Miriam Hopkins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ellen Miriam Hopkins (October 18, 1902 – October 9, 1972) was an American actress known for her versatility. She first signed with Paramount Pictures in 1930, working with Ernst Lubitsch and Joel McCrea, among many others. Her long-running feud with Bette Davis was publicized for effect. Later she became a pioneer of TV drama. Hopkins was a distinguished Hollywood hostess, who moved in intellectual and creative circles. At age 20, Hopkins became a chorus girl in New York City. In 1930, she signed with Paramount Pictures, and made her official film debut in Fast and Loose. Her first great success was in the 1931 horror drama film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in which she portrayed the character Ivy Pearson, a prostitute who becomes entangled with Jekyll and Hyde. Hopkins received rave reviews, but because of the potential controversy of the film and her character, many of her scenes were cut before the official release, reducing her screen time to approximately five minutes. Nevertheless, her career ascended swiftly thereafter and in 1932 she scored her breakthrough in Ernst Lubitsch's Trouble in Paradise, where she proved her charm and wit as a beautiful and jealous pickpocket. During the pre-code Hollywood of the early 1930s, she appeared in The Smiling Lieutenant, The Story of Temple Drake and Design for Living, all of which were box office successes and critically acclaimed. Her pre-Code films were considered risqué at the time, ...

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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men - a good and an evil side. He believes that by separating the two, man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments with chemicals to accomplish this and transforms into Hyde to commit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Fredric March  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Rose Hobart  •  Holmes Herbert

Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men - a good and an evil side. He believes that by separating the two, man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments with chemicals to accomplish this and transforms into Hyde to commit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Fredric March  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Rose Hobart  •  Holmes Herbert

The Heiress (1949)

Dull and plain Catherine lives with her emotionally distant father, Dr. Sloper, in 1840s New York. Her days are empty — filled with little more than needlepoint. Enter handsome Morris Townsend, a dashing social climber with his eye on the spinster's heart and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Olivia de Havilland  •  Montgomery Clift  •  Ralph Richardson  •  Miriam Hopkins

Dull and plain Catherine lives with her emotionally distant father, Dr. Sloper, in 1840s New York. Her days are empty — filled with little more than needlepoint. Enter handsome Morris Townsend, a dashing social climber with his eye on the spinster's heart and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Olivia de Havilland  •  Montgomery Clift  •  Ralph Richardson  •  Miriam Hopkins

These Three (1936)

Martha and Karen graduate from college and turn an old Massachusetts farm into a school for girls. The friends are aided in their venture by local doctor Joe Cardin, who begins a relationship with Karen, and a prominent woman whose granddaughter, Mary, later ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Merle Oberon  •  Joel McCrea  •  Catherine Doucet

Martha and Karen graduate from college and turn an old Massachusetts farm into a school for girls. The friends are aided in their venture by local doctor Joe Cardin, who begins a relationship with Karen, and a prominent woman whose granddaughter, Mary, later ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Merle Oberon  •  Joel McCrea  •  Catherine Doucet

Trouble in Paradise (1932)

Thief Gaston Monescu and pickpocket Lily are partners in crime and love. Working for perfume company executive Mariette Colet, the two crooks decide to combine their criminal talents to rob their employer. Under the alias of Monsieur Laval, Gaston uses his position ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernst Lubitsch
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Kay Francis  •  Herbert Marshall  •  Charles Ruggles

Thief Gaston Monescu and pickpocket Lily are partners in crime and love. Working for perfume company executive Mariette Colet, the two crooks decide to combine their criminal talents to rob their employer. Under the alias of Monsieur Laval, Gaston uses his position ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernst Lubitsch
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Kay Francis  •  Herbert Marshall  •  Charles Ruggles

Virginia City (1940)

Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from a Confederate prison and races to intercept $5 million in gold destined for Confederate coffers. A Confederate sympathizer and a Mexican bandit, each with their own stake in the loot, stand in his way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Curtiz
CAST:  Errol Flynn  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Randolph Scott  •  Humphrey Bogart

Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from a Confederate prison and races to intercept $5 million in gold destined for Confederate coffers. A Confederate sympathizer and a Mexican bandit, each with their own stake in the loot, stand in his way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Curtiz
CAST:  Errol Flynn  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Randolph Scott  •  Humphrey Bogart

The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)

A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn for girlfriend, Franzi, is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna. As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernst Lubitsch
CAST:  Maurice Chevalier  •  Claudette Colbert  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Charles Ruggles

A simple wink, intended by Austrian palace guard Lt. Nikolaus von Preyn for girlfriend, Franzi, is accidentally intercepted -- and misread -- by the visiting Princess Anna. As a result, the soldier has no choice but to marry the royal lady and move with her to the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ernst Lubitsch
CAST:  Maurice Chevalier  •  Claudette Colbert  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Charles Ruggles

Becky Sharp (1935)

The first feature length film to use three-strip Technicolor film. Adapted from a play that was adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's book "Vanity Fair", the film looks at the English class system during the Napoleonic Wars era.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Frances Dee  •  Cedric Hardwicke  •  Billie Burke

The first feature length film to use three-strip Technicolor film. Adapted from a play that was adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's book "Vanity Fair", the film looks at the English class system during the Napoleonic Wars era.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Frances Dee  •  Cedric Hardwicke  •  Billie Burke

The Mating Season (1951)

Ellen McNulty leaves her New Jersey hamburger stand and heads west to pay a surprise visit to her son and his new bride. When Ellen arrives, her daughter-in-law mistakes her for the maid she has hired for a big party they are throwing. Rather than cause any ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitchell Leisen
CAST:  Gene Tierney  •  John Lund  •  Thelma Ritter  •  Miriam Hopkins

Ellen McNulty leaves her New Jersey hamburger stand and heads west to pay a surprise visit to her son and his new bride. When Ellen arrives, her daughter-in-law mistakes her for the maid she has hired for a big party they are throwing. Rather than cause any ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitchell Leisen
CAST:  Gene Tierney  •  John Lund  •  Thelma Ritter  •  Miriam Hopkins

The House That Shadows Built (1931)

The House That Shadows Built (1931) is a short feature, roughly 48 minutes long, from Paramount Pictures made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the studio's founding in 1912. It was a promotional film for exhibitors and never had a regular theatrical release and ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Groucho Marx  •  Harpo Marx  •  Chico Marx  •  Zeppo Marx

The House That Shadows Built (1931) is a short feature, roughly 48 minutes long, from Paramount Pictures made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the studio's founding in 1912. It was a promotional film for exhibitors and never had a regular theatrical release and ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Groucho Marx  •  Harpo Marx  •  Chico Marx  •  Zeppo Marx

Wise Girl (1937)

Snooty heiress decides to track down her dead sister's kids, who are living a Bohemian life with their uncle in Greenwich Village. Once she finds them, she discovers that the Bohemian life is fun and free of the constraints her country-club life places on her. But ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leigh Jason
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Ray Milland  •  Walter Abel  •  Henry Stephenson

Snooty heiress decides to track down her dead sister's kids, who are living a Bohemian life with their uncle in Greenwich Village. Once she finds them, she discovers that the Bohemian life is fun and free of the constraints her country-club life places on her. But ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leigh Jason
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Ray Milland  •  Walter Abel  •  Henry Stephenson

The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1952)

Four undesirables run out of a mining town and become marooned in a deserted mountain cabin during a raging snowstorm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph M. Newman
CAST:  Anne Baxter  •  Dale Robertson  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Cameron Mitchell

Four undesirables run out of a mining town and become marooned in a deserted mountain cabin during a raging snowstorm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph M. Newman
CAST:  Anne Baxter  •  Dale Robertson  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Cameron Mitchell

The Stranger's Return (1933)

A divorcée leaves New York to visit her grandfather's farm and recover in the Midwest, where she unexpectedly falls in love with a married farmer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  King Vidor
CAST:  Lionel Barrymore  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Franchot Tone  •  Stuart Erwin

