How can I not comment on the passing of beautiful Jean Simmons who died on Friday at her home in Santa Monica? Above is a photo of Simmons in one of her first (and best) movies—the magnificent 1946 version of Dickens’ “Great Expectations” directed by David Lean. How I loved the teenaged Jean Simmons in this role. She was so deliciously beastly to young Pip that I used to imagine the part must have been close to her actual personality. But by all accounts, Jean was a lovely woman and, in my opinion, a wonderful actress who had the misfortune of later being cast in a series of overblown and not very good costume dramas. While she became famous for her roles in bloated epics such as “Androcles and the Lion,” “The Robe,” “The Egyptian,” and, the best of the bunch, “Spartacus,” her exquisite acting chops were on much better display in films such as Laurence Olivier’s “Hamlet” (at 19 she was nominated for an Oscar for her haunting take on Ophelia), “Black Narcissus,” “Angel Face,” “The Actress,” and “Elmer Gantry.”
I enjoyed Simmons’ performance in the misguided film version of the musical “Guys and Dolls.” Misguided because even though Simmons fit the spirit of Salvation Army Sergeant Sarah Brown, neither she nor co-star Marlon Brando (playing gambler Skye Masterson) could sing a note. And in an era of many leading stars being dubbed in musicals, the surprising decision was made to let Brando and Simmons do their own singing. Producer Sam Goldwyn reportedly said, "You might as well wreck it with your own voice than somebody else's. Ouch. Simmons said she enjoyed the rehearsals with Brando trying his best not to step on her and choreographer Michael Kidd looking very worried. Though Brando and Simmons were excellent actors, their creaky pipes especially paled when matched up against Frank Sinatra and Vivan Blaine as Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. But after so many somber roles, it’s still a delight to watch Simmons in such a fun part. Sing out, Jean!
In one of our first dates in the early 1990s, Kendall and I went to see Jean Simmons and her former “Big Country” co-star Charlton Heston in the A.R. Gurney play “Love Letters” at the old Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills. She was 60 years old at the time but looked as beautiful as she did as Estella in “Great Expectations.”
My only problem with that film is when Jean’s character turns into Valerie Hobson in the later scenes. Hobson wasn’t half as effective as the grown-up Estella. In Feburary 1947, a New York Times reporter writing from London heralded the rise of the beautiful teen:
The big star news of the month is Jean Simmons, a 17-year-old Rank property who is tipped as the hottest favorite discovered over here in seasons. Little Miss Simons smashed through just before Christmas in a almost terrifyingly mature performance as the young Estella in “Great Expectations,” and pulled off another smart trick in “Hungry Hill” a couple of weeks ago. As a bonus, she has been given her first starring part as the frightened heroine in Sheridan Le Fanu’s period thriller, “Uncle Silas.” Laurence Irving, grandson of Sir Henry Irving, who is producing “Uncle Silas,” says Miss Simmons is “the nearest thing to a young Ellen Terry I’ve encountered in a long career in the theatre.” “She’s got it all here,” he adds, pounding his heart. “Nothing can stop her because she’s just a natural-born acting miracle. It was the most amazing experience to watch her playing her scenes with Katina Paxinou. You might have expected the child to be nervous, but not a bit of it.”
No Miss Havisham herself, Simmons was married twice: to actor Stewart Granger and then to director Richard Brooks. She is survived by her daughters Tracy Granger and Kate Brooks, named after her close friends Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.
Jean Simmons revisited her first big screen success in a 1989 TV version of the Dickens classic where she finally did get the chance to play the ghostly Miss Havisham. She was wonderful in the part but I will always remember her as Miss Havisham’s manipulated protégée:
I always enjoyed her in movies, also, although I think she will be most remembered for those overblown epics. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if half the people on Facebook or Twitter have no idea who this is, thinking it is the singer from Kiss.
Did you also hear of the passing of the actor who played Palmer Cortland in AMC?
Posted by: Neil | January 25, 2010 at 02:44 PM
My favorite performance of hers is Ophelia. I have a thing for unhinged noblewomen.
Posted by: Kirk | January 25, 2010 at 03:39 PM
she is so gorgeous and brilliant in this film, thank you for posting it, to remind me i must watch it again!
Posted by: susie specter | January 25, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Yes, I loved Simmons in Great Expecatations and Hamlet. I have not seen any of the others.
Posted by: Juli Ryan | January 26, 2010 at 12:44 AM
The New York Times obituary contained interesting information about her refusal to have sex with Howard Hughes(She was married to Stewart Granger at the time) and as a result, he tried to ruin her career. A
truly disgusting man!
Posted by: Judy | January 26, 2010 at 06:28 AM
DANNY - Can you please e-mail me at [email protected], so I can have your e-mail address?
My grandfather was Lewis BISSET, of Bisset's Dept. Store in Chicago. I googled Bisset's and found your post saying your father was over that store. Any more info. you may have?
Posted by: Barbara | January 26, 2010 at 06:53 AM
This is a wonderful tribute. I haven't seen her in Great Expectations--it's one of my favorite novels and so I've been afraid to have my imagination taken over by the images of the film--but maybe now I will. I remember her most in Angel Face--so gorgeous and so evil, and she didn't have to sing a note.
Posted by: Decca | January 27, 2010 at 07:14 AM
My favorite is Great Expectations, but I haven't seen all the ones you mentioned. Thanks for the list.
Posted by: Frances | January 27, 2010 at 08:08 AM
Hi Danny
This is a bit random, not connected to this post at all sorry. But I am in LA next weekend (and only the weekend free) and would really appreciate some tips/advice from you as to where you think I should go/see/visit etc. Are any of the Hollywood tours any good. I'm not sure if I am that interested in seeing people's gates?
Thanks so much
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | January 27, 2010 at 09:54 AM
Sarah,
Try to go to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery--lots of old movie stars and there is Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery--check them out online.
Posted by: helena | January 31, 2010 at 08:53 PM
Thank you Helena! I'm excited to be there soon!
Posted by: Sarah | February 04, 2010 at 11:14 AM