Legends of Classic Hollywood: Rosalind Russell Quiz

Answer: Waterbury, Connecticut

Rosalind Russell was born on June 4, 1907, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her parents were James Edward Russell, and Clare A. Russell. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a teacher.

Answer: A ship

Rosalind Russell was named after a ship called SS Rosalind, on which her parents had traveled. It was a passenger and cargo carrying ship that was run by the Red Cross Line between New York City and St. John's for twelve years, between 1902 and 1914. In 1914, however, SS Rosalind hit the Shag Rocks and sank, although the passengers and most of the cargo were saved.

Answer: American Academy of Dramatic Arts

After completing her college education, Rosalind Russell took admission in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to study acting and drama, as she had planned to make her career in acting. She studied at the academy from 1927 to 1929. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she worked as an actress in some summer stock theater companies and in Broadway, New York City.

Answer: Evelyn Prentice (1934)

After working as a stage actress for a few years, Rosalind Russell made her debut in Hollywood with a role in the movie "Evelyn Prentice". This was an American crime drama film, and it was released in 1934. It stars William Powell and Myrna Loy in the lead roles of John Prentice and Evelyn Prentice respectively. They were huge stars at the time, and had acted together in several movies. "Evelyn Prentice" was directed by William K. Howard.

Rosalind Russell plays the role of Nancy Harrison, a young American socialite who is being tried for manslaughter. Her role in "Evelyn Prentice" was small, but she received good reviews for her performance as Nancy Harrison.

Answer: Craig's Wife (1936)

After her debut film became successful at the box office, Rosalind Russell became very popular, and she started receiving many film offers. One of the most well-known films of the early part of her acting career was "Craig's Wife", which was based on a play of the same name.

"Craig's Wife" is an American drama movie that was released in 1936. It was directed by Dorothy Arzner and produced by Harry Cohn. Rosalind Russell stars in the main role of Harriet Craig, while John Boles plays the role of her husband, Walter Craig. In the movie, Harriet Craig is a self-centered and materialistic woman, who is more interested in wealth and material comforts than looking after her family and household. In fact, she behaves in a callous and inconsiderate manner with her family and the servants of the house. Eventually, in the climax, it is shown that everyone leaves Harriet, as they are annoyed at her behaviour, and she is shown to be living on her own.

Answer: The Women (1939)

"The Women" is a classic Hollywood comedy film that was released in 1939. It is regarded as an all-female movie, because most of the characters in the film were women. Like many of Rosalind Russell's movies, this movie was also based on a play, which was also known as "The Women". The movie was directed by the famous Hollywood director, George Cukor, who had directed many famous movies during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The movie "The Women" stars Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, and several others.

Rosalind Russell plays the role of Sylvia Fowler, while Norma Shearer plays the main role of Mary Haines, a content homemaker and mother whose cousin, Sylvia goes to a new salon to get a new nail polish applied, where the salon's manicurist tells her that Mary's husband is having an affair on the side with a perfume counter girl called Crystal Allen. Sylvia, being a notorious gossip, decides to share the news with Mary's friends, and she also fixes an appointment for Mary with the same manicurist, so that Mary comes to know about her husbands affair.

The film was a huge hit when it was released, and it boosted Rosalind Russell's film career. For the first time, her talent for comedy was noticed in this movie.

Answer: His Girl Friday (1940)

"His Girl Friday" is a classic comedy film that was released in 1940. It was directed by Howard Hawks and stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in the lead roles of newspaper editor Walter Burns and press reporter Hildegarde "Hildy" Johnson. It was the second adaptation of the classic play "The Front Page". Howard Hawks changed the gender of Hildy Johnson, who was a woman in "His Girl Friday".

The movie tells the story of Morning Post editor Walter Burns, who comes to know that his ex-spouse and top reporter, Hildegarde "Hildy" Johnson is engaged and planning to get married to an insurance agent named Bruce Baldwin, played by Ralph Bellamy. Walter Burns, however, doesn't want Hildy to go, and in order to prevent her from doing so, he suggests that he and Hildy should cover one last news story together, which is the upcoming execution of Earl Williams, a bookkeeper convicted for the murder of a policeman. Hildy agrees after a lot of persuasion by Walter, who is hoping to win her back and prevent her from marrying Bruce, as he still loves her. Hildy agrees to do the story because she thinks that it would be a big scoop for her. Thus, Walter and Hildy work on the news story, find out the truth, and somehow manage to save Earl Williams from being executed. During this time, Bruce is also jailed and bailed out several times. Hildy types the story and sends it.

"His Girl Friday" was liked by film critics, who gave it very positive reviews when it was released, and it is regarded by many people as the best film adaptation of the play.

Answer: Auntie Mame (1958)

"Auntie Mame" is an American comedy film that was released in 1958. It is one of Rosalind Russell's later films as an actress. It is set in Manhattan, New York City. It was produced and directed by Morton DaCosta.

In this movie, Rosalind Russell plays the role of Mame Dennis, an eccentric woman, whose nephew Patrick, a small child, comes to live with her after the death of his father. Mame is a lively, energetic woman who frequently organised and hosted parties with eclectic and bohemian people as her guests.

Patrick was quickly exposed to his aunt's eccentric lifestyle, and, as the plot progresses, it is shown that Mame has enrolled him in a school that is run by a friend of hers. Patrick's trustee disapproves of her eccentric lifestyle and wants Patrick to grow up in a normal environment. Thus, he suggests that she should enroll him at a boy's prep school called Bixby's. However, when he finds out that Mame hasn't enrolled Patrick at Bixby's, he sends Patrick to a boarding school and tells Mame that she would be able to see him only during the holidays and summer vacation. As a result of this measure, Patrick studies in a peaceful atmosphere, grows up, and is shown to be leading a more normal lifestyle as an adult.

The film received positive reviews, and it was a huge hit when it was released. Rosalind Russell's performance as Auntie Mame was praised.

Answer: Once

Rosalind Russell was married only once. In 1941, she got married to the Danish-American film producer Fredrick Brisson, who was the son of Danish actor Carl Brisson. They remained married for 35 years, until Rosalind Russell's death in 1976. They also had a son, Carl Lance Brisson, who was born in 1943.

Answer: Charity work

Rosalind Russell was interested in acting, and she gave priority to her film career, but she also started taking part in charity work related to rheumatoid arthritis after she herself suffered from the disease in order to make people aware of the disease. For her charity work, she received the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award" in 1973.