“Jealousy is, I think the worst of all faults because it makes a victim of both parties.” I picked a quote from our star for July because it seems to ring true back then and even today. But let’s get started on this luminary shall we? She was of course a stunning beauty but contrary to the popular idiom her beauty ran much deeper than skin deep. Astonishing looks, high cheekbones and a classic overbite might have gotten her the start in Hollywood but it was her acting that carried her to the pinnacle of super stardom. Born in 1920 in Brooklyn to a privileged lifestyle her father was a successful insurance broker Gene received her schooling in Connecticut and Switzerland. Her head turning looks got her started on Broadway at 18 in Mrs. O’Brien Entertains and before long Daryl Zanuck spotted her and secured her contract to Twentieth Century Fox.
Her first feature came at just 20 in 1940’s The Return of Frank James opposite Henry Fonda. For a few years critics were nonplussed until 1943 when her breakthrough performance came that year in the comedy Heaven Can Wait but it was in the following year, 1944 that she is most remembered in the haunting mystery Laura starring opposite Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb and Vincent Price before he became the Prince of Horror. Gene although talked about and seen in flashbacks doesn’t actually show up until about 1/3 through the movie when it’s revealed she’s still alive not dead as the story leads us to believe. Truly one of Robert Osborne’s favorite stars Tierney is luminescent in this 88-minute romantic drama mystery wearing hats and gowns (designed by Bonnie Cashin) that framed her singular in nature countenance.
Her success continued as she played the dark Ellen Berent in Leave Her to Heaven in 1945 receiving her nomination for Best Actress. Thence 2 years later in The Razor’s Edge with our previous star of the month Tyrone Power and then my personal favorite that same year in the fantasy ghost story opposite Rex Harrison where she portrays a headstrong widow up against a salty deceased sea captain in an unlikely love story. The movie spawned a short-lived TV series starring Hope Lange in 1968. Several smaller roles followed but she came back triumphantly opposite Spencer Tracy in 1952’s Plymouth Adventure and Never Let Me Go with Clark Gable. Two more smash hits to her credit followed in Night and the City and The Left Hand of God.
It was the next decade however that her health and personal life would collide and help bring down a career in a heartbreaking and tragic conclusion. Depression and hospitalizations would keep Gene from the limelight and a marriage to playboy Oleg Cassini didn’t help matters. She bore him two daughters Daria and Christina and after Cassini she married Texas oil baron Howard Lee in 1960 until his death in 1981. Howard was married previously to another Hollywood beauty Hedy Lamarr.
Oddly enough as beautiful as her adoring fans and most film aficionados felt she was our star often complained about her teeth. She would lament that they protruded too much. Hence that overbite that added to her looks she tried to cover with lipstick, broadening her lips and even tried to have dentists straighten. They wouldn’t touch her. In fact the studio when alerted to her efforts made her stipulate that Gene not change a thing in her appearance, which she reluctantly agreed. A smart move as Mother Nature did not make a mistake in Gene Tierney’s case.
Her first daughter was born retarded because Gene had contracted measles when she had made an appearance at the Hollywood Canteen and it was Howard Hughes that provided for her daughter’s medical care. Incidentally her daughter’s birth defect inspired the Agatha Christie movie The Mirror Crack’d.
Gene had a notorious affair with John F. Kennedy in 1946 while filming Dragonwyck. The young 29-year old ended the affair, as we all know had political aspirations. Strangely she voted for Nixon but congratulated him when he won the Presidency. She and Tyrone Power had a dalliance while filming The Razor’s Edge and she also found herself in a gambol with Prince Aly Khan in the early 50’s.
Admitted to Menninger’s Clinic in Kansas in 1957 for suicidal depression and shock treatment she was released in the year following. In 1959 Fox offered her the role in Holiday for Lovers but the stress proved to be just too much and she was forced to leave that production.
Gene hated her voice in fact she claimed that it sounded like an angry Minnie Mouse and determined to make it sound lower she resorted to smoking. A terrible decision as she died of emphysema in 1991. Gene Tierney made 24 movies over a span from 1940 to 1964 her last being The Pleasure Seekers with Ann Margaret and Tony Franciosa.
One of our residents mentioned that I had missed something about Anthony Quinn and that was he painting prowess. My apologies. If you have comments please write me I’d love to hear from you at Jackbriant@mac.com What Gene said about jealousy is something for all of us to think about. Jealousy is the absence of love. Until next month.
