Post by hugobolso on Oct 13, 2019 2:29:40 GMT
Before the Olsen Twins, Miley Cyrus, Hillary Duff or Jessica Alba there was Bonita Granville, unlike them, she actually was a great child and teen actress.-
Probably one of the most underated hollywood Stars from the 40s, that was at the end the most succesful Hollywood Actress in the World.-
While many young stars tragic life is well known, as well other famous stars troubles with alcohol, drugs, bankrupcy and taxes, very few info there is about Bonita Granville another younger talent who retire as an actress, around the same time, but continue in the bussiness as Producer, Director and Owner of one the most famous Disney Hotel.-
Granville was born in 1923, she was one years younger than Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland and 4 years older than Shirley Temple, unlike there child stars, she never receive the same kind of recognition, despite her Oscar nomination for These three (1936) at the age of 13 (she lost at 14), and being the youngest nominated girl at the time.-
Daughter of stage performance she debut in movies at the age of 8, in 1933 she had her first credited work in Cavalcade, which won 1934 Best Picture Film.-
Tired of being the little bad girl, she gained some kind of matinee status with the 4 movie series (less than 70 minutes each) of Nancy Drew movies, 2 Andy Hardy films. Like Shirley Temple before, and like the Olsen after, she had a lucrative career sailing products as a child/teen star. She was the heroine of the novel Bonita Granville and the Mystery of Star Island written by Kathryn Heisenfelt, published by Whitman Publishing Company in 1942.
The she co-lead Mickey Rooney in 2 Andy Hardy Films.
With the wise advise of her parent, she become rich and made a good contract with RKO, was paid 15.000 for movie.
In 1943 she had box office success in Hitler's Children, the 4th most succesful RKO film of that year.-
She co-stared B movies with actor promise like Ronald Reagan or William Holden.-
More interesting are her supporting parts in A movies like Now Voyager, as Bette Davis niece. That's the only Granville film that I've seen. In fact in her less than 10 minutes, she eclipse Davis with her charm, in the scenes that both share.-
I was interested in Now Voyager, because was remake as a succesfull telenovela (Soap Opera) in Argentina in 1995 called Dulce Ana. Granville role was reprisde by Uruguayan actress Natalia Oreiro, then 16, that become a South American Superestar of movies and films in the next few years (as well as singer) before her 21 birthday.-
Any way to sum up, she married a young oil heir and film producer Jack Wrather in 1947, and she semiretired in 1950. Apparently her texan husband was jelous man and wants her for only for him. But examinating their love story, and his bussiness, more than jelous was a dependent man. He need her, probably more than she need him. -
Unlike other young ladies, that retired after marriage, she started a brilliant career in bussiness. She was her husband right hand. And she supportors in all his deals for producing The Lone Ranger and Lassie in a new medium TV. In fact Granville co-produce with her husband all the Lassie series, not only but also she directed several episodes as well. She was the narrator and occacionally acted ther.-
Still the most important contribution to California State by the couple, was the built of the Disneyland hotel. Walt Disney hadn't money enough for making the hotel. so the Wrathers oppened, Granville supported her husband. One of the towers of this Hotel called Bonita.-
After 1950 she only made 2 films: The Lone Ranger in 1956 and 1983, the last she also produce.
She was also very activate in politics and charity works. She support the Republican Party and Presidents Richard Nixon and specially her friend Ronald Reagan.
In 1984, her husband died, and she become the head of the family and the headchair of the Wrather Cop . In 1988, just moths before her death she sell the Lassie and Lone Ranger rights to Disney for 152 million dollars. At the time that former co-workers Betty Davis and Mickey Rooney starred in horrible B flicks for money.-
The hotel wasn't selled to Disney until Bonita Death. The Wrathers didn't wanted in their life to sell this hot propperty to Disney.-
Bonita Granville died of cancer at 65.
To sum up it's a pitty that her contributions to Cinema, TV and to the California State unfortunately weren't recognized by Hollywood.
Hollywood today praises Ida Lupino, Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor or Judy Garland.
