She is complex, layered, powerful, funny, trampy, heartfelt, and ultimately mysterious. You never get to the bottom of her. She never gives it all away. She holds something back. She holds THE thing back, whatever it is. And it is that one held-back thing, never defined, never spoken, never pinned down, that makes a truly great enduring actress.
Watch (and listen) to how she says the following line in Ball of Fire:
“I love him because he’s the kind of guy who gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. I love him because he doesn’t know how to kiss, the jerk!”
There’s a sadness in her eyes, a sadness that does not come from self-pity – but from self-awareness. He “gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk”. His very innocence shames her. Yet she loves him. She loves his innocence. And yet there’s that epithet at the end, “the jerk”! She’s got an edge. She’s feeling as mushy as she’s ever gonna feel, and that pisses her off. He doesn’t know how to kiss, the jerk! And yet there’s something soft about her expression there, she’s realizing – to herself – that she loves the Professor. She is declaring herself. And it’s not generalized, or movie love … it’s based on him “getting drunk on a glass of buttermilk”. I know Stanwyck has done more dramatic scenes, more tear-drenched scenes, but to me – that small monologue near the end of Ball of Fire is my favorite.
It’s got so much in it, and yet I still can’t say exactly what.
She never gives it all up. Holds her cards to her chest, that dame. Marvelous.
As far as I’m concerned, she has no equal. To this day.
Happy 100th birthday.
More Barbara Stanwyck centennial posts:
Centennial Tribute: Barbara Stanwyck
GreenCine Daily: Barbara Stanwyck at 100
5 for the day: Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck: The professional’s professional
The Shamus: And starring Miss Stanwyck (I love how he writes “she was a marvel at moxie”. Totally!)
Oh, and of course – this not-to-be-missed extravaganza by Anthony Lane in The New Yorker (they’ve embedded a clip from Ball of Fire, too!! Not the “buttermilk” one, but still!)
What a great actress with such a long, impressive career…it really doesn’t do her justice that every time I hear her name the theme song to “The Big Valley” gets stuck in my head.
..i say…she was proabably PSYCHED about the Big Valley..any actor whose career spans that length of time..is very grateful for a long running series(with residuals) at a time when most people are retiring(its like Angela Lansbury and Murder She Wrote..it wasn’t Gaslight..but what an awesome 12 year gig). I think Ms. Stanwyck would be very pleased that you remember the theme song to Big Valley…i wish I did!
..i say…she was proabably PSYCHED about the Big Valley..any actor whose career spans that length of time..is very grateful for a long running series(with residuals) at a time when most people are retiring(its like Angela Lansbury and Murder She Wrote..it wasn’t Gaslight..but what an awesome 12 year gig). I think Ms. Stanwyck would be very pleased that you remember the theme song to Big Valley…i wish I did!
sorry for the double post!
Also – the rarity that she was a female with such a long career. Female careers are usually way shorter than male careers. I love that she was still kicking butt, still working – until the end.
And God, member The Thorn Birds??
I don’t think I even realized, back then, that she was this great actress from the 30s, 40s, 50s … but I sure remember her still!
I love that she has JUST a touch of frost to her, at all times. At least in her best roles.
It’s hard – but somehow not brittle.
I don’t know, she fascinates me!
Also, if you look at her imdb page – there are very few gaps.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0001766/
Some people disappear for years … she never did. It’s steady – perhaps it slows down at the end, but that’s also because the studio system is dead and movies and TV isn’t churned out as quickly as it was in the 30s.
Billy Wilder said that he could wake her up in the middle of the night (hypothetically) and quiz her not only on her own lines but everybody else’s – and she would be able to rattle them off, even half asleep.
Just a total professional.
I just read on wiki that Lee Majors related a story of how she took him to task for getting a bit of a star complex, and that he knew she was right to do so. I can just imagine that. I would hate to piss her off.
And Mitchell, it goes “bump-bumm bum ba-bump-bumm, bum ba-bump bump bummmmm…”
what a dame! that new yorker article is AWESOME!!!..i watched Baby Face this morning on TCM..i think im on a Barbara Stanwyck ride!!! God she is fucking fascinating to watch..always!
lol…thanks Eric..i can hear it now! There is mini-doc on TCM tonight 9:30e/8:30c..hosted by Sally Field…im soooo there…im watching her in Jeopardy right now…quite the figure as well!!!!
Have you seen Ball of Fire, Mitchell???
I can’t remember if we talked about it. I looooove that movie. Gary Cooper – all these awesome character actors – and she is sex on spike heels.
Oh and Eric – love the story about Lee Majors – I had not heard that!! I love that he was able to hear her, and see she was right. It can’t be easy!!
LOVE Ball of Fire..seen it many times..i love all those old guys..i want to grow up to be any of them!!
Oh God, I can SO see you as one of those guys!
Yep, I’d have killed Fred MacMurray, too.
While on the subject of birthdays, a writer-historian I believe has been praised on these pages just celebrated his 90th birthday on Sunday – Robert Conquest.
Just a quick drive-by factoid from a lapsed blogger and recurring fan of this site! :)
i am so admired by this woman i am eevn doin a report on her!!!