The great Myrna Loy on being called (in a sarcastic way) a 'do-gooder'

[book_worm]

Besides being a great screen actress during the golden age of Hollywood (she is best remembered as Nora Charles in THE THIN MAN films opposite frequent co-star William Powell), Myrna Loy was a liberal activist who supported civil rights, raged against the abuses of HUAC, opposed the Vietnam war and supported liberal candidates like FDR, Adlai Stevenson and George McGovern. Here is what she said when she was derided as a "do-gooder" that term thrown around by conservatives to minimalize what liberals did:

"That do-gooder expression was created by people who simply don't want a change in the status quo, people who are convinced that the world is made up of haves and have mores. They don't care if slums can be replaced by decent housing or if the lot of deprived kids can be improved. The expression 'do-gooder' doesn't disturb those who care deeply about improvement. All it does is to make those who use the expression down-grade themselves."

[Captain Hilts]

1. She was good buds with Eleanor Roosevelt.

Like Katharine Hepburn, sometimes you wonder what the hell they were doing in Hollywood.

[xchrom]

2. kicking -- for myrna.

[NanceGreggs]

3. Wonderful quote ...

... thanks for sharing it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Very cool.

Thank you for the inspiring & informative posting.

[BlueJazz]

5. What a Wonderful Woman. I've read much about her and wish....

..I could have met her.

[Captain Hilts]

8. That's why I've had her mentioned in my signature line. God forbid DU give her an avatar.

She's just a girl.

[madrchsod]

6. she was a gem on screen

and now i read off screen too. i never switch the channel when "the thin man" is on

[illinoisprogressive]

7. I love Myrna Loy.

[Raine]

9. THANK YOU

for posting this, I've always like Myrna Loy and now I have an even better reason to love her. :-)

[Blue Poppy]

10. I had no idea...

I went to college in Helena, MT (considered her hometown) and they have a performing arts theater named after her there. But I don't recall any of this info!

[John Q. Citizen]

18. Montana has had a lot of good lefties. It was one major base of the wobblies.

[libnnc]

11. I have a huge crush on her

Her blue eyes could melt steel.

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. I just watched "The Best Years Of Our Lives" again last week.

What a great lady and great actor.

[book_worm]

16. "Best Years" was nominated for many Oscars and won many but Myrna,

who should have been nominated, never was. In 1991 Hollywood finally awarded her an Honorary Oscar.

[Captain Hilts]

25. Playing well-adjusted wives NEVER gets nominated.

Look at all the crap Hepburn gets for her oscar for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. I used to agree with that, but then I read "The Graduate" and realized that as much as I love it, Bancroft's interpretation isn't quite right. Recent viewings of GWCTD on TCM have made me appreciate Hepburn' non-Hepburny performance there. It's actually very good.

[bleedingheart]

28. I love that movie...

[UTUSN]

13. K&R big #5!!1 Pics ------------- HERE!!1 (Sorry, Catwoman)

[book_worm]

17. she takes my breath away

[AZBlue]

14. Wow! I never knew that about her!

I've always loved her on-screen - now I'm going to have to find a biography...

[book_worm]

15. I recommend her wonderful autobiography, "Being and Becoming Myrna Loy"

[goodgd_yall]

22. Thanks for the recommendation n/t

[AZBlue]

29. Thanks!

[glitch]

19. Awesome lady. She pegged them. nt

[Cameron27]

20. One of my all time favorite actresses,

and a woman with true compassion in real life. Thanks for posting the quote, I never saw it before.

[book_worm]

23. She's one of my all-time faves too

[goodgd_yall]

21. Didn't realize Myrna Loy was a good ol' liberal

She was right, of course.

[Captain Hilts]

24. THAT's another reason she, Hepburn, Bacall, Julia Child need to be offered as avatars. nt

[WI_DEM]

26. Great quote from a fabulous actress.

[Javaman]

27. She and I share a birthday! :) nt

[roguevalley]

30. I loved her. she was beautiful and brainy and funny as hell. the

movies hold up.