MovieChat Forums > Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Discussion > Edna May Oliver steals this movie

Edna May Oliver steals this movie

posted 15 years ago by mlraymond
23 replies | jump to latest

I had never heard of Edna May Oliver when I first saw this film as a child, but she completely captivated me, from her first appearance as the feisty widow interviewing the young couple for a job. The moment when she browbeats the Indians into carrying her out of the burning house in her bed has to be one of the most memorable scenes of any old movie. Her sly expression as she pats Ward Bond on the cheek, and says, " So long, Good Looking", as she's dying, is unforgettable.

I will watch this film time and time again just to see her, good as the rest of the movie is in its own right.

And when he crossed the bridge, the phantoms came to meet him

[–] trf100 15 years ago

You are correct!

I had never heard of her either and she does indeed steal the scenes.

A very good actress.

[–] LatigoMeans 15 years ago

She's my favorite in a favorite film!
She always reminds me of my Grandmother.

~LjM
Way down deep I'm very superficial.

[–] HORNBLOWER1 15 years ago

Watch her in "DAVID COPPERFIELD" and "A TALE OF TWO CITIES", she makes every scene. Only Jack Hawkins compares in making small roles the biggest part of big movies.

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

Oliver played a Miss Jane Marple-type detective in a movie series in the 1930s. Her costar was James Gleason, who played the harried cop who had to keep her in line.

[–] LatigoMeans 15 years ago

That would be the three Hildegarde Withers films she made with RKO. When she left RKO the studio tried to keep the series going... even a couple with the fabulous Zasu Pitts, but it wasn't the same without Oliver.

~LjM
Way down deep I'm very superficial.

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

Helen Broderick, Broderick Crawford's mum, played Hildegard Withers,too.

[–] ljspin 15 years ago

One of the things I love about old films are the character actors and actresses, and, I must agree, Edna May Oliver is one of my favorites. She is wonderful as Betsy Trotwood in DAVID COPPERFIELD and as Miss Pross in A TALE OF TWO CITIES, but I think her performance here tops both. She still plays the strong-willed eccentric, such as when she makes the Indians burning her house carry her downstairs in the bed her husband had built. However, scenes such as when she is telling Gil and Lana about herself and she begins remeniscing about her deceased husband or when she lights General Hirkimir's pipe before his leg is to be amputated show her acting skill and make Mrs. McKlenner a truly well-rounded character. As I write this, I can hear her telling Gil, right before he marches off with the local militia, "Gil, I'm going to kiss you now so you won't go off with the taste of a widow on your lips." Great actress. We don't have character actresses like that today.

Spin

[–] DontBogartMe 15 years ago

Edna May also played a role tailor-made for her--the Jane Marple-like detective, Hildegard Withers.

Oliver was unique, none like her, but I disagree there aren't older character actresses like that today. They're all over TV, on cable and on network shows. Cloris Leachman and Betty White for starters. Holland Taylor is a gem on Two and a Half Men.

[–] ljspin 14 years ago

Radioczar, you are right. I guess I let my admiration of Edna May get the better of me. Cloris Leachman and Betty White are great. Angela Lansbury has grown into a wonderful character actress herself. I personally like Geraldine Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's daughter. She doesn't make too many appearances in films, but each time I see her I enjoy her performance. And Kathy Bates, though not elderly, is a very strong and talented character actress. I stand corrected. Thanks for making me take a second look.

Spin

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nateba 14 years ago

Edna May Oliver steals this movie

Edna May Oliver stole pretty much every movie she was in.

cinefreak

[–] turtletommy 14 years ago

Just watched the movie for the first time. She was the best thing about it by far. Great performance. Fonda was very good as well but Claudette Colbert was awful. Very nice cinematography and use of Utah locations subbing for upstate NY.

[–] FranLovesBetteD 14 years ago

Edna May Oliver stole pretty much every movie she was in.

Indeed. She was just AWESOME.

Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop

[–] lroy77 14 years ago

Hello...she was also in Little Miss Broadway with Shirley Temple.

I love that character. I wish I had that kind of spunk.

[–] eadoe 14 years ago

She was also in Pride and Prejudice with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson, and managed to give Lady Catherine de Bourgh a humanity and humor that even Jane Austen couldn’t manage to give her!

"The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power."
- Julius Caesar, act 2 sc 1

[–] Zoomlenz 14 years ago

I have to agree -- when Oliver isn't on the screen, this movie is kind of boring. The other characters are blah She definitely has the best part. Will have to look for other movies with her.

[–] nycruise-1 12 years ago

All the posters seem to love citing her performances, so I can't believe why no one has mentioned her as the "Red Queen" in Paramount's 1933 "Alice in Wonderland." That's how *I* first became acquainted with her, as a little kid over 5 decades ago, watching her peppery antics play off against dizzy, flighty Louise Fazenda as the "White Queen" and mild-mannered "sensible" Charlotte Henry as "Alice." They all totally mesmerized me in that film.

And let's not forget her other great performance that year in "Little Women," as "Aunt March" nagging at Katherine Hepburn as "Jo" (didn't see that one until just a few years ago).

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] smrhyne-1 12 years ago

I agree. She is one of my favorite character actresses. She always steals the show.

[–] jac91604 12 years ago

Edna May Oliver steals every movie she is in.

During the 30s Warner Brothers also had her in cartoon form.

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

Hi jac91604

The acting was uniformly good but Oliver commanded ever scene she was in. I agree, she stole every movie she appeared in.

[–] nbroyles 11 years ago

true true. i've never seen her in anything where she didn't steal the show. she turned in top notch performances in everything she did.

[–] ibbi 11 years ago

She is definitely the one truly special thing about it.

"They so bad their cows had to die".

[–] lroy77 10 years ago

Where have you been? She's in several Shirley Temple movies as well (and pretty much the same character). I wish I had her nerve.