Marjorie Reynolds


Marjorie Reynolds was an American film/television actress and dancer, who appeared in more than 50 films, most notably the 1942 musical Holiday Inn.

Early life

The daughter of a doctor and his wife, Reynolds was born Marjorie Goodspeed in Buhl, Idaho. She acted under the names of both Goodspeed and as Marjorie Moore. When she was 3 years old, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. She began to take dancing lessons at age 4. She attended Los Angeles High School.

Career

Beginning at age 6, Reynolds was a featured child actress in such silent films as Scaramouche. Her first speaking role was in Murder in Greenwich Village. She appeared in bit parts in numerous films including Gone with the Wind.
Reynolds played the loyal girlfriend opposite wrongly accused Richard Cromwell in Enemy Agent. That same year, in The Fatal Hour, Reynolds appeared for Monogram Pictures as a reporter on the trail of Boris Karloff's detective James Lee Wong, and opposite Grant Withers as a cop.
Perhaps her best-known film was Holiday Inn, which introduced the classic song "White Christmas". She performed the song both as a duet with Bing Crosby and later in a solo performance, although her singing was dubbed by Martha Mears. The movie also showcased her dancing ability.
She also had major roles in Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear and in the movie Up in Mabel's Room.Her career progression was hindered by the premature death of her mentor, Mark Sandrich.
Reynolds starred with Abbott and Costello in the supernatural comedy The Time of Their Lives, notable as one of the few films Abbott and Costello did together where they do not appear in the film as a team. Instead, Costello spends most of his screen time with Reynolds, where they play a pair of American Revolution ghosts who need the help of Abbott and his friends to get to Heaven. Leonard Maltin's review of the film describes it as, "Most unusual film for A&C and one of their best...Imaginative, funny, and well done."
She was cast in a supporting role in Mario Lanza's film debut, That Midnight Kiss.
She later appeared in the NBC version of the television series The Life of Riley and appeared on 3 episodes of the television series Leave it to Beaver''.

Personal life

Reynolds was married to Jack Reynolds, a casting director. They had a daughter, Linda, and divorced in 1952. Her second husband was film editor Jon M. Haffen. He died in 1985.

Recognition

Reynolds has a star in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1525 Vine Street.

Death

On February 1, 1997, having suffered from congestive heart disease, she collapsed and died in Manhattan Beach, California, while walking her dog. She was 79 years old. She was survived by one daughter.

Acting credits

Television

YearTitleRoleEpisodeRefs.
1949Hands of MysterySecret Life of a Killer
1951A Case of Marriage
1951Hollywood Theatre TimeSally SandersThe Spectre
1951Racket SquadThe Fabulous Mr. James
1951Gruen Guild TheaterThe Luckiest Guy in the World
1951Gruen Guild TheaterPeril in the House
1952The BlondeThe Slide Rule Blonde
1953NursePeace and Quiet
1955Louise MalcolmThe Fred Malcolm Story
1953-1958Peg Riley76 episodes
1960Barbara's MotherMillionaire Dixon Cooper
1960Shirley Temple's StorybookBettyEmmy Lou
1960Leave It to BeaverMrs. MurdockChuckie's New Shoes
1961Whispering SmithBaby Doll HarrisThe Idol
1961Surfside 6Mrs. PhelpsLittle Star Lost
1962Tales of Wells FargoHelen MapesDon't Wake a Tiger
1962Alcoa PremiereEleanorThe Cake Baker
1962Leave It to BeaverMrs. MurdockBeaver the Babysitter
1962Our Man HigginsDodie BannisterThe Three Faces of Higgins
1963LaramieMrs. ShermanThe Last Battleground
1963Leave It to BeaverMildred GregoryThe All-Night Party
1963Wide CountryKaty BlaufusThe Quest for Jacob Blaufus
1963Our Man HigginsDodie BannisterBlack Thursday
1963Our Man HigginsDodie BannisterThe Milkman Cometh
1969Annie ButterworthLove Comes to Annie Butterworth
1978PearlNurse #3

