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Ann Rutherford

Biography

Ann Rutherford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The daughter of a former Metropolitan Opera singer, John Rutherford, and her actress mother, Lillian Mansfield, Ann was destined for show business. Not long after her birth, her family moved to California, where she made her stage debut in 1925.

Ann appeared in many plays and on radio for the next nine years before making her first screen appearance in Waterfront Lady (1935). Ann's talent was readily apparent, and she was signed to three films in 1935: Waterfront Lady (1935), Melody Trail (1935), and The Fighting Marines (1935). By now, she was a leading lady in the fabled Westerns with two legends, John Wayne and Gene Autry.

By the time Ann was 17, she inked a deal with MGM, where she would gain the status of superstar for her portrayal of Polly Benedict in the popular Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Ann's first role as Polly was in 1938, in You're Only Young Once (1937). Three more Hardy films were produced that same year: Out West with the Hardys (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and Judge Hardy's Children (1938). Ann found time to play in other productions, too. One that is still loved today is the Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol (1938), in which she played the sweet role of the Spirit of Christmas Past.

In 1939, Ann played the role of Annie Hawks in Of Human Hearts (1938) in addition to three more Andy Hardy films. But that year also saw Ann land a role in the most popular film in film history. She played Careen O'Hara, Scarlett's little sister, in Gone with the Wind (1939). Plenty of fans of the Andy Hardy series went to see it just for Ann. The film was unquestionably a super hit. Ann then resumed making other movies.

While working for MGM, Ann, along with the other stars, was under the watchful eye of movie mogul Louis B. Mayer. The bottom line was profit, and Mayer kept performers' salaries minimized as much as possible. Most tried to get raises and failed. Even Mickey Rooney was decidedly underpaid during his glory years at MGM. But not Ann Rutherford. When she asked for a raise, she took out her bankbook and, showing him the amount it contained, told Mayer she had promised her mother a new house. Ann got her raise.

In 1942 at the age of 22, Ann appeared in her last Andy Hardy film, Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942). She then left MGM and freelanced her talent. Ann was still in demand. In 1943, she appeared in Happy Land (1943), but it was a little later in her career when she appeared in two big hits. In 1947, she played Gertrude Griswold in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Donna Elena in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948.

After that, Ann appeared in several TV programs and didn't return to the silver screen until 1972, in They Only Kill Their Masters (1972). Her last role came in 1976 in the dismal Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), whereupon she retired. Ann was approached to play the older Rose in 1998's mega hit Titanic (1997) but turned it down. She happily enjoyed her retirement being constantly deluged with fan mail and granting several interviews and appearances.

Ann Rutherford died at her Beverly Hills home on June 11, 2012 with her close friend Anne Jeffreys by her side. She was 94 years old.

Actor

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

1976

as Grayson's Studio Secretary

They Only Kill Their Masters

1972

as Gloria

Four Hours in White

1958

as Bette Sullivan

Operation Haylift

1950

as Clara Masters

Adventures of Don Juan

1948

as Donna Elena

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

1947

as Gertrude Griswold

Inside Job

1946

as Claire Norton

Murder in the Music Hall

1946

as Gracie

The Madonna's Secret

1946

as Linda 'Morgan' North

Her Favorite Patient

1945

as Lola Cross

Two O'Clock Courage

1945

as Patty Mitchell

Take It or Leave It

1944

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

Bermuda Mystery

1944

as Constance Martin

Whistling in Brooklyn

1943

as Carol Lambert

Happy Land

1943

as Lenore Prentiss

Whistling in Dixie

1942

as Carol Lambert

Andy Hardy's Double Life

1942

as Polly Benedict

Orchestra Wives

1942

as Connie Ward Abbot

The Courtship of Andy Hardy

1942

as Polly Benedict

This Time for Keeps

1942

as Katherine 'Kit' White

Flag of Mercy

1942

as Clara's Student

Badlands Of Dakota

1941

as Anne Grayson

Life Begins for Andy Hardy

1941

as Polly Benedict

Whistling in the Dark

1941

as Carol Lambert

Washington Melodrama

1941

as Laurie Claymore

Andy Hardy's Private Secretary

1941

as Polly Benedict

Keeping Company

1940

as Mary Thomas

Wyoming

1940

as Lucy Kincaid

Pride and Prejudice

1940

as Lydia Bennet

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

1940

as Polly Benedict

The Ghost Comes Home

1940

as Billie Adams

Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things

1940

as Polly Benedict (uncredited)

Judge Hardy and Son

1939

as Polly Benedict

Dancing Co-Ed

1939

as Eve Greeley

These Glamour Girls

1939

as Mary Rose Wilston

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever

1939

as Polly Benedict

Angel of Mercy

1939

as Sister of Dead Soldier (uncredited)

The Hardys Ride High

1939

as Polly Benedict

Gone with the Wind

1939

as Carreen O'Hara

Four Girls in White

1939

as Patricia 'Pat' Page

A Christmas Carol

1938

as Spirit of Christmas Past

Dramatic School

1938

as Yvonne

Out West with the Hardys

1938

as Polly Benedict

Love Finds Andy Hardy

1938

as Polly Benedict

Judge Hardy's Children

1938

as Polly Benedict

Of Human Hearts

1938

as Annie Hawks

You're Only Young Once

1937

as Polly Benedict

The Bride Wore Red

1937

as Third Peasant Girl (uncredited)

The Devil Is Driving

1937

as Kitty Wooster

Public Cowboy No. 1

1937

as Helen Morgan

Carnival in Paris

1937

as Lisette

Espionage

1937

as Train Passenger

Annie Laurie

1936

as Annie Laurie

Down to the Sea

1936

as Helen Pappas

The Lonely Trail

1936

as Virginia Terry

The Harvester

1936

as Ruth Jameson

Comin' 'Round the Mountain

1936

as Dolores Moreno

Doughnuts and Society

1936

as Joan Dugan

The Lawless Nineties

1936

as Janet Carter

The Oregon Trail

1936

as Anne Ridgeley

The Singing Vagabond

1935

as Lettie Morgan

The Fighting Marines

1935

as Frances Schiller

Melody Trail

1935

as Millicent Thomas

Waterfront Lady

1935

as Joan O'Brien

Student Tour

1934

as Student

Ann Rutherford

Actor

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