Darlings, Barids In Ze Trees Seem To Tweeter Luise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, if it is possible to break a milestone, Luise Rainer has done it--and then some. Back in the 30's, she was known as "the Viennese teardrop," she became the first actress to win two Academey Awards--and win them twice in a row!!!! The first was for her fine performance as Anna Held in the 1936 bio-musical extravaganza, MGM's "The Great Ziegfeld" which also won for Best Picture that year. But the role I will remember her for came the following year, when she won again for portraying Chinese wife O-Lan in the film version of Pearl S. Buck's novel, "The Good Earth."

Now, this book has a sentimental place in my heart, as it was the first piece of adult fiction I read, and marked my transition from juvenile to adult literature. It may be the only of Buck's works to be in print today. And you can say what you want about its stereotypes, but as a piece of writing (I reread it about three years ago) it holds up. In some ways it was the "Gone With The Wind" of its day, only not as sprawling, MGM gave it the big prestige treatment, but they copped out when they cast non Asian actors in the key roles. Paul Muni passed as Wang Lung, and Luise stunned viewers, and continues to, as O-Lan--the best performance in the film.
But Charley Grapewin as the Chinese patriarch????? As anyone over the age of 10 might remark, "Uncle Henry from 'The Wizard Of Oz' as a China man?????" Who were they kidding??????? This would have been like casting the servants in "Gone With The Wind" with Mexicans, which would have been tantamount to heresy. The only thing that gives "The Good Earth" any distinction, and reason to view it now, are the sweeping visuals, and Luise Rainer's performance. And that is it.

But Luise showed Golden Age Hollywood, by walking out at career peak when the roles did not live up to her expectations. Not unlike Garbo. She went on to marry one of the major dramatists of the day, Clifford Odets, she did turn up in acting jobs here and there, but beyond the Thirties was barely recognizable.

And last year, she celebrated her 100th birthday, making her the oldest living actor Oscar winner today. Even Jennifer Jones, had she lived past 90, would have been a good nine years behind her!!!!!!!!

Then today, Luise celebrates birthday #101!!!!!! How many people can say that? And why the Hell doesn't Willard Scott get HER on the "Today" show???? Maybe she is not interested in endorsing Smuckers!!!!!!!!! At 101, and in possession of her faculties, she can pretty much do what she damn well wants!!!!!!!!!!

Honey, the way she is going, Luise could outlive us all!!!!!!!!!!! But a happy 101st birthday today, and may all of us live to salute you on your 102nd!!!!!!!!!

And remember, girls, my PROFESSIONAL age is STILL 24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!