Ona Munson
Encyclopedia
Ona Munson was an American
actress perhaps best known for her portrayal of prostitute Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind
(1939).
as the singing and dancing ingenue in the original production of No, No, Nanette
. From this, Munson had a very successful stage and radio career in 1930s in New York
. She introduced the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee
" in the 1927 Broadway
musical Hold Everything
.
Her first starring role was in a Warner Brothers talkie called Going Wild
(1930
). Originally this film was intended as musical but all the numbers were removed prior to release due to the public's distaste for musicals which had virtually saturated the cinema in 1929-1930. Munson appeared the next year in a musical comedy called Hot Heiress in which she sings several songs along with her co-star Ben Lyon
. She also starred in Broadminded (1931) and Five Star Final
(1931). She briefly retired from the screen, only to return in 1938.
Another roll was as "Mother Gin Sling" in the (1941) "The Shanghai Gesture"
When David O. Selznick
was casting his production Gone with the Wind
, he first announced that Mae West
was to play Belle, but this was a publicity stunt
. Tallulah Bankhead
refused the role as too small. Munson herself was the antithesis of the voluptuous Belle: freckled and of slight build.
Munson’s career was stalemated by the acclaim of Gone with the Wind; for the remainder of her career, she was typecast
in similar roles. Two years later, she played a huge role as another madam, albeit a Chinese
one, in Josef von Sternberg
's film noir
The Shanghai Gesture
.
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Ona Munson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6211 Hollywood Boulevard
.
. She was married three times, to actor and director Edward Buzzell
in 1927, to Stewart McDonald in 1941, and designer Eugene Berman in 1949.
In 1955, plagued by ill health, she committed suicide
at the age of 51 with an overdose of barbiturate
s in her apartment in New York. A note found next to her deathbed read, "This is the only way I know to be free again...Please don't follow me."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress perhaps best known for her portrayal of prostitute Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
(1939).
Career
She first came to fame on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
as the singing and dancing ingenue in the original production of No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette is a musical comedy with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, music by Vincent Youmans, and a book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, based on Mandel's 1919 Broadway play My Lady Friends...
. From this, Munson had a very successful stage and radio career in 1930s in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She introduced the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee
You're the Cream in My Coffee
"You're the Cream in My Coffee" is a popular song. It was published in 1928.The song was recorded by Annette Hanshaw in 1928.The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by Buddy G...
" in the 1927 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Hold Everything
Hold Everything
Hold Everything may refer to:*Hold Everything!, 1928 Broadway musical*Hold Everything *Hold Everything , defunct retail chain...
.
Her first starring role was in a Warner Brothers talkie called Going Wild
Going Wild
Going Wild is a musical comedy film released by Warner Brothers, starring a cast of musical stars in addition to the three comic stars, Joe E. Brown, Frank McHugh, and Johnny Arthur.-Production:...
(1930
1930 in film
-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
). Originally this film was intended as musical but all the numbers were removed prior to release due to the public's distaste for musicals which had virtually saturated the cinema in 1929-1930. Munson appeared the next year in a musical comedy called Hot Heiress in which she sings several songs along with her co-star Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon
Ben Lyon was an American film actor and a 20th Century Fox studio executive.-Life:Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lyon entered films in 1918 after a successful appearance on Broadway opposite Jeanne Eagels. He attracted attention in the highly successful film Flaming Youth , and steadily developed into...
. She also starred in Broadminded (1931) and Five Star Final
Five Star Final
Five Star Final is a 1931 American film about crime and the excesses of tabloid journalism. It was written by Robert Lord and Byron Morgan from the play by Louis Weitzenkorn, and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The movie stars Edward G. Robinson and features H. B...
(1931). She briefly retired from the screen, only to return in 1938.
Another roll was as "Mother Gin Sling" in the (1941) "The Shanghai Gesture"
When David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick was an American film producer. He is best known for having produced Gone with the Wind and Rebecca , both of which earned him an Oscar for Best Picture.-Early years:...
was casting his production Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
, he first announced that Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
was to play Belle, but this was a publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
. Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
refused the role as too small. Munson herself was the antithesis of the voluptuous Belle: freckled and of slight build.
Munson’s career was stalemated by the acclaim of Gone with the Wind; for the remainder of her career, she was typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
in similar roles. Two years later, she played a huge role as another madam, albeit a Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
one, in Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg — born Jonas Sternberg — was an Austrian-American film director. He is particularly noted for his distinctive mise en scène, use of lighting and soft lens, and seven-film collaboration with actress Marlene Dietrich.-Youth:Von Sternberg was born Jonas Sternberg to a Jewish...
's film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
The Shanghai Gesture
The Shanghai Gesture
The Shanghai Gesture is a 1941 American United Artists film noir motion picture starring Gene Tierney and Walter Huston, with Victor Mature and Ona Munson....
.
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Ona Munson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 6211 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
.
Personal life
Munson was born Owena Wolcott in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. She was married three times, to actor and director Edward Buzzell
Edward Buzzell
Edward Buzzell was an American film director whose credits for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer included Honolulu , the Marx Brothers films At the Circus and Go West , the musicals Best Foot Forward with Lucille Ball and Neptune's Daughter with Esther Williams, and Easy to Wed, starring Van Johnson,...
in 1927, to Stewart McDonald in 1941, and designer Eugene Berman in 1949.
In 1955, plagued by ill health, she committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at the age of 51 with an overdose of barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
s in her apartment in New York. A note found next to her deathbed read, "This is the only way I know to be free again...Please don't follow me."