Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford, and her actress mother, Lillian Mansfield, Ann was destined for show business. Not long after her birth, her family moved to California, where she made her stage debut in 1925. Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Waterfront Lady (1935). Ann's talent was readily apparent, and she was signed to three films in 1935: Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935), and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends, John Wayne and Gene Autry. By the time Ann was 17, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of Polly Benedict in the popular Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as Polly was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year: Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann found time to play in other productions, too. One that is still loved today is the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol (1938), in which she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past. In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played Careen O'Hara, Scarlett's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it just for Ann. The film was unquestionably a super hit. Ann then resumed making other movies. While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, was under the watchful eye of movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer kept performers' salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was decidedly underpaid during his glory years at MGM. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing him the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise. In 1942 at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and freelanced her talent. Ann was still in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played Gertrude Griswold in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948. After that, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972, in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega hit Titanic (1997) but turned it down. She happily enjoyed her retirement being constantly deluged with fan mail and granting several interviews and appearances. Ann Rutherford died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.
Known For
Credits
- 2009 · 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year as Self (archive footage)
- 1988 · The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind as Self
- 1983 · Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1976 · Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood as Grayson's Studio Secretary
- 1972 · They Only Kill Their Masters as Gloria
- 1972 · The Bob Newhart Show as
- 1969 · Love, American Style as Mrs. Glassmire
- 1958 · The Donna Reed Show as
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Evelyn Cartright Forbes
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Judith Thurston
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Ellen Chase
- 1957 · Perry Mason as Mona Hodge
- 1957 · Panic! as
- 1954 · Climax! as Edith Enders
- 1954 · Climax! as Mary Townsend
- 1954 · Climax! as Bette Sullivan
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as Joan
- 1950 · Operation Haylift as Clara Masters
- 1950 · Robert Montgomery Presents as Lacy Holden
- 1949 · Suspense as Sally Hastings
- 1948 · Adventures of Don Juan as Donna Elena
- 1947 · The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as Gertrude Griswold
- 1946 · Inside Job as Claire Norton
- 1946 · Murder in the Music Hall as Gracie
- 1946 · The Madonna's Secret as Linda 'Morgan' North
- 1945 · Her Favorite Patient as Lola Cross
- 1945 · Two O'Clock Courage as Patty Mitchell
- 1944 · Take It or Leave It as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1944 · Bermuda Mystery as Constance Martin
- 1943 · Whistling in Brooklyn as Carol Lambert
- 1943 · Happy Land as Lenore Prentiss
- 1943 · Show-Business at War as Self
- 1942 · Whistling in Dixie as Carol Lambert
- 1942 · Andy Hardy's Double Life as Polly Benedict
- 1942 · Orchestra Wives as Connie Ward Abbot
- 1942 · The Courtship of Andy Hardy as Polly Benedict
- 1942 · This Time for Keeps as Katherine 'Kit' White
- 1942 · Flag of Mercy as Clara's Student
- 1941 · Badlands Of Dakota as Anne Grayson
- 1941 · Life Begins for Andy Hardy as Polly Benedict
- 1941 · Whistling in the Dark as Carol Lambert
- 1941 · Washington Melodrama as Laurie Claymore
- 1941 · Andy Hardy's Private Secretary as Polly Benedict
- 1940 · Keeping Company as Mary Thomas
- 1940 · Wyoming as Lucy Kincaid
- 1940 · Cavalcade of the Academy Awards as Self
- 1940 · Pride and Prejudice as Lydia Bennet
- 1940 · Andy Hardy Meets Debutante as Polly Benedict
- 1940 · Hollywood: Style Center of the World as Self
- 1940 · The Ghost Comes Home as Billie Adams
- 1940 · Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things as Polly Benedict (uncredited)
- 1939 · Judge Hardy and Son as Polly Benedict
- 1939 · Dancing Co-Ed as Eve Greeley
- 1939 · These Glamour Girls as Mary Rose Wilston
- 1939 · Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever as Polly Benedict
- 1939 · Angel of Mercy as Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)
- 1939 · The Hardys Ride High as Polly Benedict
- 1939 · Gone with the Wind as Carreen O'Hara
- 1939 · Four Girls in White as Patricia 'Pat' Page
- 1938 · A Christmas Carol as Spirit of Christmas Past
- 1938 · Dramatic School as Yvonne
- 1938 · Out West with the Hardys as Polly Benedict
- 1938 · Love Finds Andy Hardy as Polly Benedict
- 1938 · Judge Hardy's Children as Polly Benedict
- 1938 · Of Human Hearts as Annie Hawks
- 1937 · You're Only Young Once as Polly Benedict
- 1937 · The Bride Wore Red as Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)
- 1937 · The Devil Is Driving as Kitty Wooster
- 1937 · Public Cowboy No. 1 as Helen Morgan
- 1937 · Carnival in Paris as Lisette
- 1937 · Espionage as Train Passenger
- 1936 · Annie Laurie as Annie Laurie
- 1936 · Down to the Sea as Helen Pappas
- 1936 · The Lonely Trail as Virginia Terry
- 1936 · The Harvester as Ruth Jameson
- 1936 · Comin' 'Round the Mountain as Dolores Moreno
- 1936 · Doughnuts and Society as Joan Dugan
- 1936 · The Lawless Nineties as Janet Carter
- 1936 · The Oregon Trail as Anne Ridgeley
- 1935 · The Singing Vagabond as Lettie Morgan
- 1935 · The Fighting Marines as Frances Schiller
- 1935 · Melody Trail as Millicent Thomas
- 1935 · Waterfront Lady as Joan O'Brien
- 1934 · Student Tour as Student