While she was incomparable as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show, her most profound impact on the collective unconscious came with her portrayal of Annie Hayworth in Hitchcock's The Birds.
The human race can be dichotomized along many different lines: Dog people vs. Cat people. Rollercoaster freaks vs. Ferris Wheel junkies. Carrot eaters vs. Celery fans. People who melt at the sound of Karen Carpenter's voice vs. People who just don't get it.
In The Birds two archetypes meet: Tippi Hedren's icy blond ... vs. Suzanne Pleshette's smoldering brunette.
The odds were against Pleshette. Annie Hayworth is Bodega Bay's schoolteacher, a single woman headed for spinsterhood - dumped by Rod Taylor's Mitch Brenner. (Taylor's cleft chin actually received a special Oscar that year, presented by Kirk Douglas.) Mitch takes up with Melanie Daniels (Tippi) soon after she drives up from San Francisco with a pair of lovebirds, no doubt signaling to the audience Hitchcock's preference.
Yet Pleshette subverts all expectations by simply out-sexying Tippi Hedren. If the world can be divided between Suzanne Pleshette people and Tippi Hedren people, then the former group is surely larger. No contest. I combed YouTube for video proof of my unarguable thesis. Here's a remix of the scene where Annie and Melanie chat about Mitch and Mitch's mother in Annie's cottage:
I can't tell what Annie is serving. (Port? Sherry? Scotch?) Clearly she's a good host. More importantly, look at the way she smokes!
To be sure, I am NOT using the death of Suzanne Pleshette as an excuse to bash Tippi Hedren. As readers of this blog know, it's not anti-Tippi Hedren to be pro-Suzanne Pleshette. In fact in 1996 I had the pleasure of meeting Tippi Hedren on a special tour of her California nature preserve Shambala. (My friend Richard was working at Fox Television and his boss Trevor took him and a group of friends, including me, on a tour.) After the psychological torment Tippi underwent at the hands of Hitchcock, it's remarkable that she maintains the presence of mind to interface with cheetahs and pumas on a daily basis.
I'm merely paying tribute to the achievements of actress (and unwitting brunette activist) Suzanne Pleshette, in a culture that worships blonds.
Look at this scene from The Birds:
At 3:00, Annie takes the information that Melanie has given her and, without missing a beat, takes control. Witness her calm during crisis. (Annie Hayworth for FEMA chief!)
I drove up to Bodega Bay in 2004 and had my picture taken in front of that schoolhouse. Sadly I can't find it now. Here's a picture of the mouse pad I bought, though:
By the way the scene in the diner in The Birds is my favorite. Mrs. Bundy, in the center of the mouse pad, is the elderly ornithologist who doubts Melanie's claims about the murderous birds.
I have long hated Mrs. Bundy. The character, played by English stage actress Ethel Griffies, is perhaps the greatest portrait of a know-it-all in cinema history. I can still hear my grandmother scowling at the TV when Mrs. Bundy lectures Melanie about birds being on "this planet since archeopteris, 140 million years ago." Meanwhile the seaside town is on the verge of catastrophe!
When the town needs action, Mrs. Bundy is the opposite, an ineffectual eggheady wonk. Frankly she is the reason that I would have had to vote for Eisenhower over Adlai Stevenson. She is imprisoned in her own ivory tower, completely detached from reality. Mrs. Bundy prattles while Bodega Bay burns.
I'm convinced that if Annie Hayworth's eyes hadn't been plucked out by this part of the movie, then the gas station never would have blown up.
Do you have any thoughts on the passing of Suzanne Pleshette? Or opinions on Mrs. Bundy?
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 5)
31. My dearest Mo,
What a great voice she had!
Final episode of The Newhart show?-BEST ENDING EVER!
I even watched Nightingales just to see Ms. Pleshette! (Boy was that a piece of crap show but she rose above the material)
When I was little, I always had to close my eyes when the pecked eyes scene came on.
I always hated Mrs. Bundy as well-AND her outfit.
As for blonde bashing-I was born blonde- white blonde as a matter of fact, that gradually got more red in it.(now getting more gray!)
I always hated the blonde bashing-I believed it was the Bleached blondes who started the sterotype, self-loathing brunettes hiding behind a peroxide facade.
Thank God Suzanne wasn't one of those!
RIP
Andrea at 3:48PM on Jan 21st 2008
32. Andrea, Andrea, Andrea,
Open your eyes.
Mrs. Bundy was Hitchcock's demonization of the Cultural Other. As a strong female? she was a risk to National Security. Her ideological stance threatened a worldwide takeover by Sputniks of every feather, or, at the very least, threatened one getting bird poop on their attire.
I guess you didn't like King Lear either.
At least the eyeball scene. I'll agree on that point. I also agree on the Newhart ending.
Hey, was Mary Eire banished from the blog? Inquiring minds want to know.
