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Gene Tierney: A Beauty With Talent

© K Cruver

The bitter with the sweet makes for a better part.
-Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney was born into a privileged household in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 1920. Her father, Howard, was a successful insurance broker. He and his wife Belle were extraordinarily attractive people; it was obvious where Gene, her older brother Butch, and younger sister Pat had gotten their looks.

The Depression hit Howard's business hard and Gene was soon a society girl in second hand dresses. When she turned fifteen, her father decided that she still needed a proper education in Europe. Gene enjoyed the two years she spent at a Swiss boarding school. She met girls from all over the world and relished her first bit of freedom.

She was surprised to return home to a smaller house. No one in the family had told her of their financial troubles while she was in school. Though she didn't realize it at the time, her parent's marriage was also on the wane.

In the summer of 1938, Howard sent his wife and children on a trip across the country. He stayed behind to work. Belle asked her best friend to watch out for her husband during her absence; she ended up marrying him.

When the family reached Hollywood, Howard's business contacts arranged a series of studio tours for them. On a Warner Brother's tour, a director told Gene that she should be in pictures. She was offered a screen test.

Gene begged her mother for permission to do the test. Belle reluctantly consented. The test was successful, and the studio offered her a contract.

Back home, Howard refused to let his teenaged daughter accept a movie contract. He insisted that if Gene wanted to act, she would have to learn on the stage. They made a deal that he would support her acting ambitions if she would make her society debut. Howard was certain that Gene would lose interest in acting by then.

In the fall of 1938, Gene made her debut. She was officially a member of society and that meant she was frequently invited to lavish parties. One night, at a typical event, Howard asked if she was enjoying herself. Gene pouted, "I am so bored, I think I will die." He realized that he was going to have to keep his promise.

Howard set aside Wednesdays to help Gene with her career. They spent the day talking to agents and producers. No one was impressed that inexperienced Gene had been offered a movie contract. However, Gene had learned from her father how to sell, and she had won a small role in Mrs. O'Brien Entertains within a few weeks.

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