Ann Sheridan: New Biography Looks at Hollywood’s Classic Era Star (2024)

It's noteworthy that Ann Sheridan,from Hollywood’s golden era, is getting her first biography some 57 years afterher death in 1967. How fortunate that Sheridan has admirer Michael D. Rinellaas her biographer. His book is a meticulous, empathetic, and honest account ofthe film actress. Ann Sheridan: The Lifeand Career of Hollywood’s Oomph Girl by Michael D. Rinella is out now.

Ann Sheridan in her Warner Brothers heyday.

Other ‘40s film sexsymbols have gotten their star bios: Grable, Turner, Hayworth, etc. The bigdifference is that Ann Sheridan was a popular star in her time, but Ann’scareer soon evaporated after she left Warner Brothers. While her personal lifewas lively, it was not as legendary as those of Crawford, Turner, or Hayworth.The most significant reason she faded in the public's mind was that she died at51 in 1967.Biographer Rinella remedies all this with a book thatthoroughly and engagingly shows where Clara Lou Sheridan came from (Texas) andher rise to Hollywood stardom at Warner Brothers.

One of Ann Sheridan's first good roles was in 1938's "Angels with Dirty Faces," with James Cagney and Pat O'Brien.

Thanks to the enduringmagic of classic films and later TCM, Ann Sheridan began getting her due as aversatile, charismatic performer: Ann had a flair for comedy, was natural as adramatic actress, and could also sing. She was also a natural redhead wholooked like a cross between contemporaries Rita Hayworth and Lucille Ball. Sheridan’snatural pizzazz inspired WB’s publicity to dub her "The Oomph Girl."

Ann Sheridan mixed glamour with tongue in cheek humor.

What's beneficial tothe reader is that author Rinella uses many quotes from interviews by Sheridanherself. Lucky for Rinella that Sheridan was plain-spoken, especially for theera. Sheridan reminded me of the late great Carole Lombard, also very candid.Ann was self-aware, with a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Ann Sheridan finally got a lead where she could shine, in 1940's "It All Came True."

Some stars are bornwith their first Hollywood film, like Greer Garson, Katharine Hepburn, orLauren Bacall. For others, the ascent is arduous, as with Marilyn Monroe, BettyGrable, or Ann Sheridan. It doesn't always have to do with talent, but with studiopromotion or just plain luck. It helps to have a studio head, producer, ordirector in an actor’s corner. With certain starlets, even if the public showedinterest, sometimes the moguls or execs still looked down on them. L.B. Mayermuch preferred his great ladies like Garbo, Shearer, etc. over brassy JeanHarlow, who Sheridan was compared to later. Monroe, Grable, and Sheridan werestarlets for a long spell, before going on to another studio and achievingstardom.

Once Betty Grable hitat 20^th Century Fox, she got the star treatment. Monroe and Sheridanwere underpaid despite their popularity—Monroe with her second try at Fox,Sheridan from Paramount to WB. Both legally fought their respective moguls,Darryl Zanuck and Jack Warner. The difference was Sheridan had self-confidence,was pragmatic, and well-liked by studio folk; Monroe was often treated like thered-headed step-child at Fox, and it got under her skin.

This time, Ann Sheridan was front and center with Cagney & O'Brien in 1940's "Torrid Zone."

Rinella does a finejob offering background info on significant people in Sheridan's life. It helpsclarify Annie’s life and career decisions. As for her Ann herself, while Rinellais a Sheridan fan, he is clear-eyed in depicting shortcomings regarding personaland professional traits that hindered her career.

Forget "The Man Who Came to Dinner" himself, it was Ann Sheridan as vain star Lorraine Sheldon who stole the show!

Like most stars, whileAnn wanted to demonstrate her talents, she also fell into the traps commonamong the era's stars. She turned down the role as The Strawberry Blonde, because while it was the title character, itwas a secondary role. Yet, it was one that helped Rita Hayworth become a star.She was one of many who turned down MildredPierce, rightfully here, as she wasonly 30. Ann turned down To Have and HaveNot, though she loved Bogie, perhaps because it was a lot like the role in Torrid Zone. Warner wanted her for arole in Caged, but Sheridan mighthave suggested herself for the warden role, played by Agnes Moorehead. ButAnnie didn't see herself in character roles. Thus, her Kings Row co-star Betty Field, who looked like a sourpuss versionof Sheridan, ended up in juicy later roles in huge hits Picnic, Bus Stop, Peyton Place, and BUtterfield 8. Ann’s professional pride in maintaining her leadinglady status was intact, but what good is being a star if you have no place toshine?

