Friday, July 6, 2012

wacky tacky Icons: Elsa Lanchester


Elsa Lanchester
October 28, 1902 - December 26, 1986

My favorite actors have always been character actors.  While she was a star of great magnetism in her own right, Elsa Lanchester was definitely a character!  Born to vegetarian socialists in Edwardian England, Elsa's fate was sealed as a wacky tacky woman from the moment she entered the world!

Elsa the Exotic!

An early student of Isadora Duncan, the mother of modern dance, Lanchester began her career as a dancer and singer in Britain's iconic music halls.

"Don't Tell My Mother I'm Living in Sin"

In pretty short order she transitioned into silent films; her first credited role was as Beatrice de Carolle in the 1925 film, The Scarlet Woman.

Looking like a proper starlet
(Source)

A pretty safe assumption is that Lanchester's most iconic role is that of Mary Shelley/ The Monster's Bride in the 1930's classic, horror film, Bride of Frankenstein.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Don't you love the hiss?

In an effort to maintain full disclosure, I will admit that I have never seen Bride of Frankenstein in its entirety!  My first exposure to Lanchester was actually her hilarious portrayal of Edna Grundy in the "Off to Florida" episode of I Love Lucy.  In this episode, Lucy and Ethel mistake Grundy for escaped convict and "gray-haired hatchet murderess, Evelyn Holmby."

"I love buttered grass."

I Love Lucy, "Off to Florida" (original air date 10/12/56)
The next thing I can remember Lanchester in is Disney's Mary Poppins.  As Katie Nanna, Lanchester may not have had a major role, but what she lacked in screen time she made up for in scenery-chewing, scene-stealing, outrage!


Mary Poppins (1964)

Lanchester had a long (spanning seven decades) and storied career, to say nothing of her infamous marriage to star of stage and screen, Charles Laughton.  But we know her best for her eccentricity, her charisma, and her outstanding contributions to wacky tacky film festivals.

Bell, Book and Candle (1958)
(Source)

I've never been a Kim Novak fan, but Lanchester, as spooky
Aunt Queenie, definitely makes the film watchable.

Pajama Party (1964)
(Source)

In my VERY favorite of all the AIP beach party movies,
 Lanchester played eccentric Aunt Wendy

That Darn Cat! (1965)
(Source)

As part of the 1960's obsession with nosey neighbors (see Gladys Kravitz),
 Lanchester played the indignant Mrs. MacDougall.

That Darn Cat! (1965)
(Source)

Mrs. MacDougall, herself.

Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)
(Source)

As zany as ever, Lanchester plays pirate progeny,
Emily Stowecroft, in this classic tale of  cursed pirate haunting the living
 and saving the homestead of old ladies from a dubious mob head by
fixing the big track meet, thereby saving his eternal soul and
bringing love to faculty member at the local college!
I LOVE this movie!

I really enjoyed watching these excerpts from her 1970 appearance on "The Dick Cavett Show."  One really gets a sense of her upbringing, her relationship with her husband, and her weirdness.  Dig that crazy medallion/talisman!

"The Dick Cavett Show" (1970) - pt.1

"The Dick Cavett Show" (1970) - pt. 2

Doesn't she look like a bundle of fun?!!
Thanks for your indulgence.  We haven't featured a wacky tacky icon in a long time and having just recently reviewed Blackbeard's Ghost, I have been on an Elsa Lanchester high!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

12 comments:

  1. Oh! I'm so glad you did this post! I read "Elsa Lanchester, Herself" in early high school and was obsessed with her enormous, enormous coal-black eyes and that frizzy red hair, I used to have a photocopy of the cover on my bedroom wall (remember photocopies?).I really think she was beautiful in the thirties', and hilariously on-point for the rest of her career. Have you seen "Witness for the Prosecution"? I never liked Laughton (he was so nasty as Cpt. Bligh, and to Clark Gable of all people!) until I saw that movie and afterwards, I have to admit, I'm a pretty big fan.

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    1. I really like Laughton too. He was another actor that was really willing to play characters instead of just being "a star." He is hilarious in one of my favorites, "It Started with Eve," starring DEANNA DURBIN and Bob Cummings. You know, for years I had put off seeing "Witness for the Prosecution," and just saw it for the first time about a year ago. Why did I wait so long???? It was good!

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  2. Love her! One halloween I was her, as the bride of Frankenstein. People were like, "Oh, bride of Frankenstein." I said, "NO! I'm Elsa Lanchester AS the bride of Frankenstein!!"

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    1. She is one of the greats!!! It makes me happy when I see her in ANYTHING!

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  3. Ya know, I didn't put two and two together on her being the bride of Frankenstein. I've only seen her older works. Cool, thanks.

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    1. She was a working actress and had a very active career in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, but I admit, I love the wacky stuff the best!

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  4. Wow what a beauty! I've never seen Bride of Frankenstein either!

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    1. It is interesting to see some of these people in their heyday; I wouldn't say that she was drop dead gorgeous in "That Darn Cat!" but when you see some of her early pics, she was quite a looker!!

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  5. She was quite a treat! My fav is Bell, Book, and Candle! She was so believable!

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    1. Yeah, it's hard to think of her as anything other than a spooky, if kindly, old witch!

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  6. I didn't even realize i love her! great post! and i need that huge poodle from the pajama party poster!

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    1. If you've never seen "Pajama Party," you must watch it just for the "Stuffed Animal" scene with Annette - awesome 60's stuffed animals!!!

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