Marjorie Reynolds

Marjorie Reynolds (née Goodspeed; August 12, 1917 – February 1, 1997) was an American film and television actress who appeared in more than 50 films, including the 1942 musical Holiday Inn,^[1] in which she and Bing Crosby introduced the song "White Christmas" in a duet, albeit with her singing dubbed.

Marjorie Reynolds
Reynolds in 1955
Born	Marjorie Goodspeed (1917-08-12)August 12, 1917 Buhl, Idaho, U.S.
Died	February 1, 1997(1997-02-01) (aged 79) Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1923–24 1933–78
Spouses	Jack Reynolds ​ ​ (m. 1936; div. 1952)​ John M. Haffen (performed as John Whitney) ​ ​ (m. 1953; died 1985)​
Children	1

Early life

The daughter of a doctor and his wife,^[2] Reynolds was born Marjorie Goodspeed in Buhl, Idaho.^[3] She acted under the names Marjorie Goodspeed and Marjorie Moore.^[4] When she was three years old, her family moved to Los Angeles, California.^[2] She began to take dancing lessons at age 4. She attended Los Angeles High School.^[5]

Career

Beginning at age 6,^[2] Reynolds was a featured child actress in such silent films as Scaramouche (1923). At age 8 she stopped acting to concentrate on education until leaving school at 16 to play a ballerina in Herbert Brenon's Wine, Women and Song (1933). She went on to appear in bit parts in many films, including Gone with the Wind (1939) and as a chorus girl in Paramount Pictures musicals. Her first speaking role was in Murder in Greenwich Village (1937) and she then appeared in a number of westerns for Poverty Row studios opposite most of the cowboy stars of the time with the exception of Gene Autry.^[6]

Reynolds played the loyal girlfriend opposite wrongly accused Richard Cromwell in Enemy Agent (1940). That same year, in The Fatal Hour, Reynolds appeared for Monogram Pictures as a reporter on the trail of Boris Karloff's detective James Lee Wong and opposite Grant Withers as a cop.

Doomed to Die (1940), Boris Karloff seated. Standing L-R, Marjorie Reynolds, Gibson Gowland, Grant Withers

William Bendix and Marjorie Reynolds in a 1956 episode of the television series The Life of Riley

Perhaps her best-known film was Holiday Inn (1942), which introduced the classic song "White Christmas". She performed the song both as a duet with Bing Crosby and later in a solo performance, although her singing was dubbed by Martha Mears.^[7] The movie also showcased her dancing ability.

She also had major roles in Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear (1944) and in the movie Up in Mabel's Room (1944).^[8] Her career progression was hindered by the premature death of her mentor, Mark Sandrich.

Reynolds starred with Abbott and Costello in the supernatural comedy The Time of Their Lives (1946), one of the few films with Abbott and Costello as leads but not together as a team. Instead, Costello spends most of his screen time with Reynolds; they play a pair of American Revolution ghosts who need the help of Abbott and his friends to get to heaven. Leonard Maltin's review of the film describes it as "Most unusual film for A&C and one of their best... Imaginative, funny, and well done."^[9] She was cast in a supporting role in Mario Lanza's film debut, That Midnight Kiss (1949).

She later appeared in the NBC version of the television series The Life of Riley^[10] (1953–1958) and appeared on three episodes of the television series Leave it to Beaver (1960–1963).

Personal life

Reynolds was married to Jack Reynolds, a casting director.^[11] The couple had a daughter, Linda, and divorced in 1952.^[12] Her second husband was film editor Jon M. Haffen (who during his acting career had been billed as John Whitney). He died in 1985.^[3][13][7]

Recognition

Reynolds has a star in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1525 Vine Street.^[14]

Death

On February 1, 1997, having suffered from congestive heart disease, she collapsed and died in Manhattan Beach, California, while walking her dog. She was 79 years old.^{[citation needed]}

