Comments on: Evelyn Varden: A Forgotten Actress in an Unforgettable Role

By: TCM's Classic Movie Blog

TCM's Classic Movie Blog — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:13:08 +0000

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By: David H.

David H. — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:28:56 +0000

The title of your piece, ‘A Forgotten Actress in an Unforgettable Role’, says it all Suzie.
Glad to know that other people notice such things too and feel they should be acknowledged …and you’ve managed to locate a photo of her too. There is no photograph of her on the Radio Times reviews of Night of the Hunter or of The Bad Seed (1956), on IMdB, on Wikipedia, or the film websites Channel 4 Film, Roger Ebert.com, or Rotten Tomatoes.
Loved her portrayeal of Icey Spoon as busy-body chatterbox in the first half, and the drunken mob leader seeking revenge at the end. “Lynch him! Lynch him!”
The film says so much about human nature on many levels.
Bravo!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:59:53 +0000

Evelyn Varden is the wonderful kind of character actress that really doesn’t exist anymore – the dumpy “town gossip” type with a scary undercurrent. Try and catch her in “Phone Call from a Stranger.” She certainly looks different than in her other roles; she looks like a tough old Madam with her hair swept up in curls and plays a hard-edged, showbiz type who runs a nightclub… you wouldn’t want to cross her.

By: John

John — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:15:18 +0000

Another great post, Susan, and more proof of what great talent you have as a writer, teacher and viewer. It would be all too easy to focus on Mitchum, Laughton or the expressionist style in the film. But you’ve written a great piece on a bit player in the movie, and one whose performance certainly was worth writing about.

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:31:43 +0000

Lovely piece! I agree that Varden is amazing in this role though I’ve never seen her in anything else. Night of the Hunter is my single alltime favorite film, although it wasn’t until I saw it in the theater during Film Forum’s United Artists retrospective that I realized quite how badly Ma Spoon wants to get into Harry Powell’s pants. It’s a brilliant work of art that I keep seeing more and more in the more I see it.

By: Lisa Wright

Lisa Wright — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:46:52 +0000

Not to make you guys jealous or anything, but being a Chicagoan I braved the late hour and enjoyed the film and Suzi’s insights about it. I have seen and enjoyed Night of the Hunter before, but I got SO much more out of it at this viewing (on the big screen, too!) and I have Suzi to thank for it. Maybe Turner could send all the Movie Morlocks on tour to take their fabulous knowledge out on the road? Sponsor some great old films at local theatres around the country?! I remember really digging the Bad Seed, too, so I will definitely have to catch it on the 20th— thanks, Medusa! And thanks, Suzi, for this post as it really fleshed out what was just touched upon in the Q and A. You rock!

By: Alfredo

Alfredo — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:44:46 +0000

Ms. Varden was unforgettable in THE BAD SEED, but so were all the women in this very stage-y movie. They were all, I believe, from the original Broadway cast, and they were all playing to the last row of the house. Over the top, but in its own way very wonderful. I always thought Monica Breedlove could be brought down a peg or two, but I never did wish Rhoda would show her how.

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:26:22 +0000

What a great post, Suzi. Like Debbe, I wish I lived closer to Chicago sometimes, just to visit Facets at midnight.

To be honest, I could barely watch the screen whenever I see Ms. Varden in a movie. She looks just like my fourth grade teacher, and you don’t want to know the details, believe me, but that broad was scarier than any character Evelyn ever played. The subject of your piece, however, was an actress who had a fantastic capacity for the expression of malignancy and mixed emotions. I enjoyed hearing her very dramatic reading of the Nurse to Olivia’s Juliet in that clip, which really made me pay attention to Varden’s theatrically commanding voice.

Good going, Ms. Doll!

By: medusamorlock

medusamorlock — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:42:57 +0000

Thinking about Evelyn Varden expressing such dried-up anti-sex sentiments at a picnic made me think about Verna Felton, of a similar age, expressing just the opposite *in* the movie “Picnic” when she’s so taken with the chemistry between Novak and Holden. I don’t think Verna was thinking about canning when she looked at William Holden!

Definitely there were all sorts of views on sexuality in the movies coming out of older women’s mouths! :-)

By: debbe

debbe — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:42:28 +0000

a couple of things… one I wish i lived in chicago so icould attend the programs at feacets, and two, excellent post suzidoll. i always learn so many things when I read your post…. even when I think i know something… I find out i dont. wonderful to read about evelyn varden. thanks for a great post.