As Farley Granger wrote in his autobiography, Hollywood didnt really know how to take advantage of this unique comediennes talent. Sheldon said that Danny had the full backing of his Uncle Abe Lastfogel who was the head of The William Morris Agency who essentially had Jean blacklisted. All the times I've watched this movie I have never spotted George. Mayers wife, of all people, had the idea from seeing me in No Questions Asked (1951) one of my lesser efforts. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. Jean appeared in a total of 117 episodes for the show, and she was nominated for a total of three Emmys. For one reason, she was far younger (50s) than the other residents. She guest-starred in a few popular television series and managed to land a few minor roles in movies, but it wasnt the same. In real-life it was a different story. Many famous actors and actresses who went on to perform in all sorts of films and TV shows. White Christmas (1954) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Robert Emmett Dolan . Patricia Neal felt the same way, and the two moved to New York together, where they became roommates once again. Jean Hagens sister, LaVerne, recalled her childhood with fondness. Hagen's family was a large one and according to her sister, LaVerne, "Our childhood was wonderful, nothing but happiness. She also dabbled in Broadway plays. Facts Verse She made her final acting appearance the next year in the television movie Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn. Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur were polite, however. However, producer Sheldon Leonard explained that Jean Hagen was irreplaceable. Shadow in the Sky. [10], Berlin wrote "A Singer, A Dancer" for Crosby and his planned co-star Fred Astaire; when Astaire became unavailable, Berlin re-wrote it as "A Crooner A Comic" for Crosby and Donald O'Connor, but when O'Connor left the project, so did the song. While Jean Hagen was usually cast in comedic or hard-boiled roles, she enjoyed playing dramatic roles more. In 1957, Hagen co-starred in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Enough Rope for Two", portraying a woman who accompanies two thieves trying to retrieve stolen money from a desert mine shaft. "It was a torturous eight weeks of rewriting", said Panama. 1995-2022 QVC, Inc. All rights reserved. was originally written for an un-produced project called Stars on My Shoulders. Jean Hagen (born Jean Shirley Verhagen;[a] August 3, 1923 August 29, 1977) was an American actress best known for her role as Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain (1952), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. After waking from her coma, Jean vowed to never drink again. The sky is more distant in depth and is full of contrast. On the former, the song "Sisters" (as well as all of Clooney's vocal parts) was recorded by Peggy Lee, while on the latter, the song was sung by Clooney and her own sister, Betty. They felt the whole script needed rewriting, and Curtiz agreed. I always said that Greeks are blessed with great heritage and great genes, and that makes for gorgeous, handsome, and very beautiful people! January 16, 2023, 9:22 am, by Her father was a Dutch immigrant. She became increasingly depressed, and her health began to fail as a result of her alcoholism. After Waverly departs, enemy bombers attack the area and everyone takes cover. She died of esophageal cancer on August 29, 1977 at the age of 54. Facts Verse Two months after Swan Song, she appeared in the play Another Part of the Forest, and she was joined by her friend Patricia Neal. Find recent orders, do a return or exchange, create a Wish List & more. They watch Betty and Judy sing at Novello's, a Florida nightclub. Afterwards, she graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied drama and was a roommate of fellow actress. The musical also toured the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2008. The screen credit "Paramount (with the "P" written in their corporate font) proudly presents the first picture in" first appears over the mountain, and then the VistaVision logo appears, then the Paramount logo plays as usual (with the final notes of the Paramount on Parade march, followed by a bell sound). It was a tour de force performance that earned Hagen an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and cemented her position in, as Lina would say, the cinema firmamint. The family moved to Elkhart, Indiana, when she was 12, and she graduated from Elkhart High School. My dear father's favorite song was "White Christmas," sung by Bing Crosby. Consequently, each company issued a separate "soundtrack recording": Decca issuing Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas, while Columbia issued Irving Berlin's White Christmas. (The first edition of Vera-Ellen's biography by David Soren made the mistake of suggesting that "perhaps" Clooney sang for Vera in "Sisters". "Is that George Chakiris?" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The two got along amazingly well, and they stuck together as best friends for many long years. Director Michael Curtiz has made his picture look good. [4] Using her maiden name (Jean Verhagen), she played Betty Webster on Those Websters. Jean was incredibly surprised that she landed the role because it was entirely different from her previous roles up to that point. "[9]) It was not possible to issue an "original soundtrack album" of the film, because Decca Records controlled the soundtrack rights, but Clooney was under exclusive contract with Columbia Records. True stardom eludes her over the course of her career as a result of racism that she experiences professionally. I discovered later that theyd tested loads of actresses before they decided on me. Thats when she started drinking. The delay did not hurt Hagen, who within a few months was reunited with Judy Holliday in Adams Rib (1949) in which she played the home-wrecking Beryl Caighn. Hagen and her family moved to Elkhart, Indiana when she was twelve; she subsequently graduated from Elkhart High School. Jean began acting in the sit-com television show Make Room for Daddy (which was later renamed The Danny Thomas Show). And in one scene wereKathy Selden(Debbie Reynolds) is dubbingLina Lamont(Jean Hagen),Hagenis actually dubbing Reynolds dubbingHagenon screen for just one line." Later, Bob discovers Waverly received a rejection letter to his request to rejoin the army. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. After the war, the two make it big, first as performers, then as producers, launching a hit musical, Playing Around. The film was the first to be shot using Paramount's new VistaVision process, with color by Technicolor, and was one of the first to feature the Perspecta directional sound system at limited engagements. Facts Verse Producers Hope White Christmas Will Play Broadway This Year", "White Christmas Will Make Broadway Debut in November, Playing to Early 2009", "Snow in L.A.! January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by A born actress. Hagen was watching screen tests with Huston for Louis Calherns mistress and Marilyn Monroe came on the screen. A new logo, created especially for wide-screen, this logo appears more realistic and features a shot of a canyon with trees around it. She enters Hollywood at the age of only 14. We used to put on plays in our basement in Chicago. Noticed him the very first time. 2. [6] Financially, the film was a partnership between Crosby and Irving Berlin, who shared half the profits, and Paramount, which got the other half.[7]. The cleft in his chin. People all over the country mourned her death, but nothing could bring back the unique talent and spirit of Jean Hagen. Though the film was shot in 1949, it was held up for release until the next year. She was also very professional, but obviously not in a happy mood, particularly. Its unclear who Hagen was mourning, but very likely it was the end of her marriage. [7] Just before shooting was to begin, O'Connor had to drop out due to illness and was replaced by Danny Kaye, who asked for and received a salary of $200,000 and 10% of the gross. Although her role as a home-wrecker was upstaged by the wonderful performances of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Jean knew that she had found her calling. Once again on Christmas Eve, the soldiers surprise General Waverly with another rousing chorus of "The Old Man" when he arrives at the show, bringing him to tears. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by Trudy Stevens provided the singing voice for Vera-Ellen, including in "Sisters". Let us know in the comments below! The following year, she guest-starred on The Andy Griffith Show in the episode "Andy and the Woman Speeder". Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn. Who Is Jean Hagen's Husband? Originally, Gloria Wood was going to do Vera-Ellen's singing until Clooney intervened on behalf of her friend. The character Lina Lamont was a failed actress with an awful singing voice and a ditzy personality. She told me the only reason that she took this film was that she was sooo lost without this person she said she would do anything to get her mind off of it. Certainly he [Crosby] has never had a more facile partner than Kaye against whom to bounce his misleading nonchalance. Hagens alcoholism reached a point where she ended up in a coma at UCLA Medical Center in 1968 with the doctors only giving her a few weeks to live. Thats why that part is so dynamic and so wonderful., Ironically, Hagen preferred dramatic roles over comedy or hard-boiled because she grew weary of the typecasting. However, Betty accepts a gig in New York and leaves. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! They didnt get a ditzy blonde to play the part; they got a great actress to play the ditzy blonde. "[18] Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times positively reviewed the film as a "great, big, physically glittering, two-hour Technicolor musical that sounds like a dream production with a dream cast. If this isn't the all-time great Christmas movie, it's pretty close! She also had supporting roles in Sunrise at Campobello (1960) and Dead Ringer (1964).Sadly, by the 1960s, Ms. Hagen's health had declined and she spent many years under medical care. Huston turned to Hagen and asked Her? Hagen replied, Yep. Unfortunately for Hagen, Monroe got all the attention. Betty and Bob, however, argue about Bob's cynicism, and the fact it was actually Judy who wrote the letter instead of Ben. The Irving Berlin songs are, of course, an important part of the attraction, and all are tuneful. Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States. For example, one of the lines of the original song is: Free the only thing worth fighting for is to be free. There are, however, spots where it becomes quite slow and boresome, the slowness in the action being caused by the many rehearsals in preparation of the big show. Born on August 3, 1923 in United States of America, Jean Hagen started her career as actress (1923-1977) . Phil and Bob decide to invite some of the cast of Playing Around to Pine Tree to stage a show to draw in the guests and include Betty and Judy in the show. If she hadnt died so young, do you think Jean Hagen would have lost her acting career later in life, or do you think she would have rekindled it? It needed a brand new story, one that made sense." Trudy Stevens did the singing for Vera-Ellen inWhite Christmas. Her husband is Tom Seidel (12 June 1947 - 1 November 1965) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Jean Hagen Net Worth Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Drama was her major when she attended Northwestern University. Her character had returned to New York City (because she was angry with the Bing character) and was singing at the Carousel Club. Emma relays Ed's idea to Betty, saying the idea is Bob's. Of course, Marilyn Monroe was an instant hit among the producers, and Jean was extremely nervous that she wouldnt even land a role in the film. Hagen married Tom Seidel, an actor (later an agent), in 1947 while she was appearing in the play Dear Ruth in Connecticut summer stock. 