In the 1940’s as well as the 1950’s Hollywood studios were turning out murder and drama mysteries by the dozen. It was the era when these type of movies were very popular with the public and what made the box offices click and made the studios huge profits. In these particular movies you always seemed to have a tough guy, a nice guy, or someone in between who was always there for the taking by the femme fatale. This female character was always very charming, beautiful, seductive, with looks that melted men’s hearts and caused them to do things they would not normally do. Their irresistible charm always made these men compromise their values and led them into very dangerous or even deadly situations. The femme fatale acheived her goals by using her beauty, charm, and allure. She sometimes was evil through and through and other times just appeared that way. Whatever the motive of the femme fatale character, the men in these movies seemed to fall for it everytime and would go to any lengths to please these women and be in their favor. These movies made superstars of many women actresses of that era who are still well known and adored today. There were other actresses very popular and in demand for roles in their time who had great, but short careers. These women also made their mark in roles as femme fatales and many of those performances were absolutely astounding and is why many of these films are considered classics and impress not only upon the remainder of the generation who actually watch them in their time, but also is why so many of every generation seek out these films to see these roles and these actresses themselves. We all know the names of Stanwyck, Crawford, Davis, and Colbert. They were and are still considered superstars. Other very well known femme fatale parts were played by Virginia Mayo, Susan Hayward and even Betty Grable. These actresses all worked for the major studios got more publicity and it was of course well deserved as all were outstanding. Then there are the ones who although only had their moments still left us with some outstanding performances and films that are still watched and enjoyed today.
Lynn Bari was a 5’7″ dark haired beauty who enjoyed immense popularity as a pinup girl during the second World War. She was considered second to only Betty Grable in a poll taken of America’s Gi’s in popularity during those years. By that time she had paid her dues in small uncredited parts and getting great revues as the other woman in Always goodbye which starred Barbara Stanwyck in 1938. This followed with some better parts in movies like Pier 13 1940 and Kit Carson 1940, as well as Earthbound 1940. As her popularity rose she came into leading roles with top male actors in Tampico 1946 with Edward G Robinson, Shock 1946 with Vincent Price and Nocturne 1946 crime noir with George Raft. After a few other smaller parts her career declined in the 1950’s and she continued to take smaller parts in tv series as well as the stage. She was known for her class and beauty and was for a while a leading lady in B features and a dynamic femme fatale.
Jane Greer a 5’5″ actress may certainly be more remembered for her real life romances and marriage than for the parts she played as an actress. Her Hollywood career was actually started by Howard Hughes who brought her to Hollywood in 1942 when she was only 18 years old. After a year she quickly left Hughes and married singer Rudy Vallee a marriage that lasted less than a year before she was back with Hughes. She made her first impression in acting in Dick Tracy a 1945 mystery based on the comic book character. She got a big role in a film called They want believe Me which also had Susan Hayward as the leading lady in 1947. Then came the noir classic Out of the Past 1947 starring opposite Robert Mitchum. This was her classic femme fatale role and once again teaming with Mitchum in the 1949 The Big Steal was the high mark of her popularity in films. She made many more films through the 1950’s but none ever matched the success of her movies with Mitchum. She continued to act in series, movies, and other parts up until 1996. Her classic era as a femme fatale in the 40’s should always be remembered and adored.
Brenda Marshall like Jane Greer is probably more remembered for being Mrs. William Holden than she is for her career in acting. She had always wanted to be a film actress, but had longed to be called by her real name Ardis Gaines than the studio produced one Brenda Marshall. She insisted that co-workers call her by this name even though she was always billed as Brenda Marshall throughout her career. She made her rise to fame in the early 40’s with great performances in The Sea Hawk and Footsteps in the Dark 1941. She was opposite Errol Flynn in both roles and the crime mystery Footsteps in the Dark was a huge success. She has the leading role in the crime drama Singapore Woman 1941 and another good film Highway West also 1941. She made several other films throughout the 1940’s and suddenly ended her career in 1950 in the film the Iriquois Trail 1950. Her performances as a femme fatale were outstanding in the 1940’s with another good performance in You Can’t Escape Forever 1942 opposite George Raft.
Ann Sothern had a career that focused on being able to be great in comedy roles as well as dramatic ones. A miniature 5’1″ tall she was well known for her work in the Maisie comedy movies as well as her roles as femme fatales in such movies as Shadow on the Wall 1950 after the Maisie movies and before in Brother Orchid 1940 with Edward G. Robinson. Her femme fatale role in Shadow on the Wall showed her ability to change her character in an instance. She went on to work in a noir called The Blue Gardenia in 1953 with second billing to Anne Baxter and as the noir films gave way to the new medium tv her movie roles diminished and she went on to a successful television career.
Other femme fatale actresses of the 40’s were Audrey Long in Stage Struck 1948, Dorothy Malone in 1950 Convicted with Glenn Ford, Margaret Lockwood fine English actress in Bedelia 1946, Gail Russell in Calcutta 1947 as the lovely violent Virginia Moore. Other recomendations are Ann Savage in Apology for Murder 1945 as well as Detour 1942. June Duprez in The Spy in Black 1939 and of course Rhonda Fleming in 1951 movie Cry Danger. There are many more far to numerous to list here of fine actresses who found very successful careers for a few years in roles as femme fatales. The time was when the females were beautiful and enchanting and also had a mean streak a mile long. They got what they wanted and contrived the men in their lives to make sure that they did exactly as ordered, and did what they desired them to do. This was the role of the femme fatale which gave most of the ladies above a brilliant moment of fame in an era where drama and crime movies were the way of life. If you see these movies the place to start would be these suggested in this article. Don’t stop there as hundreds are waiting for you to enjoy.
Ten to see first would be: 1-Double Indemnity with Barbara Stanwyck, 2-Detour and Ann Savage, 3-Out of the Past with Jane Greer,
4-White Heat with Virginia Mayo also see Virginia in The Iron Mistress if you get a chance, 5-Shadow on the Wall with Ann Sothern, 6-Bedelia starring Margaret Lockwood, 7-The Lady From Shanghai with Rita Hayworth, 8-Apology for Murder starring Ann Savage, 9-Scarlett Street and Joan Bennett, and 10-Cry Danger with Rhonda Fleming.
