Marsha Hunt: On Making Lemonade When Life Handed Her Lemons
This past October 17, my dear friend, actress and social activist Marsha Hunt turned 90 years old. Her past few months have been a constant state of activity as the tributes to her seemed never-ending.
Turner Classic Movies honored her with a tribute, showing eight of her films on her birthday. In Beverly Hills, the preservation group Hollywood Heritage held a screening of one of her favorite starring films, the 1946 MGM romantic comedy A Letter for Evie, ending with a party.
The following day she received the "Ambassador of Peace" award from the Women’s Federation for World Peace, USA in recognition of her groundbreaking work with the United Nations. And she has just returned from a doll convention in Pittsburgh where a collector’s edition doll created in her image and wearing copies of Marsha’s film costumes was introduced — and where more birthday greetings were lovingly delivered.
Then there are the book signings. She put together a one-of-a-kind coffee-table book called The Way We Wore: Styles of the 1930s and ’40s and Our World Since Then, a collection of movie and modeling stills from her career accompanied by stories of her life and films.
Also, Marsha has added the title "record producer" to her list of credits by producing her first CD. Called "Songs from the Heart" and featuring Tony London with the Page Cavanaugh Trio, it features songs from the American Songbook. A songwriter herself, Marsha wrote two songs that are featured on the CD. (Her good friends, legendary songwriters Ray Evans and Hugh Martin picked songs of theirs for Tony to perform on the CD.)
But the biggest news of all is that Marsha has a film coming out in January, in which she plays a very dark film noir character.
The Grand Inquisitor is a film noir short set to premiere at the sixth annual Noir City Film Noir Festival in January in San Francisco. Marsha Hunt, the actress, will be gloriously rediscovered when The Grand Inquisitor is shown at film festivals around the world in 2008.
I am currently directing and co-producing, with Richard Adkins, a feature documentary on this ordinary woman who achieved the extraordinary in her life. Of all the projects I’ve worked on in this business, none has meant more to me than this one. Her story must be told. If I may, I’d like to give you the "Cliff Notes" version of her brilliant career and life achievements.
In May, 1935, 17-year-old Marsha Hunt was on top of the world. As a John Robert Powers model in New York, she had a dream of becoming an actress that was about to come true. She came to the West Coast and discovered four studios clamoring to sign her to a contract. She decided on Paramount Pictures.
Dubbed the "youngest character actress in America," Marsha began her career as a leading lady with a salary of $250 a week, more money than other Paramount hopefuls of the time. In 1939, she switched to MGM, Hollywood’s most successful studio, where she continued to flourish, making 24 pictures on the Culver City lot over a seven-year period.
With her soldier husband overseas, Marsha became more involved in the war effort. In addition to making eight war-related films, she worked every Saturday night at the Hollywood Canteen, dancing and signing autographs for some five thousand soldiers. She raised money on war bond tours, visited and performed for the wounded at military camps and hospitals, and trained as a volunteer ambulance driver. She is most proud of the fact that she sang and danced for soldiers during a six-week USO tour of the Arctic.
John Ireland and Marsha Hunt in Anthony Mann’s 1948 film noir Raw Deal.
Following the end of both the war and her MGM contract, Marsha continued collecting film credits, working in films for United Artists, Universal, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Columbia. She also added live theater to her repertoire, making her stage debut on Broadway in 1948, playing opposite Alfred Drake in Joy to the World.
She would find success in five more Broadway shows through the years. Life magazine featured her on the cover of its March 6, 1950, issue, doing a "day in the life" story about the young actress’ experience in her second Broadway show The Devil’s Disciple.
Having done radio since the ’30s, Marsha was in demand for radio plays in both New York and Hollywood. She is best known for performing on the Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show. Guest spots on that new medium — television — followed. In 1949, a dramatic Marsha Hunt received a rave review from the New York Times for her portrayal of Viola in the first live, coast-to-coast production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, while a comic Marsha Hunt was the featured guest on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows not once but twice, in 1950 and 1951.
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Tags: A Letter for Evie, ACLU, Adrian Scott, Alfred Drake, Anne Shirley, Anthony Mann, Art Linkletter, Bobby Driscoll, Charles Boyer, Classic Movies, Eric Johnston, George Glass, George McGovern, Hollywood and Art, Hollywood Heritage, Hollywood Ten, House Un-American Activities Committee, Hugh Martin, Jimmy Carter, John Ireland, John Robert Powers, Kurt Kasznar, Louis Jourdan, Marsha Hunt, Marsha Hunt: The Sweet Uses of Adversity, Motion Picture Association of America, Noir City Film Noir Festival, None Shall Escape, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Patrick McGilligan, Paul Buhle, Politics, Pride and Prejudice, Raw Deal, Ray Evans, Red Channels, Richard Adkins, Robert Presnell Jr, Roger C. Memos, Sid Caesar, Stanley Kramer, Tender Comrades, The Grand Inquisitor, The Happy Time, Tony London, United Nations Association
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5 Responses to “Marsha Hunt: On Making Lemonade When Life Handed Her Lemons”
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I’m just learning about Marsha Hunt’s life, and I’m fascinated. I know I was named for her because my mother (deceased) was a fan. Is there an email address to which I could write her?
Marsha Owens
My mother named me after Marsha Hunt, it was my Mom’s favorite actress. What an honor to be named after Marsha Hunt.
Gratefully yours,
Marsha
Hey Rog. What an extraordinary lady! I can see why you are building this documentary now. Keeo up the good work!
Zach
Hi Marsha
So sorry that Marsha Hunt does not have an email address. But you can write to her at 13131 Magnolia Boulevard Sherman Oaks CA 91423.
and to the other Marsha – yes!! Marsha Hunt is an INSPIRATION!! your mom picked a cool lady to name you after! happy new year to all!
roger
As the other two, my mother who was a veteran of WW2 (Navy) also named me after Marsha Hunt. After reading about her, I too, am honored.