JG
John Giza at 4:12PM on Jan 21st 2008
33. Dr. W.
Could use a little help here.
JG
John Giza at 4:26PM on Jan 21st 2008
34. i saw the birds, but honestly, until i read this i had no idea that was her. don't get me wrong...yes, she was very pretty and was a good actress. the suzanne pleshette i have always recognized is the older version. newhart and beyond (mostly beyond). from what i have seen her in, i liked her more for her spunk and attitude. i loved her best as karen walker's mom on will and grace. a good hearted, spit in your eye, not gonna take any guff kinda gal. that is how i will remember her. and mo, all those years of her sexy smoking is what gave her her husky voice...but ultimately also helped in her early demise.
i can understand why people are sad when a classic movie star passes on. it is a little glimmer of that old hollywood magic going out. i think people miss the old days when studios made actors a star in every way, not just when they were on screen. the 40's and 50's stars had mystery and glamour. we just don't have that any more...
i am sorry to hear she passed. every death is a loss. my condolences to her family.
bobbleheaddoll at 5:24PM on Jan 21st 2008
35. One of my favoite lines from The BNS:
Howard Borden's brother, Norman, is coming to visit from Utah. He sells doors for a living.
Emily says, in her husky voice:
"Norman Borden; The Mormon Doorman?"
Priceless!!
RIP, Suzanne and Tom.
Marty at 5:36PM on Jan 21st 2008
36. Aw Mo,
Thanks Bobbles for reminding us what is important.
Mo, begging your indulgence, I would like to share a poem written by
Frank O’Hara and indirectly dedicate it to Suzanne Pleshette.
To the Film Industry in Crisis
Not you, lean quarterlies and swarthy periodicals
with your studious incursions toward the pomposity of ants,
nor you, experimental theater in which Emotive Fruition
is wedding Poetic Insight perpetually, nor you,
promenading Grand Opera, obvious as an ear (though you
are close to my heart), but you, Motion Picture
Industry, it's you I love!
In times of crisis, we must all decide again and again whom we love.
And give credit where it's due: not to my starched nurse, who taught me
how to be bad and not bad rather than good (and has lately availed
herself of this information), not to the Catholic Church
which is at best an oversolemn introduction to cosmic entertainment,
not to the American Legion, which hates everybody, but to you,
glorious Silver Screen, tragic Technicolor, amorous Cinemascope,
stretching Vistavision and startling Stereophonic Sound, with all
your heavenly dimensions and reverberations and iconoclasms! To
Richard Barthelmess as the "tol'able" boy barefoot and in pants,
Jeanette MacDonald of the flaming hair and lips and long, long neck,
Sue Carroll as she sits for eternity on the damaged fender of a car
and smiles, Ginger Rogers with her pageboy bob like a sausage
on her shuffling shoulders, peach-melba-voiced Fred Astaire of the feet,
Eric von Stroheim, the seducer of mountain-climbers' gasping spouses,
the Tarzans, each and every one of you (I cannot bring myself to prefer
Johnny Weissmuller to Lex Barker, I cannot!), Mae West in a furry sled,
her bordello radiance and bland remarks, Rudolph Valentino of the moon,
its crushing passions, and moonlike, too, the gentle Norma Shearer,
Miriam Hopkins dropping her champagne glass off Joel McCrea's yacht
and crying into the dappled sea, Clark Gable rescuing Gene Tierney
from Russia and Allan Jones rescuing Kitty Carlisle from Harpo Marx,
Cornel Wilde coughing blood on the piano keys while Merle Oberon berates,
Marilyn Monroe in her little spike heels reeling through Niagara Falls,
Joseph Cotten puzzling and Orson Welles puzzled and Dolores Del Rio
eating orchids for lunch and breaking mirrors, Gloria Swanson reclining,
and Jean Harlow reclining and wiggling, and Alice Faye reclining
and wiggling and singing, Myrna Loy being calm and wise, William Powell
in his stunning urbanity, Elizabeth Taylor blossoming, yes, to you
and to all you others, the great, the near-great, the featured, the extras
who pass quickly and return in your dreams saying your one or two lines, my love!
Long may you illumine space with your marvellous appearances, delays
and enunciations, and may the money of the world glitteringly cover you
as you rest after a long day under the kleig lights with your faces
in packs for our edification, the way the clouds come often at night
but the heavens operate on the star system. It is a divine precedent
you perpetuate! Roll on, reels of celluloid, as the great earth rolls on!
Thank You for your attention.
JG
John Giza at 5:48PM on Jan 21st 2008
37. Mo,
(I can't help but crave a further report on Tippi Hedren.)
Wonderful poem!......Gloria Swanson reclining...
And I agree, Bobbleheaddoll, it feels as if one of the stars in the sky has fluttered and winked out forever...