Acting credits

Film

Year	Title	Role	Director	Producer	Studio/Distributor	Other cast members	Refs.
1923	The Broken Wing	Child (uncredited)	Tom Forman	B. P. Shulberg Productions	Al Lichtman, Preferred Pictures, Exclusivité Equitable Films	Kenneth Harlan, Miriam Cooper	[15]
	Scaramouche	Bit part (uncredited)	Rex Ingram	Rex Ingram	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry, Lewis Stone	[15]
	Trilby	Waif (uncredited)	James Young	Richard Walton Tully	Associated First National Pictures	Andrée Lafayette, Creighton Hale
1924	Revelation	Child (uncredited)	George D. Baker		Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Viola Dana, Monte Blue, Lew Cody	[15]
1933	Wine, Women and Song	Marilyn Arnette (credited as Marjorie Moore)	Herbert Brenon	I. E. Chadwick	State Rights	Lilyan Tashman, Lew Cody	[16]
	College Humor	(uncredited)	Wesley Ruggles	William LeBaron		Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Richard Arlen, Mary Carlisle	[15]
1935	Collegiate	(uncredited)	Ralph Murphy	Adolph Zukor	Paramount Pictures	Jack Oakie	[4]
1936	The Big Broadcast of 1937	(uncredited)	Mitchell Leisen	Adolph Zukor	Paramount Pictures	Jack Benny
	Three Cheers for Love	(Uncredited)	Ray McCarey	Adolph Zukor	Paramount Pictures	Robert Cummings, Eleanore Whitney
	College Holiday	Student (uncredited)	Frank Tuttle	William LeBaron, Harlan Thompson	Paramount	Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye	[17]
	Dancing Pirate	(Uncredited)	Lloyd Corrigan	Merian C. Cooper	RKO Pictures	Rita Hayworth, Frank Morgan, Charles Collins
1937	Murder in Greenwich Village	Molly Murphy	Albert S. Rogell	Irving Briskin	Columbia Pictures	Richard Arlen, Fay Wray	[18]
	Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts	Norma Willis	Ray Taylor	Edward L. Alperson	Grand National Films Inc.	Tex Ritter, Philip Ahn	[19]
1938	Western Trails	Alice	George Waggner	Paul Malvern	Universal Pictures	Bob Baker	[20]
	Delinquent Parents	Edythe Ellis as a young woman	Nick Grinde	Ben N. Judell	State Rights	Doris Weston	[21]
	Rebellious Daughters	Claire	Jean Yarbrough	Ben N. Judell	State Rights	Verna Hillie	[22]
	Six Shootin' Sheriff	Molly Morgan	Harry L. Fraser	Max Alexander	Grand National Films Inc.	Ken Maynard	[23]
	The Overland Express	Jean Greeley	Drew Eberson	L. G. Leonard	Columbia Pictures	Buck Jones	[24]
	Black Bandit	Jane Allen	George Waggner	Trem Carr	Universal Pictures	Bob Baker	[25]
	Guilty Trails	Jackie	George Waggner	Trem Carr	Universal Pictures	Bob Baker	[26]
	Man's Country	Madge Crane	Robert Hill	Robert Tansey	Monogram Pictures	Jack Randall	[27]
1939	Gone with the Wind	(uncredited)	Victor Fleming	David O. Selznick	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Vivien Leigh	[28]
	Mr. Wong in Chinatown	Bobby Logan	William Nigh	William T. Lackey	Monogram Pictures	Boris Karloff, Grant Withers	[29]
	Streets of New York	Anne Carroll	William Nigh	Scott R. Dunlap	Monagram Pictures	Jackie Cooper	[30]
	Sky Patrol	Betty Lou Barnes	Howard Bretherton	Paul Malvern	Monogram Pictures	Jackie Coogan, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.	[31]
	Racketeers of the Range	Helen Lewis	D. Ross Lederman	Bert Gilroy	RKO Radio Pictures	George O'Brien, Chill Wills	[32]
	Danger Flight	Betty Lou	Howard Bretherton	Paul Malvern	Monogram Pictures	Milburn Stone, Jacon Robards Sr.	[33]
	Mystery Plane	Betty Lou	George Waggner	Paul Malvern	Monogram Pictures	Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.	[34]
	Stunt Pilot	Betty Lou	George Waggner	Paul Malvern	Monogram Pictures	Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr.	[35]
	The Phantom Stage	Mary	George Waggner	Trem Carr	Universal Pictures	Bob Baker	[36]
	Timber Stampede	Anne Carr	David Howard	Bert Gilroy	RKO Radio Pictures	Chill Wills	[37]
1940	The Fatal Hour	Bobby Logan	William Nigh	William T. Lackey	Monogram Pictures	Boris Karloff, Grant Withers	[38]
	Doomed to Die	Bobby Logan	William Nigh	William T. Lackey	Monogram Pictures	Boris Karloff, Grant Withers	[39]
	Midnight Limited	Joan Marshall	Howard Bretherton	T. R. Williams	Monogram Pictures	John 'Dusty' King	[40]
	Chasing Trouble	Susie	Howard Bretherton	Grant Withers	Monogram Pictures	Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Milburn Stone	[41]
