The first time I ever saw Jean Arthur was in the late '40s Billy Wilder film A Foreign Affair, and I just couldn't stand her at all. You could blame it on her role (a goody-goody no make-up wearing Iowa Republican), but I thought she was terrible with her screechy voice and tightly pulled-back hair. Of course costarring with an aging but still glamorous Marlene Dietrich didn't help her any.
Unfortunately I happened to catch her first in her least likeable role. Because a few years later when I went through a Frank Capra phase (it was 2003 and it seemed like everyone was going crazy and those movies were the ones that made me feel better about the whole thing) I absolutely fell in love with her. Not because of the clothes she wore or her glamorousness (she was pretty but never really a glamor girl) but because of her no-nonsense personality and even that screechy voice that had grated on me years earlier.
She was at her best in the 1930s, when good roles for women were at their peak. I loved her as the career girl who was too smart for her own good, certainly smarter than her naive male leads like James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gary Cooper in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. She played fast-talking reporters and political analysts with the best of them and she was actually believable in those roles. As with Barbara Stanwyck, you could really see her as a cynical newspaper woman cracking jokes in an all male office.
In the '30s she was one of the biggest stars around, but when the 1940s came along and brought much more conventional roles for women Jean lost a lot of her magic as she had to play second fiddle to her male costars. She could still be clever--just not too clever. And her old career girl parts got softened down--like most Hollywood actresses of the time, she had to grow out her hair, become more feminine, put love and family above all else.
Jean hated the 1940s dumbing-down of women as much as anyone else. She had feminist ideals but more than anything was a rebel who didn't like to be told what to do. This might be why I like her most--she reminds me a lot of Louise Brooks, another girl too smart for her own good who didn't really feel like playing the Hollywood game. Jean was intensively private, hardly ever gave interviews. She was an introvert who at dinner parties was most likely to go off by herself with a book rather than sit at a table pretending to like people she didn't care for.
For all of this she got a reputation as something of an oddball. And deservedly so. The fantastic biography Jean Arthur: The Actress Nobody Knew opens up with a story about a 60-something year old Arthur getting thrown into jail for cursing at a police officer who had come to her house after her neighbors complained about her. Jean, an animal lover, had trespassed into their yard a few times to console a chained-up dog that she felt sorry for. And she didn't feel guilty for trespassing at all. She just called the officer "goddamned stupid" and ended up going to court because of it.
Now Jean Arthur is a big inspiration to me not because of her fashion sense but because of her independant and devil-may-care personality. Actually I'd like to summon up some of her courage for a dog rescue plan of my own. Down the road there is a lovely, lovely house from the 1920s that was recently remodeled only to be moved into by a pack of party-throwing, littering frat kids who took the lovely '20s porch and decorated it with beer coolers and red plastic cups. And these jocks just happen to own a dog that can't even bark since they removed its voicebox. Knowing them, they probably had it done because they thought it would be funny.
I wish I could call up the local Humane Society, but I don't know if I could for a procedure that was probably done legally by a (deadbeat) veterinarian. So I think that I want to try to get back at the jocks. Though in a way that won't get me thrown into jail--I'm not quite as brave as Jean Arthur, I guess. Any ideas?
26 comments:
Jean Arthur is my favorite actress! I remember in one of my film classes on sound last year the professor showed a clip from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to prove a point about vocal tonality and a few classmates of mine said that she had the worst voice they had ever heard. I was fuming! I think her voice is endearingly sweet, perfectly soft when she's in love, and sharp as a dagger when need be! I especially love her as Alice in You Can't Take It With You! I hope I grow up to be like her ;)
I think you should definitely help out the poor pup! You're the best lady for the job!
oh, she is inspiring!
that dog breaks my heart, you may be able to call in and place an anonymous claim that a dog down the street that has a removed voicebox, may be neglected by it's young frat party owners. I'm not really sure what else to say, unless you witness something, but that scares me.
