Paulette Goddard
Pauline Marion Goddard Levy was born in Whitestone Landing, New York on June 3, 1914. She was a beautiful child who began to model for local department stores before she made her debut with Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies at the age of 13. For three years she astounded audiences with her talent. She married Edgar James when she was 15 but the union was doomed to failure and was dissolved in 1930. By then Paulette had begun to make her mark on Hollywood with a small bit appearance in the film BERTH MARKS in 1929. Her age of 15 didn't help her in getting better parts. She would continue in bit roles in films such as THE GIRL HABIT (1931), THE MOUTHPIECE, and YOUNG IRONSIDES both in 1932. For the next four years she searched for parts but came up empty handed. It wasn't until 1936 that Paulette would, again, appear in a motion picture in MODERN TIMES.
Paulette with Charlie Chaplin in "Modern Times".
Finally, after ten years, she gained a decent part in 1939's THE WOMEN. Paulette thought that maybe her career was finally taking off. Her next film she played Joyce Norman in THE CAT AND THE CANARY which was intended to be a send off vehicle for Bob Hope. It did not only that, but established Paulette as a genuine star. Her performance won her a ten year contract with Paramount Studios which was one of the premier studios of the day. Her next feature film was with the great Fred Astaire in the acclaimed musical SECOND CHORUS in 1940. Later that year she once again teamed up with Bob Hope with the film THE GHOST BREAKERS. And once again the movie was a huge hit. This was just the beginning because the 1940's was the decade that kept her busy and in the public eye of America's movie going public. Motion pictures such as THE GREAT DICTATOR in 1940 with future husband Charlie Chaplin, POT O' GOLD (1941), and THE LADY HAS PLANS (1942) were added to her already sparkling resume. In 1943, Paulette was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the film SO PROUDLY WE HAIL! She didn't win but it solidified her as a top draw. Although the 1944 film, STANDING ROOM ONLY, didn't bring in the crowds at the box-office, the production is still remembered as a delightful comedy with Fred McMurray, a must see for any film buff.
Paulette with Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Joan Fontaine and Rosalind Russell in "The Women".
Paulette reached the pinnacle of her career in Mitchell Liesen's KITTY in 1945. The film was a hit with moviegoers as Paulette played an ordinary English woman transformed into a duchess. The film was filled with plenty of comedy, dramatic and romantic scenes that appealed to virtually everyone. As Abby Hale in 1947's UNCONQUERED, Paulette, once more, found herself with a profit making flick. This Cecil B. DeMille film paired her with Gary Cooper in the 18th century romatic drama. The critics weren't to keen on it but the public could have cared less. They loved this long running(146 minutes) movie. The 1950's were not to good on Paulette's career as she appeared in only six feature films, the last being CHARGE OF THE LANCERS in 1954. She would not be seen again on the silver screen until 1964 in TIME OF INDIFFERENCE. Her career was just about finished although she did appear in a made for TV film called THE SNOOP SISTERS as Norma Treet. That one was forgettable. Paulette retired from the film world for good. On April 23, 1990 she died of massive heart failure in Ronco, Switzerland at the age of 75.
Biography courtesy: Denny Jackson.
Paulette with Fred Astaire in "Second Chorus".
Crystal's Favorite Paulette Goddard Films:
Modern Times (1936) - A gamin
The Women (1939) - Miriam Aarons
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