Rare beauty: Ann Blyth

Contributed by Kate Gaddis, alumnae

Have you ever heard of Ann Blyth? You should have. Ann Blyth is an Oscar Nominated living legend. She was in films such as “Mildred Pierce,” “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid,” “Thunder on a Hill” and “Chip off the Old Block .” Ann Blyth is still with us and she is just as sweet as she can be.

Born on August 16, 1928, she began her career on the radio at the tender age of five. She began her acting career on Broadway in Lillian Hellman’s “Watch on the Rhine.” Then Hollywood came calling.

In 1944, she was signed with Universal pictures and made her first film with Donald O’Connor and Peggy Ryan in “Chip off the Old Block.” She was teamed with O’Connor and Ryan in a few more films. 

In 1945, she would make the one film that would make her such a big star, “Mildred Pierce.” The film was about a woman who goes to the police to tell them that her second husband was murdered, but during her telling of how it happened, she confessed who really murdered him. In the film, Ann Blyth plays her 16-year-old bratty daughter Veda. It was confirmed by Blyth that Joan Crawford, who at the time was set to be Mildred, did a screen test with her.

“She was so considerate and so kind,” Blyth said of Joan Crawford. Joan Crawford has gotten a lot of bad press, but she set the record straight. She said that she was a wonderful person to work with. 

Another film that she is greatly known for is a film called “Thunder on a Hill.” She plays a convicted murder who spends time at a convent. The film stars Hollywood legend, Claudette Colbert. Colbert plays a nun in the film. Ann plays the convicted murder. Claudette Colbert’s character tries to help. This is one of her strongest films. 

“I’ve received many letters from fans all around the world, and they ask about that film,” Blyth said. Thunder on Hill is one of her strongest films to date.

The last film that was discussed was “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.”  In this film, she plays a mermaid and in this film, unlike her other films, she doesn’t say a word. Unlike her other films, she has lines and has songs to sing, in this not one line. 

In getting this part she said it was a grand opportunity. She wore a mermaid tail and explained how the process was created! 

“That whole process was interesting, they had to make a body cast, before they made the mold and Bud Westmore worked very hard on it. It took two people to literally drop me in the tail,” Blyth said. She worked with legendary actor, William Powell. She described him as a charming and wonderful co-star. 

Ann Blyth is a very proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren and in February, she will be a great grandmother to four great-grandchildren. Her legacy is well lit and her family is well aware of her wonderful career.

Ann Blyth is such an inspiration and means so much to so many people. She is a legend and should be respected as such.