Bert & Morty

Below is a bizarre article where an anonymous “leading Hollywood director” who is obsessed with chins, comments on the best chins in the industry. He explains that without a lovely chin-line, the effect of all the other features is lost because the chin is the seat of character.

	Though Irene Dunne’s nose and mouth are beautiful, it is her firm, yet feminine chin which makes her exceptionally attractive.
	Claudette Colbert’s chin is not classic, but it is tops in piquancy.
	Gail Patrick has the perfect chin for a tall girl. It is neither too weak or too firm.
	Miriam Hopkins is noted because her chin has marked individuality and yet is beautiful.

This chin-loving director then gives some advice on how to keep your chin line firm:

• Practice holding your head high at all times
• It is a good idea when you are alone, to exaggerate your chin-up attitude
• Even when reading, see to it that your head is not bent over in an unattractive manner
• Perfect posture is most important in having and keeping a good chin contour, an excellent way to achieve perfect posture is to stand with your back to the wall of a room and try to have every part of the body – head, shoulder, back, and legs – touch the wall surface

Source: Beauty Brevities, The Spokesman Review, Nov 7 1937, Page 44

What do you think was the greatest performance in the history of motion pictures?

Source: Hollywood Highlights, Spokane Daily Chronicle, Jun 1 1949, Page 42

Irene Dunne was a tireless fundraiser for war bonds during WWII. In September of 1942 she helped raise 1.8 million dollars in a single night! She hosted a $3750-a-plate luncheon at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. Then later in the even along with Jackie Cooper and Gertrude Niesen, she performed a four hour show called “Night of the Stars”. The night was considered a tremendous success!

Source: Lunch With Irene Dunne and Bring Your $3750, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sep 16 1942, Page 1
Photo: A Certain Cinema

In 1950, actress Irene Dunne flew to London, England to have tea with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (that would be William and Harry’s great grandparents). She was to play the role of Queen Victoria later in the year for the film Mudlark. It was the first time Britian’s reigning monarch ever met privately with an American actress. (And yes, that photo above really is Ms. Dunne!)

Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr were left stranded in packing-cases 30 feet above San Pedro docks one day recently. They were doing a scene for The Joy of Living, and were being hoisted aboard ship in packing cases when the winch machine stalled. They were up there for nearly half an hour before the winch was repaired.

Source: It Happens in Hollywood, The Sydney Morning Herald, Mar 29 1938, Page 15
Photo: The Irene Dunne Site