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorProducerStudio/DistributorOther cast membersRefs.
1923Child B. P. Shulberg Productions, Preferred Pictures, Exclusivité Equitable FilmsKenneth Harlan, Miriam Cooper
1923ScaramoucheBit part Rex IngramMetro-Goldwyn-MayerRamon Novarro, Alice Terry, Lewis Stone
1923TrilbyWaif Richard Walton TullyAssociated First National PicturesAndrée Lafayette, Creighton Hale
1924RevelationChild George D. BakerMetro-Goldwyn-MayerViola Dana, Monte Blue, Lew Cody
1933Wine, Women and SongMarilyn Arnette I. E. ChadwickState RightsLilyan Tashman, Lew Cody
1933College HumorWilliam LeBaronBing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Richard Arlen, Mary Carlisle
1935CollegiateRalph MurphyAdolph ZukorParamount PicturesJack Oakie
1936Adolph ZukorParamount PicturesJack Benny
1936Three Cheers for LoveAdolph ZukorParamount PicturesRobert Cummings, Eleanore Whitney
1936College HolidayStudent William LeBaron, Harlan ThompsonParamountJack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye
1936Dancing PirateMerian C. CooperRKO PicturesRita Hayworth, Frank Morgan, Charles Collins
1937Murder in Greenwich VillageMolly MurphyIrving BriskinColumbia PicturesRichard Arlen, Fay Wray
1937Tex Rides with the Boy ScoutsNorma WillisEdward L. AlpersonGrand National Films Inc.Tex Ritter, Philip Ahn
1938Western TrailsAlicePaul MalvernUniversal PicturesBob Baker
1938Delinquent ParentsEdythe Ellis as a young womanBen N. JudellState RightsDoris Weston
1938Rebellious DaughtersClaireBen N. JudellState RightsVerna Hillie
1938Six Shootin' SheriffMolly MorganMax AlexanderGrand National Films Inc.Ken Maynard
1938Jean GreeleyL. G. LeonardColumbia PicturesBuck Jones
1938Jane AllenTrem CarrUniversal PicturesBob Baker
1938Guilty TrailsJackieTrem CarrUniversal PicturesBob Baker
1938Man's CountryMadge CraneRobert TanseyMonogram PicturesJack Randall
1939Gone with the WindDavid O. SelznickMetro-Goldwyn-MayerVivien Leigh
1939Mr. Wong in ChinatownBobby LoganWilliam T. LackeyMonogram PicturesBoris Karloff, Grant Withers
1939Streets of New YorkAnne CarrollScott R. DunlapMonagram PicturesJackie Cooper
1939Sky PatrolBetty Lou BarnesPaul MalvernMonogram PicturesJackie Coogan, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.
1939Racketeers of the RangeHelen LewisBert GilroyRKO Radio PicturesGeorge O'Brien, Chill Wills
1939Danger FlightBetty LouPaul MalvernMonogram PicturesMilburn Stone, Jacon Robards Sr.
1939Mystery PlaneBetty LouPaul MalvernMonogram PicturesMilburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.
1939Stunt PilotBetty LouPaul MalvernMonogram PicturesMilburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.
1939MaryTrem CarrUniversal PicturesBob Baker
1939Timber StampedeAnne CarrBert GilroyRKO Radio PicturesChill Wills
1940Bobby LoganWilliam T. LackeyMonogram PicturesBoris Karloff, Grant Withers
1940Doomed to DieBobby LoganWilliam T. LackeyMonogram PicturesBoris Karloff, Grant Withers
1940Midnight LimitedJoan MarshallT. R. WilliamsMonogram PicturesJohn 'Dusty' King
1940Chasing TroubleSusieGrant WithersMonogram PicturesFrankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Milburn Stone
1940Up in the AirAnne MasonLindsley ParsonsMonogram PicturesFrankie Darro, Mantan Moreland
