The Essential Teresa Wright Films

I can't think of anyone who had a better start to their film career than Teresa Wright. Five of her first six films are what I consider her best films, her essential films. The ones that you must see that shows Teresa at her very best. Please note that for her first three films, Teresa received Oscar nominations, as far as I know, she is the only person ever to do such a thing. Here they are in chronological order.

Teresa's very first movie has her sharing the screen with the legendary Bette Davis

THE LITTLE FOXES (1941) Talk about a tall order for your very first film. Co-starring with the always amazing Bette Davis, Teresa does a solid job as daughter Alexandra to Bette's Regina. Her performance was good enough that she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. The story deals with the going ons of a ruthless family jockeying for money and position. It's Bette's show all the way but the supporting cast is pretty good too.  Besides Wright, you have Herbert Marshall, Dan Duryea, Charles Dingle and Richard Carlson.

Teresa in a tender moment with Greer Garson (Mrs. Miniver)

MRS. MINIVER (1942) One of my favorite films of all times casts Greer Garson as the titular character who bands her family together to survive World War Two. Teresa has a plum role of Carol Beldon, the sweet young lass who is courted by Mrs. Miniver's son. Expertly directed and her first Oscar win as Best Supporting Actress.

I love ya Lou!

THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) Teresa was awesome as Eleanor Twitchell Gehrig, wife to baseball player Lou Gehrig. The chemistry between Teresa and Gary Cooper was perfect and Teresa could have easily won the Oscar again, but sadly did not.

Charlie spending time with Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten)

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943) Next up is my 3rd favorite Hitchcock film ever, behind only The Lady Vanishes and Rear Window. Teresa plays Charlie Newton, who learns that her visiting uncle Charlie (the always reliable Joseph Cotten) may be the Merry Widow killer. So she turns sleuth to see if it's true. One of Hitch's best and most suspenseful films. Wright deserved another Oscar for her performance here, which I think might be her best performance. But regardless, sit back and enjoy one hell of a movie.

Teresa as Peggy Stephenson making breakfast for Fred Derry (Dana Andrews)

in The Best Years Of Our Lives

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) And finally my favorite film of Teresa. The story focuses on three World War two veterans who return home and try to adjust to civilian life. Teresa plays Peggy, daughter of Al (Fredric March, one of the returning veterans). But her story involves falling in love with Fred Derry (played by Dana Andrews) who returns from the war to an unfaithful wife (Virginia Mayo). One of my top 10 favorite films of all time. This is how you define a true classic.

So there you have it, my favorite films of Teresa Wright. Think I will go watch one right now.

My love of classic films is beyond measure

Monty

TCM Alert: Saturday, February 4th

Three great films set in England with the backdrop of World War will air Saturday night on TCM. Two of the three films I have never seen before and look forward to. The films are A Yank in the R.A.F (1941) at 11 pm EST; Mrs. Miniver (1942) at 12:45 am EST (which is the one film I have seen) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) at 3:15 am EST. Looks to be a solid night of movie watching.

THE MONTIES: 1942 (MRS. MINIVER takes center stage)

Sorry for the long delay in presenting my next Monties, but here we go with the year 1942 when a certain woman named Mrs. Miniver made a lot of noise.

BEST FILM:

TO BE OR NOT TO BE
THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES
IN THIS OUR LIFE
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
MRS. MINIVER - WINNER
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
BAMBI
THE PALM BEACH STORY
KINGS ROW
HOLIDAY INN

I remembering seeing Mrs. Miniver for the first time when I was about 18 and was immediately amazed by it. Superb direction by William Wyler and a star making turn by Greer Garson, who had quite the year with this film and Random Harvest, which I confess I have yet to see.

BEST DIRECTOR:

ERNST LUBITSCH - TO BE OR NOT TO BE
WILLIAM WYLER - MRS. MINIVER (WINNER)
PRESTON STURGES - THE PALM BEACH STORY
SAM WOOD - THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES
JOHN HUSTON - IN THIS OUR LIFE

Like I said William Wyler did an excellent job directing Mrs. Miniver and picks up his second Montie. He received a Montie previously for the 1936 film These Three.

BEST ACTOR:

GARY COOPER - THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (WINNER)
MONTY WOOLLEY - THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
JAMES CAGNEY - YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
WALTER PIDGEON - MRS. MINIVER
CARY GRANT - THE TALK OF THE TOWN

Now Gary Cooper is not one of my favorite top actors but I will be the first to admit he gave a wonderful performance as baseball legend Lou Gehrig. It was a heartfelt and natural performance that should have landed him an Oscar. Well Coop, here's a Montie from me, you deserve it.

BEST ACTRESS:

CAROLE LOMBARD - TO BE OR NOT TO BE
GREER GARSON - MRS. MINIVER (WINNER)
TERESA WRIGHT - THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES
CLAUDETTE COLBERT - THE PALM BEACH STORY
SIMONE SIMON - CAT PEOPLE

This was one of the hardest decisions I had to make yet for my Monties. While my girl Carole Lombard gave another excellent comedic performance in To Be Or Not To Be, and then following her tragic death in that fateful plane crash, I could see my self leaning toward a sentimental nod for Carole. But Greer Garson was just too good in Mrs. Miniver. As the strong-willed and determined Mrs. Miniver, Greer gave the best performance of her career. There was no way she was not picking up this Montie. And I give a heartfelt nod to Carole.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Easy Cary...you can't win all the Monties...

RUDY VALLEE - THE PALM BEACH STORY
RONALD COLMAN - THE TALK OF THE TOWN (WINNER)
ROBERT CUMMINGS - KINGS ROW
WALTER HUSTON - YANKEE DOODLE DANDY

A superb performance by the debonair Ronald Colman as Professor Michael Lightcap who ideals are put to the test. Colman shares the screen with heavyweights Cary Grant and Jean Arthur but I think he more than holds his own and gives the best performance of the three. That's saying a lot coming from this die hard Cary Grant fan.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Oh really, I just won a Montie? That is just wonderful!

TERESA WRIGHT - MRS. MINIVER (WINNER)
ANN SHERIDAN - THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
AGNES MOOREHEAD - THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
MARY ASTOR - THE PALM BEACH STORY
DIANA LYNN - THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR

And so begins my crush on Teresa Wright with her outstanding performance in Mrs. Miniver. I always have said Teresa played the sweetest and most understanding characters in film, and this was one of her best. I said earlier what a year Greer had in 1942, well Teresa had a pretty good year as well. She gave another stellar performance in The Pride of the Yankees. I expect she may pick up a few more Monties when it is all said and done.

So the final tally has Mrs. Miniver nearly sweeping the Monties by picking up four awards: Film, Director, Actress, and Supporting Actress. Gary Cooper notches his first Montie while Ronald Colman does the same.

Next up: 1943