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ANN SHERIDAN
AND FILM NOIR


Ann Sheridan made significant contributions to the film noir genre during her career in Hollywood. While she is often associated with her roles in romantic comedies and musicals, Sheridan demonstrated her versatility by starring in several notable film noir movies.

One of her most prominent film noir roles came in the 1942 film "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Although not a typical film noir, it incorporated elements of the genre, such as dark humor and complex characters. Sheridan played the role of Maggie Cutler, the loyal secretary and love interest of the main character, played by Monty Woolley. Her performance added depth and complexity to the film, showcasing her ability to navigate the gray areas between light and shadow.

Another notable film noir in which Sheridan starred was "Nora Prentiss" (1947). In this film, she played the title character, a femme fatale who becomes involved in a passionate affair with a married man. Sheridan portrayed Nora with a mix of allure and vulnerability, capturing the essence of a classic noir anti-heroine. Her performance added layers of intrigue to the film and contributed to its dark and atmospheric tone.

Sheridan also appeared in "Woman on the Run" (1950), a lesser-known but highly regarded film noir. In this movie, she portrayed a woman who becomes a key witness in a murder investigation. Her character's journey through the seedy underbelly of San Francisco showcased Sheridan's ability to navigate the morally ambiguous world of film noir.

While Ann Sheridan may not be considered a quintessential film noir actress, her performances in these films demonstrated her range and talent in the genre. Her ability to portray complex and alluring characters added depth to the narratives and contributed to the overall atmospheric tone of the films.

AVAILABLE FILMS:


ALCATRAZ ISLAND (1937)
ANGELS WASH THEIR FACES (1939)
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938)
APPOINTMENT IN HONDURAS (1953)
BLACK LEGION (1937)
BOLERO (1934)
CAR 99 (1935)
CASTLE ON THE HUDSON (1940)
CITY FOR CONQUEST (1940)
DODGE CITY (1939)
DOUGHGIRLS, THE (1944)
EDGE OF DARKNESS (1943)
GLASS KEY, THE (1935)
IT ALL CAME TRUE (1940)
JUKE GIRL (1942)
MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, THE (1941)
MISSISSIPPI (1935)
MYSTERY HOUSE (1938)
NORA PRENTISS (1947)
PATIENT IN ROOM 18, THE (1938)
RUMBA (1935)
SAN QUENTIN (1937)
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY (1934)
THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS (1943)
THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT (1940)
THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL (1939)
UNFAITHFUL, THE (1947)
WOMAN ON THE RUN (1950)

VIDEO TRIBUTE:


Ann Sheridan


Ann Harding
Ann Sheridan was born Clara Lou Sheridan, the name under which she was billed in 1934 and part of 1935. At 18 she won a “Search for Beauty” contest, and was rewarded with a bit part in a film by that name (1934). Signed to a contract, she appeared in small roles in more than 20 films throughout the next two years. She changed her first name and, in 1936, switched studios to Warner Bros., which launched a publicity campaign hyping her as the sexy “Oomph Girl.” Sheridan went on to a very busy career in better roles, usually cast as a wise, practical girl; her work in King’s Row (1942) best demonstrated her acting ability and opened the door to a wider variety of parts.

She grew into a leading star who could adapt to any role. She was put into a lot of comedies, many of which were quite forgettable, but the public loved her, and critics began to take notice of her after terrific performances in Torrid Zone (1940) and as the saucy waitress who marries George Raft in They Drive by Night (1940). She was also singled out for another standout performance in Kings Row (1942) with future politician Ronald Reagan. She starred with Cary Grant in Howard Hawks screwball comedy I Was a Male War Bride (1949). As she entered the 1950s, however, her career went into a decline. She was aging -- as was sadly evident in her last film, the turgid Woman and the Hunter (1957) -- and a crop of younger actresses coming up meant her services were no longer in demand.

She moved to New York and took whatever acting jobs she could find, whether on stage or TV. Most soap opera fans may remember her in Another World (1964), but she is best remembered by TV audiences as Henrietta Hanks in the western comedy Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats (1966). Her career was taking off again, but the success was short-lived. Ann died on January 21, 1967, in San Fernando Valley, California, of cancer. She didn’t get to live out her series’ first season. She was 51.

Quotes:

"I used to go to Grauman's Chinese or Pantages and sit there waiting to see my faceless body on the screen. Texas began to look awfully near and awfully good, and "Clara Lou" had a sweet sound to my ears."

"I can whistle through my fingers, bulldog a steer, light a fire with two sticks, shoot a pistol with fair accuracy, set type, and teach school . . ."

"They nicknamed me "The Oomph Girl", and I loathe that nickname! Just being known by a nickname indicates that you're not thought of as a true actress . . . It's just crap! If you call an actress by her looks or a reaction, then that's all she will ever be thought of as."

[on Errol Flynn] "He was one of the wild characters of the world, but he had a strange, quiet side. He camouflaged himself completely. In all the years I knew him, I never really knew what lay underneath and I doubt if many people did."


- Ann Sheridan

Trivia:

​After making San Quentin (1937), in which they played brother and sister, she and Humphrey Bogart became friends and began referring to each other as "Sister Annie" and "Brother Bogie".

Was considered for the role of Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942), but Ingrid Bergman was cast instead.

She was the original choice for Panama Smith in The Roaring Twenties (1939), which eventually went to Gladys George.

Was Frank Capra's first choice for the role of Ann Mitchell in Meet John Doe (1941), but she was vetoed by Warner Brothers in a contract dispute.

Due to her being known as "The Oomph Girl", she later became the inspiration for the brand of woman's house-slippers called "Oomphies".

Warner Bros. was eager to portray her as a "Girl about town", so her contract demanded that she hit the nightclubs at least three times a week.

According to an article in "The Newark Evening News", she kept busy during her 1941 strike from Warner Bros. by rebuilding abandoned cars at a friend's garage.
Explore the simpler time of yesteryear... 
A time when men and women were truly glamorous. A time when you could watch any movie with your children and not have to worry about gratuitous sex or violence – yet enjoy all the lustful inferences and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
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*** new features ***

Film Noir: The Men
Meet the hard-boiled detectives, cynical antiheroes, and ruthless villains
Film Noir: The Women
Meet Hard-Boiled Women, good girls gone bad, and femme fatales
Film Noir: The Directors
Meet the master storytellers who weave their ill-fated tales in an unforgiving dark, shadowy world.

Picture
Meet The Women who pushed the boundaries of moral, social, and artistic conventions... 
Part I
Part II