1940Enemy AgentPeggy O'ReillyBen PivarUniversal PicturesRichard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, Robert Armstrong
1941Cyclone on HorsebackMary CorbinBert GilroyRKO Radio PicturesTim Holt
1941Dude CowboyBarbara AdamsBert GilroyRKO Radio PicturesTim Holt
1941Margaret SwannLarry DarmourColumbia PicturesJack Holt
1941Robin Hood of the PecosJeanie GraysonJoseph KaneRepublic PicturesRoy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes
1941Secret EvidenceLinda WilsonE.B. DerrProducers Releasing CorporationCharles Quigley
1941Tillie the ToilerBubblesRobert SparksColumbia PicturesWilliam Tracy, Sylvia Field
1941Top Sergeant MulliganGail NashLindsley ParsonsMonogram PicturesNat Pendleton, Carol Hughes, Sterling Holloway
1941Law of the TimberPerry LorimarBernard B. RayProducers Releasing CorporationMonte Blue, J. Farrell MacDonald
1942Holiday InnLinda MasonMark SandrichParamount PicturesBing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Virginia Dale
1943DixieJean MasonPaul JonesParamount PicturesBing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Billy De Wolfe, Clara Blandick, Eddie Foy, Jr.
1943Star Spangled RhythmHerselfJoseph SistromParamount PicturesBing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Mary Martin, Veronica Lake
1944Ministry of FearCarla HilfeBuddy G. DeSylvaParamount PicturesRay Milland, Carl Esmond, Hillary Brooke
19443 Is a FamilyKitty MitchellSol LesserUnited ArtistsCharles Ruggles, Fay Bainter, Hattie McDaniel, Arthur Lake
1944Up in Mabel's RoomGeraldine AinsworthEdward SmallUnited ArtistsCharlotte Greenwood, Gail Patrick, Dennis O'Keefe
1945Bring on the GirlsSue ThomasFred KohlmarParamount PicturesEddie Bracken, Veronica Lake
1945Duffy's TavernPeggy O'MalleyDanny DareParamount PicturesBing Crosby
1946Meet Me on BroadwayAnn StallingsBurt KellyColumbia PicturesFred Brady
1946Monsieur BeaucairePrincess Maria of SpainPaul JonesParamount PicturesBob Hope
1946Melody AllenVal BurtonUniversal PicturesBud Abbott, Lou Costello, Gale Sondergaard
1947Heaven Only KnowsGingerSeymour NebenzalUnited ArtistsRobert Cummings, Brian Donlevy
1949Bad Men of TombstoneJulieMaurice KingKing Brothers ProductionsBarry Sullivan, Broderick Crawford
1949That Midnight KissMaryJoe PasternakMetro-Goldwyn-MayerMario Lanza, Kathryn Grayson
1950Customs AgentLucille GerrardRudolph FlothowColumbia PicturesBenson Fong, William Eythe
1950Martha RollinsBryan FoyWarner Bros.John Archer, David Brian
1950Rookie FiremanMargie WilliamsMilton FeldmanColumbia PicturesBill Williams, Barton MacLane
1951His Kind of WomanHelen CardiganRobert SparksRKO PicturesRobert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price
1951Home Town StoryJanice HuntArthur PiersonMetro-Goldwyn-MayerJeffrey Lynn, Donald Crisp, Alan Hale, Jr.
1952Models Inc.Peggy HowardJack DietzMutual Pictures CorporationHoward Duff, Coleen Gray
1952No Holds BarredRhonda NelsonJerry ThomasMonogram Pictures]Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, David Gorcey, Bernard Gorcey
1956Mobs, Inc.Mary Hale Browne Reed Hadley
1959Juke Box RhythmMartha MantonSam KatzmanColumbia PicturesJo Morrow, Jack Jones, Brian Donlevy
1962MaryKen KennedyEmerson Film Enterprises Inc.George Kennedy

Citations