1. After graduating from Elkhart High School, Jean went on to pursue her love of drama at Northwestern University. Upon arriving in Vermont, they find all the tourists have left due to no snow and unseasonably warm weather. Born Jean Shirley Verhagen in Chicago, Illinois, she attended Northwestern University, studying drama and music. She battled with cancer for many long years, and while the symptoms were occasionally lenient enough for her to act in a few more minor roles, she eventually succumbed to the disease on August 29, 1977. She gave birth to a lovely daughter, who she named Christine Patricia, in honor of her best friend, Patricia Neal. August 20, 2021, 4:36 pm, by Get sneak previews of special offers & upcoming events delivered to your inbox. New generations of fans fall in love with the iconic sitcom by watching its reruns. By 1953, she had joined the cast of the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy. 12-14-2018 (C) 2020 Honest OG Recording, LLC, under exclusive license to Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment#WhiteChristmas #MeghanTrainor #SethMacFarlane #AVeryTrainorChristmas It didnt work. Can you believe how tiny Vera Ellen's waist is? However, while some celebrities have long and fulfilling careers, others are less fortunate. I spotted George the first time I saw the movie. The film was reissued in a 4-disc "Diamond Anniversary Edition" on October 14, 2014. And I cant remember when Jean wasnt interested in acting. LaVerne went on to explain that she and her sister would perform plays in their basement together when they were very young. Patricia Neal wrote in her autobiography that Hagen went to Germany "'for laetrile, a supposed cure unavailable in the United States. April 21, 2021, 6:57 am, by The film, starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, was a hit and helped Hagen enormously. Thomas, who also produced the show, reportedly did not appreciate Hagen's departure, and her character was killed off rather than recast, the first TV character to be killed off in a family sitcom. The Shaggy Dog. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. It then headed to the Sunderland Empire in Sunderland from November 2010 to January 2011 after a successful earlier run in Manchester, and continued in various cities with a London West End run at the end of 2014. She felt she was being type-casted by MGM, and it grew tiresome after a while. Vera-Ellen was well known for her dancing. The colors on the big screen are rich and luminous, the images are clear and sharp, and rapid movements are got without blurringor very littlesuch as sometimes is seen on other large screens. On the whole the action is pleasing and it puts the spectator in a happy frame of mind. But she was bubbly and bright and so much the way I remembered her from the old days.'"[9][10]. [13] It was also the highest-grossing musical film at the time,[14] and ranks among the top 100 popular movies of all time at the domestic box office when adjusted for inflation and the size of the population in its release year of 1954. But another health problem replaced it; throat cancer. Actress who became famous for her Academy Award nominated role in the 1952 classic film Singing in the Rain. My all-time favorite Christmas was, is, and always will be, "White Christmas." They gave her a test the next morning and quickly signed to an MGM contract. [11] Crosby and Kaye also recorded another Berlin song ("Santa Claus") for the opening WWII Christmas Eve show scene, but it was not used in the final film. According to Ray Hagen, Thomas objected to her preference for sloppy clothes and jeans on rehearsal days, at one point admonishing her to for Gods sake, put on high heels, put on a little lipstick, when network exec Robert Kinter was about to visit the set. Here is all you want to know, and more! White Christmas was intended to reunite Crosby and Fred Astaire for their third Irving Berlin showcase musical. She then appeared as Elizabeth in the 1960 episode "Once Upon a Knight" on The DuPont Show with June Allyson; Also in 1960, Hagen was Marie Brandt on Wagon Train in the episode "The Marie Brandt Story"; and in 1963 Hagen portrayed Sarah Proctor on Wagon Train in the episode The Sarah Proctor Story. While she was in college, Jean met and became roommates with Patricia Neal, who would go on to become an incredibly famous actress. Adam's Rib. Hagen and her family moved to Elkhart, Indiana when she was twelve; she subsequently graduated from Elkhart High School. He had hoped it would help alleviate her dependency, but it only made things worse. By 1946 she was a cigarette girl in a nightclub, then an usher at the Booth Theater. See production, box office & company info. She appeared in the film noir Side Street (1950), playing a gangster's sincere but dim girlfriend. In the first dressing room scene, Judy is pouring coffee for herself and Betty and clearly puts down the coffeepot. In addition, "Count Your Blessings" earned the picture its own Oscar nomination in the same category. She began to drink so heavily that she fell into a coma in 1968. The next time you watch the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" look for George Chakiris in the Marilyn Monroe "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" number as he's one of the dancers in that sequence.