Comments on: Thelma Ritter: All About Birdie

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:59:43 +0000

Oh, Muriel, I love the contrast between Thelma and Miriam throughout the movie–and especially when Ritter finally spells things out for Hopkins in no uncertain terms. I wanted to cheer when I realized that Thelma’s character was going to triumph in a way that could not have been foreseen.

It is hard to pick one favorite role, but one I have only recently seen for the first time was her matchmaker part in George Cukor’s The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951). I didn’t care about the younger leads finding happiness as much as I was interested in Thelma’s card games and flinty philosophy of life.

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this piece.

By: muriel

muriel — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:02:56 +0000

Thanks for a lovely posting about Thelma Ritter. She is always great no matter the plot. Who doesn’t love her? “The Mating Season” is my personal favorite because the plot revolves around her character, besides it also has Miriam Hopkins as the other mother! The scene where Hopkins sees Ritter and John Lund together late on night and thinks (logically enough) that they are having an affair is hysterical. It’s a fun movie.

By: texman

texman — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:08:12 +0000

Thelma Ritter was one of the most loved actresses of all time. I can’t say that I have seen every movie of hers, but I am mighty close to saying I have. There are so many to pick from. It is difficult to pick one over the other. She, simply put, was amazing.
Even though it was a short movie for tv, I thought Christopher Beane was absolutely one of her best. I have often wondered whatever became of the “portrait” of her that Beane had painted in the tv movie.

By: Virginia Arnold

Virginia Arnold — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:12:40 +0000

I have adored Ms. Ritter ever since she starred in “The Mating Season”. Yes, I said “starred”! Although she was not listed above the title, the whole story revolved around her character. I have seen that movie so often (as with several other T.R. vehicles) that I can say her lines along with her. I loved her in all her films – even the clinkers; but my favorite will always be “Mating Season”! I wrote a lot of fan letters to her. Happily, not only did she send autographed pictures, but also wrote short notes to me, showing what a truly kind person she was.

I almost met her in NYC; but while I was there with my family, she left for Hollywood to make “The Farmer Takes a Wife”.

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:51:07 +0000

One of my favorites! Thank you, Moira…

By: Michael Wilk

Michael Wilk — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:58:37 +0000

Thelma was REAL, period. One felt they KNEW her when they watched her. We've all known people like Thelma, and we were all the better for it. My whole family adored her. This blog is wonderful. Thank you!

By: Southernbelle

Southernbelle — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:23:23 +0000

This was a wonderful blog! Thelma Ritter was a great actress. She was always the devoted friend, brought comedy to where a lighter touch was needed and overall was a lady. I wonder if she ever wanted to be a starlet? I think not. She was perfect in the roles she played. So many upcoming actors and actresses; today should watch movies that star Thelma Ritter in them. And take a lesson in how maybe you do not get to be the star, the most glamorous person in the movie, but Thelma was really the star! The glue that held it all together. As she was a mother offscreen, so she was to each of the characters onscreen.I really like the movie "The Mating Season" where Thelmacharacter Ellen McNulty, sells her business and than heads off to see her son. Of course the son Val (played by John Lund) is not happy about his. Because his new bride Maggie (played by Gene Tierney) is a rich young lady and really knows nothing about his mother. So Ellen takes on the role of a maid. This movie has a Stella Dallas feel to me. Ellen tries to help Maggie learn the role wife and trys to help her son be a good husband. What any mother would not do for her child? I think this role is overlooked. Just another example of Thelma Ritter taking a non-glamorous role and stealing the show!

By: Southernbelle

Southernbelle — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:23:01 +0000

By: viewer

viewer — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:43:48 +0000

i loved thelma ritter in all about eve. to me, it seemed as though she were a more innocent and all-knowing character parallel to George Sanders, which i love. thelma knew ALL ABOUT EVE.

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:00:08 +0000

Thanks for this great article on Thelma Ritter. I have watched several films just because she was listed in the credits, and I don't think I have ever been disappointed by her performances. My personal favorites are The Misfits and The Mating Season (which is a completely uninteresting movie, except for her role.) I always forget that she wasn't in The Catered Affair because that role was so obviously written with her in mind.