	Up in the Air	Anne Mason	Howard Bretherton	Lindsley Parsons	Monogram Pictures	Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland	[42]
	Enemy Agent	Peggy O'Reilly	Lew Landers	Ben Pivar	Universal Pictures	Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, Robert Armstrong	[43]
1941	Cyclone on Horseback	Mary Corbin	Edward Killy	Bert Gilroy	RKO Radio Pictures	Tim Holt	[44]
	Dude Cowboy	Barbara Adams	David Howard	Bert Gilroy	RKO Radio Pictures	Tim Holt	[45]
	The Great Swindle	Margaret Swann	Lewis D. Collins	Larry Darmour	Columbia Pictures	Jack Holt	[46]
	Robin Hood of the Pecos	Jeanie Grayson	Joseph Kane	Joseph Kane	Republic Pictures	Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes	[47]
	Secret Evidence	Linda Wilson	William Nigh	E.B. Derr	Producers Releasing Corporation	Charles Quigley	[48]
	Tillie the Toiler	Bubbles	Sidney Salkow	Robert Sparks	Columbia Pictures	William Tracy, Sylvia Field	[49]
	Top Sergeant Mulligan	Gail Nash	Jean Yarbrough	Lindsley Parsons	Monogram Pictures	Nat Pendleton, Carol Hughes, Sterling Holloway	[50]
	Law of the Timber	Perry Lorimar	Bernard B. Ray	Bernard B. Ray	Producers Releasing Corporation	Monte Blue, J. Farrell MacDonald	[51]
1942	Holiday Inn	Linda Mason	Mark Sandrich	Mark Sandrich	Paramount Pictures	Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Virginia Dale	[52]
1943	Dixie	Jean Mason	A. Edward Sutherland	Paul Jones	Paramount Pictures	Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Billy De Wolfe, Clara Blandick, Eddie Foy, Jr.	[53]
	Star Spangled Rhythm	Herself	George Marshall	Joseph Sistrom	Paramount Pictures	Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Mary Martin, Veronica Lake	[54]
1944	Ministry of Fear	Carla Hilfe	Fritz Lang	Buddy G. DeSylva	Paramount Pictures	Ray Milland, Carl Esmond, Hillary Brooke	[55]
	3 Is a Family	Kitty Mitchell	Edward Ludwig	Sol Lesser	United Artists	Charles Ruggles, Fay Bainter, Hattie McDaniel, Arthur Lake	[56]
	Up in Mabel's Room	Geraldine Ainsworth	Allan Dwan	Edward Small	United Artists	Charlotte Greenwood, Gail Patrick, Dennis O'Keefe	[57]
1945	Bring on the Girls	Sue Thomas	Sidney Lanfield	Fred Kohlmar	Paramount Pictures	Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake	[58]
	Duffy's Tavern	Peggy O'Malley	Hal Walker	Danny Dare	Paramount Pictures	Bing Crosby	[59]
1946	Meet Me on Broadway	Ann Stallings	Leigh Jacon	Burt Kelly	Columbia Pictures	Fred Brady	[60]
	Monsieur Beaucaire	Princess Maria of Spain	George Marshall	Paul Jones	Paramount Pictures	Bob Hope	[61]
	The Time of Their Lives	Melody Allen	Charles Barton	Val Burton	Universal Pictures	Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Gale Sondergaard	[62]
1947	Heaven Only Knows	Ginger	Albert S. Rogell	Seymour Nebenzal	United Artists	Robert Cummings, Brian Donlevy	[63]
1949	Bad Men of Tombstone	Julie	Kurt Neumann	Maurice King	King Brothers Productions	Barry Sullivan, Broderick Crawford	[64]
	That Midnight Kiss	Mary	Norman Taurog	Joe Pasternak	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Mario Lanza, Kathryn Grayson	[65]
1950	Customs Agent	Lucille Gerrard	Seymour Friedman	Rudolph Flothow	Columbia Pictures	Benson Fong, William Eythe	[66]
	The Great Jewel Robber	Martha Rollins	Peter Godfrey	Bryan Foy	Warner Bros.	John Archer, David Brian	[67]
	Rookie Fireman	Margie Williams	Seymour Friedman	Milton Feldman	Columbia Pictures	Bill Williams, Barton MacLane	[68]
1951	His Kind of Woman	Helen Cardigan	John Farrow	Robert Sparks	RKO Pictures	Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Vincent Price	[69]
	Home Town Story	Janice Hunt	Arthur Pierson	Arthur Pierson	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Jeffrey Lynn, Donald Crisp, Alan Hale, Jr.	[70]
1952	Models Inc.	Peggy Howard	Reginald Le Borg	Jack Dietz	Mutual Pictures Corporation	Howard Duff, Coleen Gray	[71]
	No Holds Barred	Rhonda Nelson	William Beaudine	Jerry Thomas	Monogram Pictures	Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, David Gorcey, Bernard Gorcey	[72]
1956	Mobs, Inc.	Mary Hale Browne (archive footage)	William Asher			Reed Hadley	[73]
1959	Juke Box Rhythm	Martha Manton	Arthur Dreifuss	Sam Katzman	Columbia Pictures	Jo Morrow, Jack Jones, Brian Donlevy	[74]
1962	The Silent Witness	Mary	Ken Kennedy	Ken Kennedy	Emerson Film Enterprises Inc.	George Kennedy	[75]

