Scene Stealers: Thelma Ritter
Filed under: Classics, Fandom, Scene Stealers
I don't think it's a stretch to say that Thelma Ritter was a genius of sorts. Nondescript in appearance, middle-aged, sporting a constantly-irritated expression and the kind of Brooklyn accent actors are no longer allowed to have, she spent her entire career stealing both scenes and entire films -- Rear Window, Pillow Talk, The Misfits, The Mating Season, etc. etc. etc. -- from glamorous, big-name stars. She stole them, however, not through hamminess or attention-getting ticks. Instead, she was simply so real, and so convincing that it was impossible to meet her on screen, and then forget her. Once spotted, we instantly want to know everything about her character: Where is she from? Does she live alone? Why is she so pissed off? Or, alternately, why does she pretend to be so pissed-off when we know her heart is broken?Ritter was nominated for six best supporting actress awards, including nominations four years in a row between 1950 (All About Eve) and 1953 (Pickup on South Street). The fact that she never won is somehow fitting for an actress whose career was built on of unappreciated characters, but if you watch Sam Fuller's Pickup on South Street, you'll realize that it's also a crime. In the film, Ritter plays a small-time crook named Moe. She looks and acts like she's about 400-years-old, worn down by the street, and the daily tedium of survival. One of her friends, Skip (played by an unusually subdued Richard Widmark), has gotten them both into big trouble, and the two grab a safe moment together in an all-night diner. The scene is a wonder to behold, and Ritter is glorious. Every day of Moe's life is etched on her face, and the resignation in her voice somehow lets us see every single day of her grinding, hard-scrabble life. There's no weeping or gnashing of teeth here, simply an adult letting her guard down for a second, in quiet a moment of shared regret. Ritter lost that year to Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity; I like to think that, knowing the truth, she just laughed.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-26-2006 @ 5:28PM
Cath said...
They don't write parts for characters like that anymore. Not just character parts, but the subtle, real life angst of people from the unglamorous side of the tracks who make up the majority of the world's population. We may have actors up to the task of such juicy roles (Jennifer Jason Leigh springs to mind) but we won't know if we don't give them a chance.
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6-26-2006 @ 9:36PM
Ric said...
Gee, Martha Fischer sure does like to say "pissed" a lot. Is there some kind of award for that?
Rico I-never-downloaded-anything-illegal The Man
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6-26-2006 @ 9:50PM
Donna Downing said...
I've always admired her work. Sadly, when younger coworkers and I were discussing 50s character actors none recalled Thelma Ritter--even when they said they loved 'Rear Window'.
Thank you for remembering Ritter in her wisecracking roles.
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6-27-2006 @ 4:28AM
Valerie Tomlinson said...
I'm in total agreement with you that Thelma Ritter gave a superb performance in Pick-up on South Street.
However I disagree that Richard Widmark was "subdued".
He wasn't the snarling, evil character that he played in several of his previous films and playing Skip McCoy gave him a chance to show moments of tenderness and humour. He surely has one of the most expressive faces Hollywood has ever seen.
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6-27-2006 @ 6:00AM
Martha Fischer said...
I actually agree with you about Widmark's performance, Valerie. "Subdued" was very much a compliment, I think he's wonderful in the film.
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6-27-2006 @ 1:06PM
Elizabeth Brown-Johnson said...
I am in total agreement with your praise of Thelma Ritter, a great excellent actress who died too young. Its a shame that she was never given an Oscar for all her performances (honorary)after her death. Unfortunately, hollywood latches on to the mediocre actors because of their looks and not because of their real talent. There are other Thelma Ritters out there but its up to us to bring them to the forefront.
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6-29-2006 @ 11:05AM
Richard von Busack said...
Losing to Donna Reed wasn't that bad--Reed was great in From Here to Eternity--but Ritter was a one of a kind actress. For me the favorite Ritter line is in All About Eve: hearing the dubious sob story of the young actress, she comments, "What a performance. Everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end."
Why does Parker Posey wear what looks like Ritter's spare hat and veil in Superman Returns, during the car rescue? That was, in a word, weird.
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7-15-2006 @ 5:38PM
Rosa Gallagher said...
I remember Thelma Ritter with great affection. She brought much pleasure to the screen. An excellent actress with such a natural ability. I agree its a shame that she was never given an Oscar.
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