One of Ann Sheridan's first movies after WB was 1950's nifty noir, "Woman on the Run." Unfortunately, it was considered just another thriller then and Ann was already showing her age at just 35, due to her drinking and chain-smoking.

In Sheridan’s personallife—the night life, drinking, and chain-smoking—alltook its toll on the star'sgood looks. This was not an unusual problem for both male and female stars ofthe golden era. The biggest stars that still drew audiences were given extraattention with their makeup, hair, and lighting. Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, andLucille Ball come to mind. So do Rita, Ava, and later, Elizabeth Taylor. Thestars who were no longer a draw, like Sheridan and Joan Blondell—not somuch.

Admirably, Sheridandid try to advance her own post-studio career, pushing independent filmproperties, trying television, and later the stage. This is where luck comesin, too. For aging stars, especially women, the 50's and 60's were pretty slimpickings as there were so many stars in the same boat.

Rinella gives greatdetails of Ann's uphill battle to film stardom and how often she was unlucky orfoolhardy in love. I always thought George Brent was an odd choice as aSheridan spouse. Ann was so lively and George was such a dullard on film. Turnsout Brent was moody and anti-social, also very un-Ann Sheridan! I asked theauthor why Sheridan never had children. While Rinella is an extremely thoroughresearcher, he could not come up with any definitive info on that subject, butI bet that it affected her personal outlook, too.

Rinella writes a most touchinglook at Sheridan's last years, as she worked more in television and onstage,with varying results. Ann also had some cosmetic procedures that bolstered herlast appearances, like the CBS western spoof, Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats. But sadly, it was then that Sheridan foundout she had throat cancer. She declined rapidly and died January 21, 1967,exactly a month before her 52nd birthday. Fortunately, Sheridan had foundhappiness with actor Scott McKay, her last husband.

Ann Sheridan's last role was in CBS's western spoof, "Pistols 'n' Petticoats." Cancer was already taking its toll.

While Ann's talentshave become reassessed, it's still slow compared to some other actors who havebeen rediscovered. Ann Sheridan's gift for mixing comedy and drama reminds me alot of Carole Lombard. Sheridan also had that brash side like Harlow when shebecame an able comic actor. And Annie's acerbic way with a one-liner was equalto the great Eve Arden.

Ann Sheridan starred with Bogie& George Raft in 1940's "They Drive By Night." Ida Lupino went big as the bad girl, but Ann held her own as a good-hearted waitress.

For those who want towatch more Ann Sheridan, she's good in urban melodramas Angels with Dirty Faces, Cityof Conquest, and They Drive by Night.Sheridan outshines the entire young cast with her warm performance as Randy Monaghanin Kings Row. Later, Sheridan didwell in romantic noirs like Nora Prentiss,The Unfaithful, and Woman on the Run. And Annie was aces incomedies: It All Came True, Torrid Zone, The Man Who Came to Dinner, TheDoughgirls, George Washington SleptHere, and I Was a Male War Bride.Not a bad legacy for Ann Sheridan, an actress not often given the startreatment.

Ann Sheridan & Cary Grant were a hoot together in Howard Hawk's 1948 screwball comedy, "I Was a Male War Bride." Annie should have worked with Hawks more!

Cher once describedher own acting range as being great at playing "tarts with a heart."The same was true of Ann Sheridan, memorable as working class girls with aheart of gold.Sheridan had oomph, a phrase she hated, but alsoauthenticity as an honest actress within her range.

Ann Sheridan played many of these kind of girls in her movie glory days!

Michael D. Rinellaputs Ann Sheridan back in the limelight, with a most knowledgeable, readable,and thoughtful biography that depicts her life and career with honesty.

See the link below to find out more or to order this new Ann Sheridan biography.

Here’s Amazon’s linkto AnnSheridan: The Life and Career of Hollywood’s Oomph Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Sheridan-Career-Hollywoods-Oomph/dp/1476694184

Ann Sheridan as "Nora Prentiss," the nicest film noir femme fatale ever!

My look at AnnSheridan in her film noir phase, as NoraPrentiss: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2019/02/ann-sheridans-glamour-brightens-gloomy.html

Ann Sheridan in her best role, as Randy in 1942's "Kings Row."

My take on Ann in herbest film role, as Randy in 1942’s KingsRow: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2017/01/kings-row-is-much-more-than-reagans.html