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Donna Reed: Roles
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Donna Reed has been called "America's favorite mother" and her recognition as such has stood the test of time. But before she became known as the ultimate mom on The Donna Reed Show, she was already a veteran film actress with almost 40 films to her credit--including roles in It's a Wonderful Life and From Here to Eternity. This book contains a brief biography, a detailed examination of her work, a listing of reviews of her work and of her awards and nominations, a chronology of major events in her life, and an annotated bibliography of writings from major magazines, fan magazines, books and newspapers.
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Reed first gained a foothold in show business, in 1941, with supporting roles in the thriller Shadow of the Thin Man, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy; and the musical Babes on Broadway, featuring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. The two projects proved to be auspicious debuts, winning Reed attention and positive notice. Shortly after, she landed a succession of more substantial parts in popular features, such as Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942) and See Here, Private Hargrove (1944). In 1945, she was featured in her first mainstream role as Gladys Hallward in the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s haunting novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was a box office success despite mixed reviews from critics.
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Donna is perhaps best remembered for her work on her own television series, The Donna Reed Show, which aired from 1958 through 1966. She played the role of an honest, humorous, and nurturing mother much like her real self. Behind the cameras, she was the uncredited producer and director of the show, studying and mastering both lighting and cinematography--roles rarely handled by women of that time. She ... raised four children and was the co-founder of Another Mother for Peace.
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Limited to squeaky-clean parts, Reed endured several more years of unrewarding projects. However in 1956, she staged a remarkable comeback when she was cast in the prized role of Alma, the dancehall prostitute in From Here to Eternity (1953). Featuring the stellar cast of Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr and Frank Sinatra, the film swept the 1954 Oscars securing a total of eight wins, including a Best Supporting Actress Award for Reed.
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