TODAY we mark the birthday of actress, singer and director IDA LUPINO, born today February 4th 1918. Ida Throughout her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed eight, working primarily in the United States, where she lived with her husband, actor and very popular matinee-idol, Louis Haywood. In the 1940's she gained an audience appreciation of being known as an actress, usually playing 'good-hearted tough-as-nails dames' in thrillers that included 'They Drive by Night' (1940) and her best, 'High Sierra' (1941), with #HumphreyBogart. But in an unexpected but brilliant short burst, from 1949 to 1953, Lupino directed six of her seven feature films, also co-writing and producing many of them. She was, of course, a woman director in a man’s world, but beyond that her films and work now certainly deserve to be rediscovered because they were then so substantial, stylish and surprisingly bold, with an idealistic view of society that seems hopeful even now. Lupino often took on social issues that were then, usually taboo. . . and that is why they deserve to still stand in the light and not shadow today...
INTERESTINGLY, LOUIS AND IDA also have a 'Peter Cushing Connection', had quite a pivotal role in helping
Peter achieve and maintain his ambition of not only becoming a
professional actor, but also an actor working and living in Santa
Monica and Hollywood! Peter worked as Haywood's 'film-process-double'
that hit the editing room floor, in 1939 'The Man in the Iron Mask' directed by James Whale , but
he also had a very small 'one line role' as Second Officer, with just
one line, that qualifies as Cushing's FIRST credited movie appearance!
WITHOUT LOUIS AND IDA, I doubt we would have seen the Peter Cushing we
all love and appreciate today.
At the point where Cushing with just cents in his pocket and no sole on
his shoes, Ida and Louis, invited him to dinner... and the rest is,
life changing history 😉
' I got to know Louis very well while we were working together. We were
firm friends. He was married to actress Ida Lupino, and living in a
delightful villa, on the Brentford Heights about halfway between the
film capital and Santa Monica. I spent many enjoyable weekends there and
finally, they kindly invited me to stay with them, as long as I
wished.... Like the man who came to dinner.. I did!' Peter Cushing :
Past Forgetting Biography (1986).
Happy Birthday Ida Lupino.. and thank
you 😊 - Marcus
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