always classy Eve
I saw this movie when it came out in '72. I was just looking to see if I could find it on DVD or video, but did not see that it was available. Eve Arden was incredible. At this point of her career she was in her early 60s (she was born in 1908; not in 1912 like some biographies say). She had the starring role in this movie, and she carried it off so well. As is always the case, with her movies and guest spots on TV, she was so charming and classy; also very funny. And for a woman 63 or 64 years of age, she seemed to have a boundless amount of energy----looked to me like someone who had no plans on slowly down, anytime soon.
And, in my opinion anyway, Eve always looked so much younger than her chronological age. I am reminded that, in the late 60s, she was playing the role of a mother-in-law, who was supposed to be in her 40s, when she was already right around 60 ("The Mothers-In-Law"). Also, in the class movie, "Grease", she was about 70, when she played the principal. She looked more like her early to mid 50s in that role.
In "A Very Missing Person", she played a woman who had been an English teacher. I wonder if her popular series, "Our Miss Brooks" (in which she also played a teacher) had something to do with why the producers picked her for this role (one could say the same thing about "Grease", since she was also in "Education" there).
I would have to disagree that "Grease" was her swan song, like one of the other reviewers of this movie pointed out. If you look at her IMDb credit list, she continued to make films, and do guest spots, well into the 80s (and not just Grease II). The long illness and death of her husband, in the 80s, no doubt slowed her down (and not just her own later health problems).
I remember really enjoying this movie. I have not seen it since 1972, so I don't recall everything about it. But I would have to agree with the reviewer who said that Eve would have made a great Jessica Fletcher on "Murder She Wrote". May Eve rest in peace. The 16 years, since her death, are 16 years WAY TOO LONG. How I wish she were still with us, and as healthy as her character in "A Very Missing Person".
And, in my opinion anyway, Eve always looked so much younger than her chronological age. I am reminded that, in the late 60s, she was playing the role of a mother-in-law, who was supposed to be in her 40s, when she was already right around 60 ("The Mothers-In-Law"). Also, in the class movie, "Grease", she was about 70, when she played the principal. She looked more like her early to mid 50s in that role.
In "A Very Missing Person", she played a woman who had been an English teacher. I wonder if her popular series, "Our Miss Brooks" (in which she also played a teacher) had something to do with why the producers picked her for this role (one could say the same thing about "Grease", since she was also in "Education" there).
I would have to disagree that "Grease" was her swan song, like one of the other reviewers of this movie pointed out. If you look at her IMDb credit list, she continued to make films, and do guest spots, well into the 80s (and not just Grease II). The long illness and death of her husband, in the 80s, no doubt slowed her down (and not just her own later health problems).
I remember really enjoying this movie. I have not seen it since 1972, so I don't recall everything about it. But I would have to agree with the reviewer who said that Eve would have made a great Jessica Fletcher on "Murder She Wrote". May Eve rest in peace. The 16 years, since her death, are 16 years WAY TOO LONG. How I wish she were still with us, and as healthy as her character in "A Very Missing Person".
- briankistler
- May 25, 2006