But was lesser interested to praise Bonita Granville, who was the most succesful producer and bussiness woman of he time. Maybe because her life was succesful and peaceful, maybe because she had the triple Hollywood Sin, being Catholic, Conservative and Republican. Any way I hope that one day, people will remember her, because unlike many young stars of our time, Bonita is definitive a role model for young women.-
Probably one of the most underated hollywood Stars from the 40s, that was at the end the most succesful Hollywood Actress in the World.-
While many young stars tragic life is well known, as well other famous stars troubles with alcohol, drugs, bankrupcy and taxes, very few info there is about Bonita Granville another younger talent who retire as an actress, around the same time, but continue in the bussiness as Producer, Director and Owner of one the most famous Disney Hotel.-
Granville was born in 1923, she was one years younger than Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland and 4 years older than Shirley Temple, unlike there child stars, she never receive the same kind of recognition, despite her Oscar nomination for These three (1936) at the age of 13 (she lost at 14), and being the youngest nominated girl at the time.-
Daughter of stage performance she debut in movies at the age of 8, in 1933 she had her first credited work in Cavalcade, which won 1934 Best Picture Film.-
Tired of being the little bad girl, she gained some kind of matinee status with the 4 movie series (less than 70 minutes each) of Nancy Drew movies, 2 Andy Hardy films. Like Shirley Temple before, and like the Olsen after, she had a lucrative career sailing products as a child/teen star. She was the heroine of the novel Bonita Granville and the Mystery of Star Island written by Kathryn Heisenfelt, published by Whitman Publishing Company in 1942.
The she co-lead Mickey Rooney in 2 Andy Hardy Films.
With the wise advise of her parent, she become rich and made a good contract with RKO, was paid 15.000 for movie.
In 1943 she had box office success in Hitler's Children, the 4th most succesful RKO film of that year.-
She co-stared B movies with actor promise like Ronald Reagan or William Holden.-
More interesting are her supporting parts in A movies like Now Voyager, as Bette Davis niece. That's the only Granville film that I've seen. In fact in her less than 10 minutes, she eclipse Davis with her charm, in the scenes that both share.-
I was interested in Now Voyager, because was remake as a succesfull telenovela (Soap Opera) in Argentina in 1995 called Dulce Ana. Granville role was reprisde by Uruguayan actress Natalia Oreiro, then 16, that become a South American Superestar of movies and films in the next few years (as well as singer) before her 21 birthday.-
Any way to sum up, she married a young oil heir and film producer Jack Wrather in 1947, and she semiretired in 1950. Apparently her texan husband was jelous man and wants her for only for him. But examinating their love story, and his bussiness, more than jelous was a dependent man. He need her, probably more than she need him. -
Unlike other young ladies, that retired after marriage, she started a brilliant career in bussiness. She was her husband right hand. And she supportors in all his deals for producing The Lone Ranger and Lassie in a new medium TV. In fact Granville co-produce with her husband all the Lassie series, not only but also she directed several episodes as well. She was the narrator and occacionally acted ther.-
Still the most important contribution to California State by the couple, was the built of the Disneyland hotel. Walt Disney hadn't money enough for making the hotel. so the Wrathers oppened, Granville supported her husband. One of the towers of this Hotel called Bonita.-
After 1950 she only made 2 films: The Lone Ranger in 1956 and 1983, the last she also produce.
She was also very activate in politics and charity works. She support the Republican Party and Presidents Richard Nixon and specially her friend Ronald Reagan.
In 1984, her husband died, and she become the head of the family and the headchair of the Wrather Cop . In 1988, just moths before her death she sell the Lassie and Lone Ranger rights to Disney for 152 million dollars. At the time that former co-workers Betty Davis and Mickey Rooney starred in horrible B flicks for money.-
The hotel wasn't selled to Disney until Bonita Death. The Wrathers didn't wanted in their life to sell this hot propperty to Disney.-
Bonita Granville died of cancer at 65.
To sum up it's a pitty that her contributions to Cinema, TV and to the California State unfortunately weren't recognized by Hollywood.
Hollywood today praises Ida Lupino, Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor or Judy Garland.
But was lesser interested to praise Bonita Granville, who was the most succesful producer and bussiness woman of he time. Maybe because her life was succesful and peaceful, maybe because she had the triple Hollywood Sin, being Catholic, Conservative and Republican. Any way I hope that one day, people will remember her, because unlike many young stars of our time, Bonita is definitive a role model for young women.-