Irene Dunne: A Forgotten Legacy
luster to the production with shots of the show boat in glimmering water, strong visuals for the musical numbers and effective close-ups (sometimes startlingly close).
Dunne sings in a clear, simple voice that makes it seem plausible that she could be breaking into song both on and off the stage. Overall, despite a horribly dated number in blackface, she is an appealing presence, capable of playing both romantic and tearfully dramatic scenes at just the right pitch. There are so many moments in the eventful story where she could overplay, but there is not one unnecessary movement in her sensitive and sympathetic performance.
Love Affair (1939)
Directed by: Leo McCarey
Also starring: Charles Boyer, Marie Ouspenskaya, Lee Bowman, Astrid Allwyn
Now well established as a comedic actress, Dunne showed more of her dramatic skills in the first version of the love story that revolves around a meeting at the Empire State Building. This production is far less glossy than An Affair to Remember and often more ironic than sentimental. There are interesting characters to add an edge to the humorous moments: a saucy young boat passenger, nosy society women, a jovial but hapless landlady and an orphanage director known by his wards as "pickle puss." There is also a warm and decisive scene with Boyer's grandmother, played with sweet gravity by Ouspenskaya. Still, despite the richness of the supporting cast, it is the respectful mutual understanding and humorous warmth between lovers Boyer and Dunne that make the movie a classic.
Dunne has two opportunities to sing and both performances are in her strong and simple style. She handles the mixture of comedy and drama well, though she is especially amusing making wisecracks through closed teeth in her first scenes. When the plot turns serious, she speaks her lines with the gravity and sincerity of one who feels true passion. Even in such a rich age as the thirties, there were not many actresses who could maintain the nearly unbearable tension of the final scene so ably.
Books to Read:
Irene Dunne: First Lady of Hollywood , by Wes D. Gehrig
Irene Dunne: A Bio-Bibliography, by Margie Schultz
Websites to Browse:
Irene Dunne: Forgotten Treasure
Irene Dunne Gallery from Bombshells.com
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