BARBARA STANWYCK: Lost and Found in "The Miracle Woman"

[kermsroomy]

Perhaps a couple came close, but for my money, there wasn't anyone better than Babs in the thirties and forties.

[Tropia]

Missy's so young here, she's pretty, healthy and soft looking, a real woman in every way, and she has the most amazing voice. I think Barbara Stanwyck was the greatest actress of them all, there was nothing she couldn't do, and she could do it better than anybody, I love her so much!

[webmaster8888]

Barbara Stanwyck is the best. No doubt about it!

[stlgtrace]

An incredible, spell-binding performance. Extrordinary! I'm hoping someone will post the entire movie! I wonder what Aimee Semple MacPherson thought of this movie, that was obviously taken directly from her life, ministry and Angelus Temple. I'm sure Barbara went to Angelus Temple and keenly observed Aimee in researching this role.

[grabit1]

Sorry, Ms. Streep, who I adore.

But there was somebody before you.

Gosh, this is the second post I've made in a row that starts with "Sorry, Ms. Streep."

I wish to clarify that Ms. Streep is our greatest living actress. But I suspect that Stanwyck left some baking recipes behind.

[grabit1]

Sorry, Ms. Streep. You are marvelous. But I think I've known for a long time why you are as great as you are.

Some gal named originally named Ruby Catherine Stevens. Because you watched her, too.

[Tropia]

@grabit1 I have to agree, Streep is great, the very best actress living today and perhaps of all time, but in my book Meryl is one notch below Stanwyck, Stany is the most natural, intuitive most believable actress I have ever seen, and I'm not sure how she does it, she truly becomes the person she portrays, its like she knows and has lived her character's whole back story, a testament to her brilliance as an actor. Streep deserves her kudos, but Stanwyck is the real deal, I love her so much!

[freetobeme03]

Just saw this movie on TV and almost changed the channel, but glad I didn't. This was one of the sweetest performances I've seen her play...and her co-actor was genius too.

[Tropia]

I love how Stany clears out an entire church in 60 seconds flat, and all she had to do was speak the truth. No truer words were ever spoken.

[grabit1]

What an actress.  'Nuff said.

[BobbydaCrush]

Ahh Missy, It is now the 80th anniversary of this movie and it still warms my heart. What a beautiful gem you were.

[northbreed1]

@BobbydaCrush Thanks for leaving such a heartfelt comment, BdC.

[grabit1]

@BobbydaCrush

My favorite. She was sensational.

[paulj0557]

@JoanWasQuizzical1 Where are these meetings for research documented? Is it an observation from someone interviewed for a book or something. I no doubt believe Sister Aimee had a persona far deeper and more eloquent at times than the script for this movie, but Stanwyck being the 'determined to get it right' woman she was gave us Sister Aimee's essence at the very least. I enjoyed the movie because it exposed a corrupt side of religion before Hayes code came in and made all religion Holy.

[JoanWasQuizzical1]

I'm probably the biggest Capra fan alive and this film disappoints on so many levels. It was said Capra & Riskin (who wrote a Sister Aimee play in the twenties) went to see Aimee McPherson w/Stanwyck as research for this film. None of that shows up in the storyline; rather, what does show up -- as in this clip -- is Capra's stalwart patriarchy. Many writers from Woollcott to Dorothy Parker to even Herman Mankiewicz tried their hand w/ Aimee and failed -- but Capra's fail is spectacular.

[grabit1]

@JoanWasQuizzical1 I'm sorry that you feel that way. I could not possibly disgree more.

Maybe we expect too much from movies. But I'd appreciate hearing your point of view on how this was a spectacular fail.

[grabit1]

@JoanWasQuizzical1

I suggest that you watch it again.

[grabit1]

@JoanWasQuizzical1

Don't mean to stalk you in cyberspace, but I'm at least as big a Capra fan but also realize his stalwart patriarchy, especially in MEET JOHN DOE, which I think is his greatest film but also the one that proves he wasn't perfect (as if I, or you probably, would want him to be).

[grabit1]

This isn't the first time I've responded, nor will it probably be the last. But watching Stanwyck between age 25 (as here) and age 75 (as in "The Thorn Birds") just confirms what I've thought all this time. As have many others. Pure genius. With either a birthday cake, or a gun, or perhaps both, before the closing credits.

[mikel3363]

@grabit1 Barbara was one of the film greats....!

[libearian]

Give 'em hell, Missy!

[darlingdelovely]

this needs to be on dvd this very second

[Callicafan1]

She's flawless.

[poughkeepsiejohn]

I thought this film was available on "The Frank Capra DVD Collection" but it turns out I was wrong. I'm glad it's coming out soon. What a remarkable, timeless film this is. And Barbara Stanwyck, what a firebrand she was.

[grabit1]

Damn. Stanwyck was wonderful. Too bad she didn't get to work with Lombard. Both rough knocks kids only a year apart in age.

Jane Alice Peters and Ruby Stevens. They would have probably both tried to beat the hell out of each other.

Until they both stayed up all night together and made birthday cakes for the little kids on the set the next day.

Sounds like Meryl Streep today.

The great actresses have continuity.

[peterthorpe]

One of David Manners' best roles. He was very fond of Stanwyck.

[Picklepuss]

Wow! This looks incredible.

[grabit1]

P.S. What's also interesting is this is one of Frank Capra's few straight dramas. But he did make a few.

[grabit1]

Stanwyck was only 24 when she made this, and look at where she already was.

Incredible.

[mikel3363]

@grabit1 Stanwyck had maturity and unusual depth to her acting at a young age. Surely one of the very greats!

[JackFlanders]

wow

[countrygirltori]

LOVE HER!