I love Jean Arthur! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of my favorites!!
your dog story is so sad! i'm not sure what i would do besides just break in the backyard and steal it right from those undeserving owners.
i saw this article and thought of you when they mentioned galena.
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-23873572;_ylc=X3oDMTF2aDI3dGZsBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA3ByZXR0eXRvd25zLTIwMDgtMTAtOA--
I've never even heard of such a thing as having a dog's voicebox removed until today. Now that is so horrible and cruel. They shouldn't have gotten a pet in the first place. They don't deserve to have one. For all I know, their boisterous ways are far worse than that poor dog's barks. What if their own voices were taken away from them?
Perhaps the people in your neighborhood could sign a petition letter or something.
I found this so intersting – I LOVE that the personality is more interesting here than, say, the clothes (though I love those too). She sounds great.
About the dog – people like that make my skin crawl. Perhaps you could ask a local vet if anything can be done? I definitely think it is worth doing something. :)
Fantastic post! Very interesting! I recently watched Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Jean Arthur was lovely with such an unique voice.
I am so sorry and saddened to hear about the dog. I hope you can do something to help. This website has some information for Georgia.
www.humaneassociationofgeorgia.org
About the dog...back then when i was teenager me and my parents had stolen a little white dog. She was kept on a huge chain, without fresh water, not to mention food...so it was like action from action movies...and now the dog has a great family (my parents' friends), tasty food and lives without chain...and actully i don't have any stings of remorse at all :D im even bit proud of myself ;)
Story about removing voicebox is just to horryfing to image for me...but im not encourage u to breaking the law...not at all ;)
kiss from krakow!
some owners force their dog into a kind of "barking fight", something that exactly such kids would do for fun. if its a big dog, u know those rather more aggressive and barking types, kids make dogs bark at each other for hmm.. hours? the dog can get throat/voicebox cancer as the throat/voicebox bleeds a lot after those barking "sessions". so it gets removed after a while by a vet. i mean, maybe thats the story behind it, esp if the dog is old.
but other than that (i mean, a need for medical surgery) removing the voicebox shouldnt be allowed. some people do it just because their dog barks too much and wakes them up. hard to put a proof cos the surgery is already done.
i think the best thing is asking them. really. maybe it was really necessary. or even if they lie, it would be easy to tell. or im too naive :)
Awww... that part about the dog is breaking my heart! :( We lived next door to a poor, neglected dog for a few months once: all we could ever do was go over and visit it, and try to make sure it was as comfortable as possible. I think if nothing else, perhaps calling around to the local animal rescue groups might get a lead for what you can do!
I love Jean Arthur as well, though I didn't know much about her outside of my favorite films she starred in! (Have you seen "You Can't Take it With You"? Definitely one of my favorites... it's just so crazy! lol)
i like this post a lot.
and i agree, even if the procedure was legal, the dog is still probably being neglected. the people wouldn't know you called.
i think you might want to make other people in your neighbourhood aware of the dog's situation.
maybe stick a flyer in everyone's mailbox letting them know about the poor puppy's situation - and ask them to keep an eye out for anything.
the more documented cases you can collect of abuse or neglect, the better chance you'll have of getting that dog out of there and into a loving home.
aw this is wonderful post! So interesting and well written! I think Jean Arthur is such a cutie! I have yet to see the Mr. Smith movies, but they're on my list!
I love that about her personality...that whole strong, independant lady with sharp talking wit in the newsroom! I think that's so great! Those types of films are the best!
The story about the dog is heartbreaking. I think it's also disgusting that such a beautiful home should go to waste. I definitly agree with others that you should raise awareness in the town. Maybe pull little tricks on them that would just spook them...like replacing their red cups with dainty little paper cups. haha that sounds silly..but who knows, maybe it would be enough to creep them out!
