Polly Moran
Encyclopedia
Polly Moran was an American actress and comedian.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started out in vaudeville
, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive Irish beauty in her youth she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for Mack Sennett
at Keystone Studios
where she honed the style of brash loud-mouth knock-about comedy for which she later became known. She proved effective at slapstick
and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by MGM. She partnered with the famous Broadway
star Marie Dressler
in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), and the two went on to appear in several films together such as Chasing Rainbows
(1930) and Caught Short (1930). After Dressler's death in 1934 Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low budget comedies or B-movies, though she still maintained an active Hollywood social life, throwing large and well-publicized parties.
After an earlier marriage that ended in divorce in 1917, Moran married Martin T. Malone in 1933. This second marriage ended upon her death from cardiovascular disease
in 1952. She had one child, a son, who was adopted between her two marriages. Although a number of biographies give Moran's date of death as being January 25, 1952, her grave marker reads, "January 24, 1952," possibly in error.
Moran made a comeback after co-starring in Adam's Rib
(1949). She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard
.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started out in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive Irish beauty in her youth she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
at Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios was an early movie studio founded in Edendale, California in 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from Adam Kessel and Charles O. Bauman, owners of the New York Motion Picture Company...
where she honed the style of brash loud-mouth knock-about comedy for which she later became known. She proved effective at slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by MGM. She partnered with the famous 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...
star Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American actress and Depression-era film star. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1930-31 in Min and Bill.-Early life and stage career:...
in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), and the two went on to appear in several films together such as Chasing Rainbows
Chasing Rainbows
Chasing Rainbows is a 1930 American romantic musical film directed by Charles Reisner, starring Bessie Love and Charles King, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.- Film preservation :...
(1930) and Caught Short (1930). After Dressler's death in 1934 Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low budget comedies or B-movies, though she still maintained an active Hollywood social life, throwing large and well-publicized parties.
After an earlier marriage that ended in divorce in 1917, Moran married Martin T. Malone in 1933. This second marriage ended upon her death from cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
in 1952. She had one child, a son, who was adopted between her two marriages. Although a number of biographies give Moran's date of death as being January 25, 1952, her grave marker reads, "January 24, 1952," possibly in error.
Moran made a comeback after co-starring in Adam's Rib
Adam's Rib
Adam's Rib is a 1949 American film written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin and directed by George Cukor. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in court. Judy Holliday co-stars in her first substantial film role...
(1949). She 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 6300 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...
.
Selected filmography
- Their Social SplashTheir Social SplashTheir Social Splash is a 1915 short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Slim Summerville - Harold* Dixie Chene - Gladys* Charles Murray - Hogan* Polly Moran - Polly* Frank Hayes - The Father* Harold Lloyd - The Minister* Harry Gribbon...
(1915) - The Pullman BrideThe Pullman BrideThe Pullman Bride is a 1917 silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Gloria Swanson.-Cast:* Gloria Swanson - The Girl* Mack Swain - The Chosen One* Chester Conklin - A Rejected Suitor* Laura La Varnie - The Girl's Mother...
(1917) - The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter (1926 film)The Scarlet Letter is a 1926 drama film directed by Victor Sjöström. Louis B. Mayer was reluctant on using Miss Gish, fearing opposition from church groups. The film was announced as "It's a real 'A' picture", taking advantage of the 'A' for Adultery, and proved a box office success...
(1926) - The Callahans and the Murphys (1927)
- London After MidnightLondon After Midnight (film)London After Midnight aka The Hypnotist is a silent mystery film with horror overtones produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Lon Chaney, Marceline Day, Conrad Nagel, Henry B. Walthall, and Polly Moran and was directed by Tod Browning. It is also a lost film, quite...
(1927) - The EnemyThe Enemy (1927 film)The Enemy is a 1927 drama film directed by Fred Niblo, and starring Lillian Gish. The film has been thought to be lost. The MGM library, now controlled by Turner Classic Movies, has a print which is missing the final reel...
(1927) - Rose-MarieRose-Marie (1928 film)Rose-Marie was a 1928 drama film directed by Lucien Hubbard. It is the first of three MGM adaptations of the 1924 Broadway musical Rose-Marie The best-known film adaptation was released in 1936; another film was released in 1954. All three versions are set in the Canadian wilderness...
(1928) - Bringing Up FatherBringing up FatherBringing Up Father was an influential American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus . Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 12, 1913 to May 28, 2000....
(1928) - The Unholy NightThe Unholy NightThe Unholy Night is a 1929 mystery film directed by Lionel Barrymore, starring Ernest Torrence and featuring Boris Karloff.-Cast:* Ernest Torrence - Dr...
(1929) - Chasing RainbowsChasing RainbowsChasing Rainbows is a 1930 American romantic musical film directed by Charles Reisner, starring Bessie Love and Charles King, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.- Film preservation :...
(1930) - The Girl Said NoThe Girl Said No (1930 film)The Girl Said No is a 1930 romantic comedy film starring William Haines and Leila Hyams. A young college graduate goes to extreme lengths to win the girl he loves.-Cast:*William Haines as Tom Ward*Leila Hyams as Mary Howe*Polly Moran as Polly...
(1930) - Caught Short (1930)
- PaidPaid (1930 film)Paid is a 1930 American drama film starring Joan Crawford, Robert Armstrong, and Kent Douglass in a story about a wrongly accused ex-convict who seeks revenge, within the law, on those who sent her to prison. The film was adapted by Lucien Hubbard and Charles MacArthur from the play, Within the...
(1930) - The Stolen JoolsThe Stolen JoolsThe Stolen Jools is a short comedy film produced by the Masquers Club of Hollywood, featuring many cameo appearances by the film stars of the day...
(1931) - Reducing (1931)
- Politics (1931)
- ProsperityProsperity (film)Prosperity is a 1932 American comedy-drama film starring Marie Dressler and Polly Moran. The two leading actresses play longtime matriarchal ladies comically sparring off each other, and trying to control their intertwined lives.-Plot:...
(1932) - Red River RangeRed River RangeRed River Range is a 1938 "Three Mesquiteers" film starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, and Polly Moran. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one movies in the popular series. The director was George Sherman.-Plot:...
(1938) - Tom Brown's School Days (1940)
- Petticoat Politics (1941)
- Red LightRed LightRed Light is a 1949 film noir, directed and produced by Roy Del Ruth. It is based on the story "This Guy Gideon" by Don "Red" Barry, and features strong religious overtones.-Plot:...
(1949) - Adam's RibAdam's RibAdam's Rib is a 1949 American film written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin and directed by George Cukor. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in court. Judy Holliday co-stars in her first substantial film role...
(1949) - The Yellow Cab ManThe Yellow Cab ManThe Yellow Cab Man is a 1950 comedy film directed by Jack Donohue starring Red Skelton, Gloria DeHaven and Edward Arnold. The inventor of unbreakable glass tries to sell it to a taxicab company, hoping that they will make unbreakable windshields.-Cast:*Red Skelton as Augustus 'Red' Pirdy*Gloria...
(1950)