Andrea,
my first experience of "The Birds" was much like a Hitchcock film in and of itself! I was 7,walking down a long hallway fixated by the tensed faces on the couch, wondering what the devil they were watching ;listening to the tense musical build up,and as I turned the corner to see what was on the telly...right at that moment was the "pecked out eye" scene!!!! My whole scalp felt fried at that moment. Really surprised I didn't lose all my hair the next day. Naturally my hair will turn completely gray when my son turns 13.
J.G. the reason why I have a love/hate for Hitchcock is because I become submissive when I watch his films. He's the driver. I want to be manipulated,and yet again I don't. Yes, Mrs. Bundy with her mannish disdainfulness is so obviously a stereotype. I am charmed by your defense for lack of better word of Mrs. Bundy. :) May I have you on retainer?! :)
It is tempting to analyze Hitchcock's intent, it makes for a heady discussion. I certainly plan to read, R. J. Corber's book.( actually have it, I'm embarrassed to say) To be repulsed by Mrs. Bundy isn't to be repulsed by strong, bright women. Were that true Pleshette's character wouldn't go down the gullet easily. Also I absolutely MELT at Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple!-and she was quite mannish.
Hang in there with me J.G. there is hope! for what exactly...I don't know..
forgive the non sequitur-fest
Thankyou Suzanne for all you have given us!
God's blessings!
ah, clem at 6:03PM on Jan 21st 2008
38. WOW... this is very sad news. She was lovely and funny and just a beautiful lady. A very talented actress.
Patty at 6:47PM on Jan 21st 2008
39. OK,
I'm gonna get on the soapbox for a minute - just sitting, mind you, too tired to stand.
I hope everyone has thought about MLK today. I know I did, but maybe not for the same reasons as some others.
I am not understating what the good Reverend did for our country, not at all. He gave us an enormous gift there, regardless of the rumor mill that's always churning. He was courage personified.
But, the gift I feel most personally, was his talent as an orator. The "I have a dream" speech is one of the 3 most impressive addresses I have ever had the priviledge to hear, and today I had to ruminate over them all.
1. "I have a dream..." 4 simple words spoke the secrets of the hearts of so many unable to speak and so many afraid to. So sad it took so long for his importance to be validated. People actually said to me today "What? Everything's closed?" It made me depressed. Not only were they unable to understand the importance of the actions, they missed the beauty of the words. I have never heard a sermon as lovely and powerful as that, so full of longing but fired with belief.
2. The address Reagan gave after the Challenger disaster, where he spoke of them slipping their human bonds and touching the face of God. I was home sick that day, in Seminole, FL, from high school. My mom and I were watching the launch and saw it as it unfolded. We ran to the driveway and saw the trails of smoke far up in the sky. Those words were devastating in their beauty and finality.
3. The address Bush gave about a day after 9/11. When he spoke of our country's pain and said "I hear you, the world hears you, and whoever did this will hear from all of us very soon" (paraphrasing)
I thought, that was a brilliant piece of work, because all us ordinary people are so bruised and battered from just watching this, wondering where is the champion? Are we able to be our own champion anymore?
Anyway, I did no research for this, I just spoke from the heart. And that's the point I guess.
I love the word, the thought. I wonder what we miss not understanding the language of the creatures that surround us? The poetry and the artistry and crassness and vulgarity are such a comfort to me. The idea may be the battle, but the words win the war.
Sorry to go on.... RIP Dr. King.
Gabrielle at 7:58PM on Jan 21st 2008
40. THANKYOU GABRIELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ROCK!!!
xo,
kate
ah, clem at 8:44PM on Jan 21st 2008
41. Smoking claims yet another victim. Even as a kid I could hear it in her voice. Been watching some reruns- we will miss you!
noahlot at 9:42PM on Jan 21st 2008
42. http://youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
For everyone, as it should be.
And for those doubters, just substitute I/me for "the negro", and you will see the power of the word and the power a word makes a difference.
Gabrielle at 10:07PM on Jan 21st 2008
43. Aw Mo,
It is about darn tootin time some other people discovered a soap box in their lives.
Let's hope this becomes a National Trend.
Now, about Ms. Pleshette:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aI88SmVPBAw
JG
John Giza at 10:31PM on Jan 21st 2008
44. Gaby,
Thank you for recognizing Dr. King today, especially in your most sincere way.
I really liked what you had to say about the spoken word.
I am a graduate of a Catholic Seminary who has lost a lot of faith in the things of this world, but I will never get over the first line in the Gospel of John.
For what it's worth.
JG
John Giza at 10:47PM on Jan 21st 2008
45. I've always loved that woman ever since I seen her in those two Disney movies,THE UGLY DACHSHUND and BLACKBEARD'S GHOST. She's now with her husband Tom Poston via heaven's gates. I'm disappointed that the TV stations of my area aren't airing either of the NEWHART series.
Keith Sewell at 11:01PM on Jan 21st 2008