Constance Cummings

Born: 1910-05-15

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Constance Cummings, CBE (May 15, 1910 – November 23, 2005) was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen and stage. Born Constance Halverstadt in Seattle, Washington to Dallas Halverstadt and Kate Cummings, she began as a stage actress, landing her first role on Broadway by the age of 18. While appearing on Broadway, she was discovered by Sam Goldwyn, who brought her to Hollywood in 1931. Between 1931 and 1934, Cummings appeared in 21 films, most notably the Harold Lloyd picture Movie Crazy and American Madness, directed by Frank Capra. She was married to the playwright and screenwriter Benn Levy MBE from 1933 until his death in 1973. Levy went on to write and direct films for Cummings, such as The Jealous God (1939); he also served in the United Kingdom Parliament from 1945-50 as the Labour MP for Eton and Slough. They had a son and a daughter. Cummings was uncomfortable in Hollywood and moved to England, where she continued acting, both in movies and on the stage. Few of these films became popular in America, although included amongst those that did is Blithe Spirit, adapted from a play by Sir Noël Coward. In 1974, Cummings, who resided in the UK for many decades, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the British entertainment industry. She played Mary Tyrone in the Royal National Theatre's production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night opposite Sir Laurence Olivier, to great acclaim. She later recreated the role for a television version. In 1979, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in the role in the play Wings (written by Arthur Kopit) of Emily Stilson, a former aviator who has suffered a stroke, from which she struggles to recover. She was a committee member of the Royal Court Theatre and the Arts Council. Despite her truncated career in the U.S., she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6211 Hollywood Blvd. Constance Cummings Levy died on November 23, 2005 at the age of 95. Description above from the Wikipedia article Constance Cummings, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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Dead Man's Folly

as Amy Folliatt
Released: 1986-01-08

During a murder hunt game at a country house, to which Hercule Poirot is invited as an "expert",...

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Blithe Spirit

as Ruth Condomine
Released: 1945-04-05

An English mystery novelist invites a medium to his home, so she may conduct a séance for a...

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In the Cool of the Day

as Mrs. Nina Gellert
Released: 1963-05-29

After he mends a marital rift between a vacationing young couple, the bored, fragile wife falls...

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The Criminal Code

as Mary Brady
Released: 1931-01-03

After young Robert Graham commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is...

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Night After Night

as Miss Jerry Healy
Released: 1932-10-29

A former boxer purchases a classy speakeasy and falls in love with a wealthy society girl.

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The Battle of the Sexes

as Angela Barrows
Released: 1960-02-25

Angela Barrows is a man-eating business woman sent by her American employer to investigate their...

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American Madness

as Helen
Released: 1932-08-15

Socially-conscious banker Thomas Dickson faces a crisis when his protégé is wrongly accused of...

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Finger of Guilt

as Kay Wallace
Released: 1956-06-01

Film producer Reggie Wilson is worried he may have a dual personality. Fleeing Hollywood, he...

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Seven Sinners

as Caryl Fenton
Released: 1936-06-01

Ed Harwood, a wisecracking private investigator from New York, discovers a crime at a hotel in...

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Movie Crazy

as Mary Sears
Released: 1932-09-23

After a mix-up with his application photograph, an aspiring actor is invited to a screen test...

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Broadway Thru a Keyhole

as Joan Whelan
Released: 1933-11-02

Racketeer Frank Rocci is smitten with Joan Whelan, a dancer at Texas Guinan's famous Broadway...

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This Man Is Mine

as Francesca Harper
Released: 1934-04-13

The seemingly happy relationship between Tony and Jim is threatened when his manipulative,...

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Heads We Go

as Betty Smith / Dorothy Kay
Released: 1933-07-28

A model inherits a great deal of money and pretends to be a movie star.

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Behind the Mask

as Julie Arnold
Released: 1932-02-25

A Secret Service agent nabs a scalpel-happy doctor who runs drugs in caskets.

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Attorney for the Defense

as Ruth Barry
Released: 1932-05-21

A lawyer is haunted by a previous case in which he manipulated evidence and convicted an...

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John and Julie

as Mrs. Davidson
Released: 1955-07-26

The adventures of two children who runaway to London to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

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Looking for Trouble

as Ethel Greenwood
Released: 1934-03-28

Joe and Casey trouble-shoot for the phone company. They try to prove that Joes's girl Ethel's...

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The Mind Reader

as Sylvia
Released: 1933-04-01

Con-man Chandler and his partner Frank decide to start a clairvoyant act. Chandler falls for...

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The Guilty Generation

as Maria Palmero
Released: 1931-11-19

The children of feuding gangsters fall in love and fight to escape their parents' notoriety.

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The Foreman Went to France

as Anne Stafford
Released: 1942-06-22

Based on the true story of Melbourne Johns, an aircraft factory foreman sent to France to...

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Busman's Honeymoon

as Harriet Vane
Released: 1940-07-22

When Lord Peter Wimsey marries Harriet Vane, a crime author, they both promise to give up crime...

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This England

as Ann
Released: 1941-07-22

Set in Claverly Village, it follows the fortunes of the Rookebys (Clements) and the ne'r-do-well...

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Glamour

as Linda Fayne
Released: 1934-04-09

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Sammy Going South

as Gloria van Imhoff
Released: 1963-03-18

After he is orphaned by an air raid on Port Said during the Suez Crisis, a young boy attempts to...

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Remember Last Night?

as Carlotta Milburn
Released: 1935-10-28

After a night of wild partying at a friend's house, a couple wake up to discover the party's...

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Washington Merry-Go-Round

as Alice Wylie
Released: 1932-10-15

Button Gwinett Brown is a freshman congressman on a mission to rid Washington of corruption. He...

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Traveling Husbands

as Ellen Wilson
Released: 1931-08-15

A salesman gets in trouble with a party girl and a debutante in Detroit.

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The Last Parade

as Molly Pearson
Released: 1931-01-31

During the war two friends love the same nurse. After the war one becomes a detective, the other...

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Late Summer

as Helga
Released: 1963-07-07

Helga and David travel to a secluded hotel for some alone time. Helga is much older than David...

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The Billion Dollar Scandal

as Doris Masterson
Released: 1933-01-06

An ex-convict working for a wealthy oil baron uncovers trouble while his brother becomes...

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Channel Crossing

as Marion Slade
Released: 1933-10-14

Money isn't everything. Tycoon races against time to cross the English Channel in order to save...

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Wings

as Emily Stilson
Released: 1983-04-26

An elderly woman, a former aviatrix, is gradually recovering from a stroke.

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The Big Timer

as Honey Baldwin
Released: 1932-03-10

Loud-mouth hamburger flipper, Cooky, thinks he can box. His big chance comes when everyone else...

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Long Day's Journey Into Night

as Mary Tyrone
Released: 1973-03-10

On a day in the summer of 1912, the family of retired matinee idol James Tyrone grapples with...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Madge Haley
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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