"Rebecca": She's seemingly intimidating to Joan Fontaine's mousy new wife of Cooper's brother (Laurence Olivier), but even with her chattiness and constant questioning, she makes Fontaine comfortable with her, giving her the first warnings and realistic advice about how to handle Mrs. Danvers.
"Mrs. Parkington": As Greer Garson's daugh5b4ter, she's only slightly snobbish, but of the offspring, she's the only one who seems to care about her mother and appreciate where her mother came from.
"The Valley of Decision": She's Greer Garson's employer here, the loving wife of Donald Crisp, and treats Garson with absolute tenderness. Greer becomes totally devoted to her as she ages and tragedy strikes, and Cooper repays her kindness in more ways than one.
"The Green Years": She's the grandmother to Dean Stockwell's character who must share a bed with her after they take him out of the grandfather's room (from the other side of the family). Gladys was obviously wearing a fat suit for her scenes, making him turn his head when she removes her dress. She's very religious, but not in a severe way, and her love for Stockwell is obvious. Stockwell, Charles Coburn and Cooper, in her smallish role, steal the film.
"Green Dolphin Street": One of her largest roles; She's a wealthy but kind matron who finds her past returning when old love Frank Morgan comes back. It's her story that sets the drama up for on-screen daughters Lana Turner and Donna Reed, and I think she gives the best performance in the film-filled with warmth and grace.
"At Sword's Point": A very gracious Queen Anne, she's noble yet not imperious, and a stand-out in a mediocre film.
"My Fair Lady": One last moment for Gladys to shine in a kindly role, playing the mother of the ib68mperious Rex Harrison who can't believe he's taken in a flower girl yet ends up being very kind to Audrey Hepburn as she puts aside the difference in her class as she realizes how Hepburn has blossomed even under somewhat manipulative circumstances. She's a real lady who shows what class really is.
Of course, Gladys was great at being evil, too, although in a few circumstances (most notably "Song of Bernadette"), she gets to reform.
"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."
Gladys Cooper's "nice" characters.
"Mrs. Parkington": As Greer Garson's daugh5b4ter, she's only slightly snobbish, but of the offspring, she's the only one who seems to care about her mother and appreciate where her mother came from.
"The Valley of Decision": She's Greer Garson's employer here, the loving wife of Donald Crisp, and treats Garson with absolute tenderness. Greer becomes totally devoted to her as she ages and tragedy strikes, and Cooper repays her kindness in more ways than one.
"The Green Years": She's the grandmother to Dean Stockwell's character who must share a bed with her after they take him out of the grandfather's room (from the other side of the family). Gladys was obviously wearing a fat suit for her scenes, making him turn his head when she removes her dress. She's very religious, but not in a severe way, and her love for Stockwell is obvious. Stockwell, Charles Coburn and Cooper, in her smallish role, steal the film.
"Green Dolphin Street": One of her largest roles; She's a wealthy but kind matron who finds her past returning when old love Frank Morgan comes back. It's her story that sets the drama up for on-screen daughters Lana Turner and Donna Reed, and I think she gives the best performance in the film-filled with warmth and grace.
"At Sword's Point": A very gracious Queen Anne, she's noble yet not imperious, and a stand-out in a mediocre film.
"My Fair Lady": One last moment for Gladys to shine in a kindly role, playing the mother of the ib68mperious Rex Harrison who can't believe he's taken in a flower girl yet ends up being very kind to Audrey Hepburn as she puts aside the difference in her class as she realizes how Hepburn has blossomed even under somewhat manipulative circumstances. She's a real lady who shows what class really is.
Of course, Gladys was great at being evil, too, although in a few circumstances (most notably "Song of Bernadette"), she gets to reform.
"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."