Florence Bates

Have to agree on your remarks about Florence Bates in this movie. There was far too little of her in it, she really was a scene stealer here. Plus, she brought some excitement into a story that had been going on far too long already by the time of her first entrance!

She was an amazing actress and a very interesting person. From her bio here on IMDb:

The American character actress, Florence Rabe, was the daughter of an antique store owner. She gained a degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas in 1906 and went on to a career in teaching and social work. She changed course after being persuaded by a friend to study law, and, passing her bar exam in 1914, practised for four years in San Antonio. When her parents died, she took over the business and travelled abroad extensively to acquire stock, all the while adding to her knowledge of foreign languages (she was, for instance, a fluent Spanish speaker). After the Wall Street crash of 1929, Florence sold the antique store and married Texan oilman William F. Jacoby. Jacoby eventually went bankrupt and the couple moved to California in the late 1930's, briefly becoming proprietors of a bakery.

At this time, Florence, a heavy-set woman of matronly appearance and well into her middle age, developed an interest in acting and auditioned for the part of Miss Bates in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Jane Austen's 'Emma'. This proved to be a momentous career choice. Her popularity became such, that she went on to leading roles with the same company, changing her name to Florence Bates as a nod to her perceived good fortune. In 1939, she screen tested for Alfred Hitchcock, who was sufficiently impressed to cast her as the demanding, imperious dowager Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper in Rebecca (1940).

One of my favorite character actresses. Loved her in Rebecca and I Remember Mama, but I think my favorite was when she teamed up with Cuddles Sakall in Lullaby of Broadway.

She was wonderful and absolutely gave the best performance. Flora Robson received a supporting actress nomination in this film but despite her exotic makeup and audacious casting, Florence Bates leaves the most vivid impression as something of an late 19th century Elsa Maxwell for the money set in America. She really deserved an Oscar nomination even if the part was quite small; I suspect she was one of the many small-part character players more appreciated by later generations of movie buffs than the moviegoers of the time.

She also gave a small yet wonderful performance in "A Letter to Three Wives" as "Rita's" employer. She and Thelma Ritter (a favorite of mine) were incredibly talented and too often unsung actresses. Thank you for providing Ms. Bates' fascinating background.