933The Great JasperMadame TalmaRKO Pictures[43]
1933It's Great to Be AliveDr. ProdwellFox Film Corp.[44]
1933Only YesterdayLeonaUniversal Pictures[45]
1933Little WomenAunt MarchRKO Pictures[46]
1933Alice in WonderlandThe Red QueenParamount Productions[47]
1934The Last GentlemanAugusta Pritchard20th Century Fox[48]
1934The Poor RichHarriet SpottiswoodUniversal Pictures[49]
1934Murder on the BlackboardHildegarde WithersRKO Pictures[50]
1934We're Rich AgainMaudeRKO Pictures[51]
1935David CopperfieldAunt Betsey TrotwoodMGM[52]
1935No More LadiesMrs. Fanny "Grandma" TownsendMGM[53]
1935Murder on a HoneymoonHildegarde WithersRKO Pictures[54]
1935A Tale of Two CitiesMiss ProssMGM[55]
1937My Dear Miss AldrichMrs. Lou AthertonMGM[56]
1937ParnellAunt Ben WoodMGM[57]
1937RosalieQueen of RomanzaMGM[58]
1937Romeo and JulietThe NurseMGM
Note: Premiered August 20, 1936, but not released until April 16, 1937
[59]
1938Little Miss BroadwaySarah Wendling20th Century Fox[60]
1938Paradise for ThreeMrs. Julia KunkelMGM[61]
1939Nurse Edith CavellCountess de MavonImperadio Pictures Ltd[62]
1939Drums Along the MohawkMrs. McKlennar20th Century Fox[63]
1939The Story of Vernon and Irene CastleMaggie SuttonRKO Pictures[64]
1939Second FiddleAunt Phoebe20th Century Fox[65]
1940Pride and PrejudiceLady Catherine de BourghMGM[66]
1941LydiaSarah MacMillanAlexander Korda Films[67]
1976America at the MoviesFootageAmerican Film Institute[68]

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oh, Boy (1917 production) . IBDB.com . .
  2. Web site: Cradle Snatchers (1925 production) . IBDB.com . .
  3. Web site: Show Boat (1927 production) . IBDB.com . .
  4. Web site: Show Boat (1932 production) . IBDB.com . .
  5. News: Edna May Oliver's Funeral Services Set for Tomorrow . April 29, 2020 . The Los Angeles Times . November 11, 1942.
  6. Web site: The 12th Academy Awards 1940 . Oscars.org Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . April 29, 2020.
  7. Web site: The Master . IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  8. Web site: Oh Boy . IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  9. Web site: The Rose of China . IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  10. Web site: My Golden Girl . IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  11. Web site: The Half Moon. IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  12. Web site: Wait 'Til We're Married. IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  13. Web site: Her Salary Man. IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  14. Web site: Wild Oats Lane . IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  15. Web site: Icebound. IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  16. Web site: In His Arms. IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  17. Web site: Isabel. IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  18. Web site: Cradle Snatchers. IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  19. Web site: Show Boat (1927-1929). IBDB . April 29, 2020.
  20. Web site: Show Boat (1932). IBDB. April 29, 2020.
  21. Web site: Wife in Name Only . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  22. Web site: Three O'Clock in the Morning . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  23. Web site: Restless Wives . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  24. Web site: Icebound . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  25. Web site: Manhattan . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  26. Web site: The Lucky Devil . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  27. Web site: Lovers in Quarantine. catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  28. Web site: The American Venus . catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  29. Web site: Let's Get Married. catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.
  30. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Saturday Night Kid. April 29, 2020.
  31. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Half Shot at Sunrise. April 29, 2020.
  32. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Cimarron. April 29, 2020.
  33. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Forbidden Adventure. April 29, 2020.
  34. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Fanny Foley Herself. April 29, 2020.
  35. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Laugh and Get Rich. April 29, 2020.
  36. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Cracked Nuts. April 29, 2020.
  37. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Penguin Pool Murder. April 29, 2020.
  38. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Ladies of the Jury. April 29, 2020.
  39. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Conquerors. April 29, 2020.
  40. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Hold 'Em Jail. April 29, 2020.
  41. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Ann Vickers. April 29, 2020.
  42. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Meet the Baron. April 29, 2020.
  43. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Great Jasper. April 29, 2020.
  44. Web site: catalog.afi.com . It's Great to Be Alive. April 29, 2020.
  45. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Only Yesterday. April 29, 2020.
  46. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Little Women. April 29, 2020.
  47. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Alice in Wonderland. April 29, 2020.
  48. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Last Gentleman. April 29, 2020.
  49. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Poor Rich. April 29, 2020.
  50. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Murder on the Blackboard. April 29, 2020.
  51. Web site: catalog.afi.com . We're Rich Again. April 29, 2020.
  52. Web site: catalog.afi.com . David Copperfield. April 29, 2020.
  53. Web site: catalog.afi.com . No More Ladies. April 29, 2020.
  54. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Murder on a Honeymoon. April 29, 2020.
  55. Web site: catalog.afi.com . A Tale of Two Cities. April 29, 2020.
  56. Web site: catalog.afi.com . My Dear Miss Aldrich. April 29, 2020.
  57. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Parnell. April 29, 2020.
  58. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Rosalie. April 29, 2020.
  59. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Romeo and Juliet. April 29, 2020.
  60. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Little Miss Broadway. April 29, 2020.
  61. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Paradise for Three. April 29, 2020.
  62. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Nurse Edith Cavell . April 29, 2020.
  63. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Drums Along the Mohawk . April 29, 2020.
  64. Web site: catalog.afi.com . The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle . April 29, 2020.
  65. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Second Fiddle . April 29, 2020.
  66. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Pride and Prejudice . April 29, 2020.
  67. Web site: catalog.afi.com . Lydia . April 29, 2020.
  68. Web site: America at the Movies. catalog.afi.com . April 29, 2020.