Television

Year	Title	Role	Episode	Refs.
1949	Hands of Mystery		Secret Life of a Killer
1951	The Bigelow Theatre		A Case of Marriage	[15]
	Hollywood Theatre Time	Sally Sanders	The Spectre	[76]
	Racket Squad		The Fabulous Mr. James
	Gruen Guild Theater		The Luckiest Guy in the World	[15]
	Gruen Guild Theater		Peril in the House
1952	The Unexpected	The Blonde	The Slide Rule Blonde
1953	The Abbott and Costello Show	Nurse	Peace and Quiet	[77]
1955	The Millionaire	Louise Malcolm	The Fred Malcolm Story
1953–1958	The Life of Riley	Peg Riley	76 episodes	[15]
1960	The Millionaire	Barbara's Mother	Millionaire Dixon Cooper
	Shirley Temple's Storybook	Betty	Emmy Lou
	Leave It to Beaver	Mrs. Murdock	Chuckie's New Shoes
1961	Whispering Smith	Baby Doll Harris	The Idol
	Surfside 6	Mrs. Phelps	Little Star Lost
1962	Tales of Wells Fargo	Helen Mapes	Don't Wake a Tiger
	Alcoa Premiere	Eleanor	The Cake Baker	[15]
	Leave It to Beaver	Mrs. Murdock	Beaver the Babysitter
	Our Man Higgins	Dodie Bannister	The Three Faces of Higgins
1963	Laramie	Mrs. Sherman	The Last Battleground	[78]
	Leave It to Beaver	Mildred Gregory	The All-Night Party
	Wide Country	Katy Blaufus	The Quest for Jacob Blaufus
	Our Man Higgins	Dodie Bannister	Black Thursday
	Our Man Higgins	Dodie Bannister	The Milkman Cometh
1969	The Good Guys	Annie Butterworth	Love Comes to Annie Butterworth
1978	Pearl	Nurse #3		[79]