A divorcée leaves New York to visit her grandfather's farm and recover in the Midwest, where she unexpectedly falls in love with a married farmer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  King Vidor
CAST:  Lionel Barrymore  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Franchot Tone  •  Stuart Erwin

Men Are Not Gods (1936)

Actor Edmund Davey becomes a star overnight when his wife and co-star teams up with the secretary of a noted stage critic to produce a glowing review of his 'Othello'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Reisch
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Gertrude Lawrence  •  Rex Harrison  •  Sebastian Shaw

Actor Edmund Davey becomes a star overnight when his wife and co-star teams up with the secretary of a noted stage critic to produce a glowing review of his 'Othello'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Reisch
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Gertrude Lawrence  •  Rex Harrison  •  Sebastian Shaw

She Loves Me Not (1934)

A cabaret dancer witnesses a murder and is forced to hide from gangsters by disguising herself as a male Princeton student.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Kitty Carlisle  •  Edward Nugent

A cabaret dancer witnesses a murder and is forced to hide from gangsters by disguising herself as a male Princeton student.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Kitty Carlisle  •  Edward Nugent

A Gentleman After Dark (1942)

A greedy woman betrays her jewel thief husband to the police, for the reward. Her husband's friend, a detective, adopts the couple's child and raises her as his own. Eighteen years later the husband, still in prison, finds out that his ex-wife is now blackmailing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edwin L. Marin
CAST:  Brian Donlevy  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Preston Foster  •  Harold Huber

A greedy woman betrays her jewel thief husband to the police, for the reward. Her husband's friend, a detective, adopts the couple's child and raises her as his own. Eighteen years later the husband, still in prison, finds out that his ex-wife is now blackmailing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edwin L. Marin
CAST:  Brian Donlevy  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Preston Foster  •  Harold Huber

Woman Chases Man (1937)

A pretty architect devises a wild scheme to convince a handsome millionaire to fund a new housing development project.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Blystone
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Joel McCrea  •  Charles Winninger  •  Erik Rhodes

A pretty architect devises a wild scheme to convince a handsome millionaire to fund a new housing development project.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Blystone
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Joel McCrea  •  Charles Winninger  •  Erik Rhodes

Lady with Red Hair (1940)

An actress hopes to regain her lost son by making it to the top.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Bernhardt
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Claude Rains  •  Richard Ainley  •  Laura Hope Crews

An actress hopes to regain her lost son by making it to the top.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Bernhardt
CAST:  Miriam Hopkins  •  Claude Rains  •  Richard Ainley  •  Laura Hope Crews

Splendor (1935)

When Brighton Lorrimore returns home with his new bride, Phyllis, his family makes their disappointment in his choice obvious. Facing bankruptcy and the loss of their mansion and social position, they had hoped that Brighton would marry wealthy heiress and family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Paul Cavanagh  •  Billie Burke

When Brighton Lorrimore returns home with his new bride, Phyllis, his family makes their disappointment in his choice obvious. Facing bankruptcy and the loss of their mansion and social position, they had hoped that Brighton would marry wealthy heiress and family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Paul Cavanagh  •  Billie Burke

The World and the Flesh (1932)

During the 1917 Russian revolution, a group of artistocrats find themselves in the custody of a brutal Communist revolutionary. He lusts after one of them, a ballerina, and gives her an ultimatum: give in to him or her friends will face the firing squad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Cromwell
CAST:  George Bancroft  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Alan Mowbray  •  George E. Stone

During the 1917 Russian revolution, a group of artistocrats find themselves in the custody of a brutal Communist revolutionary. He lusts after one of them, a ballerina, and gives her an ultimatum: give in to him or her friends will face the firing squad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Cromwell
CAST:  George Bancroft  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  Alan Mowbray  •  George E. Stone

The Old Maid (1939)

The lives of two cousins are complicated by the return of an ex-boyfriend and an illegitimate child.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmund Goulding
CAST:  Bette Davis  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  George Brent  •  Jane Bryan

The lives of two cousins are complicated by the return of an ex-boyfriend and an illegitimate child.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmund Goulding
CAST:  Bette Davis  •  Miriam Hopkins  •  George Brent  •  Jane Bryan
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