As for the dog, I think the best thing to do is keep your eye on it and if you witness anything to report it right away to the Human Society. It's really awful and disgusting that they did that! I've always thought that that was the worst thing ever. I can't even imagine...
xx
That poor dog! It reminds me of the collie that lived in the yellow house just down the street from us. That poor thing couldn't bark either. We all felt so bad for it and suspected the owners of abusing her/him. I remember it just disappeared one day and the owners didn't even seem to care. We were all heartbroken thinking that the dog ran away or the owners killed it only to discover that your neighbor (I think their last name was Moony) had taken the dog and tried to claim it as theirs. They might have been questionable, but at least the dog was in better care than it was before with the old owners.
Calling the Humane Society would at least bring someone out to look at the dog. Or you could pull a Moony and take the dog yourself... the second one sounds a little more exciting.
Good luck with everything! Let me know how it works out
Jean Arthur. Amazing. No need to say more.
I love Jean Arthur. Beautiful woman through and through.
I totally support your desire to help out that poor dog. I have a penchant for rescuing animals too! Maybe a midnight commando raid of some sort?
I gave you a blog award, here.
that story about the dog is so sad! why would you remove a dog's voice box?! That should be outlawed. You might be able to call a local SPCA and perhaps they would at least investigate or something? stupid frat boys!
I have a question for you, too. Is there any special place where you get all the old movies you watch? Do you own them all or do you watch them on tv or online? I have a hard time finding easy access to old movies but I love them so much! Usually I just watch TCM.
I volunteer at my local Humane Society and I think you should call them.
I've never heard of a dog having its voicebox removed, so it was probably done illegally. It sounds like they're probably mistreating it so I would call. I know the Humane Society is sometimes involved in raids on people's houses with Animal Control.
Hi Rhiannon. I've been reading your blog for a while, but have yet to comment. I have to say, I really enjoyed your post about Jean Arthur! I've never seen any of her movies, but am inspired to now. She sounds like a very interesting woman!
As far as your puppy situation, I have to say that the ends definitely justify the means. I don't understand why people have pets when they're unwilling to enjoy their company and love and take care of them. Whether legal or illegal, that surgery is incredibly inhumane. Call your local humane society or animal control office and let them know! If nothing is done, well... I think there's nothing wrong with a secret rescue mission... ;) Good luck!
My neighbors had a dog tied up day and night to a tetherball pole set right in the middle of their cement driveway. The poor dog never got any attention or love. A family friend of mine noticed this, so one night, she 'kidnapped' the huskie. What did she do with it? She gave it to Ceaser Millan, the dog whisperer! He noticed that the huskie had potential, and gave her proper training and lots of love. When he was done working with her, he gave her to...Will Smith!!!! hahaha my neighbors have NO idea that their neglected dog is now owned by a movie star! I hope that poor pup is helped out! Hanne
oh i love her so! have you seen "you can't take it with you"? it's actually one of my favorite movies. ..also recently revisited mr. smith and she really is something. :)
that poor dog! i hope you can scheme up something!
I once read an article about a homeowner's association that forced a family to have their dog's vocal cords cut because his barking was not allowed in the code. That may have been what happened to that dog before he got to the frat house.
You know, a lot of the time people don't even want their dogs anymore; they just feel an obligation and they don't want the social stigma of giving their dog to a shelter 'just because'(or they are too lazy find another owner).
Have you tried just asking for the dog? Tell them you fell in love with it? Would love to baby it? Have you offered to "babysit" the dog while they are in class. I bet they'd forget about it after awhile and then it would be your puppy.
You alway catch more bees with honey than vinegar.
You never know.
On the Yahoo! Travel link from copperoranges, they mention Galena. Did you know that "eighty five percent of Galena's buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places"? How interesting! I must go!
She looks like she's got a lot of sass, which I love.
jean arthur is one my favorites. i actually loved her voice instantly. loved her in mr. smith goes to washington and you can't take it with you. she was also in a great western in the 50s called shane. i'm also a huge capra lover. he may be the greatest hollywood director ever. have you seen lost horizon? mind blowing.
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