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Highlights of the Ultimate Classic Beauty Grace KellyPerhaps no other movie star personifies classic screen beauty more than
Grace Kelly. Unrivalled in her grace and classic beauty, Grace Kelly
remains the classic picture of movie star beauty.
A Short Biography of Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was born Grace Patricia Kelly in Philadephia, Pennsylvania on
November 12, 1929. Her father, John Brendan Kelly, Sr. had been an Irish
immigrant who become a successful entrepreneur and a self-made
millionaire. Her mother, Magaret Katherine Majer, was of German descent.
The Kelly family enjoyed good standing in Philadelphia society. Grace Kelly's father and her brother, John B. Kelly Jr., were both Olympic athletes who also won gold medals. John. Jr. eventually became a successful city councilman, and the family even has a street named after them in Philadelphia, Kelly Drive.
From
this accomplished background, Grace Kelly more than lived up to the high standards set by her family. Grace got her start by doing fashion modeling. Her family was at first opposed to her acting, but she persevered, and at the age of twenty-two, she got her first role in Fourteen Hours. Her next film was the morality tale and western High Noon, in which she co-starred with Gary Cooper. Next she starred in Mogambo, in which she co-starred with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination. The film is also remembered because she is rumored to have had an on-set affair with Gable. Later, Kelly was to star in three Alfred Hitchcock films: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.
Grace Kelly is remembered for more than her distinguished film career. Grace Kelly's life took on a fairy tale appearance when she met and then married the Prince Rainier of Monaco. Once married, Kelly officially became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco. Her marriage to Prince Rainier and ascent to royalty marked the official end of her film career. Princess Grace died tragically at the age of fifty-nine after suffering a stroke while driving with her daughter along a Monaco highway.
Film Highlights From a Distinguished Career
Even though her film career was short, Grace Kelly managed to make an
indelible impression on film history. Her are a few highlights from her brief
but very successful film career.
High Noon (1952) : A controversial Western about a small-town sheriff (Gary Cooper who must stand alone in the face of two criminals who are threatening his town. Grace Kelly plays Amy Kane, Cooper's young bride. The film was controversial because it criticized the Hollywood blacklist and Communist scare of the 1950s.
Mogambo (1953): Grace plays Linda Nordley in this jungle drama co-starring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. The film is memorable for its all-around good acting, and earned Grace a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Dial M for Murder (1954): This is the film that made Grace Kelly a star, and it marks the first of her three film collaborations with legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. Grace stars as Margot Wendice who is married to an ex-tennis pro played by Ray Milland. The catch? Milland plans to murder his beautiful young wife.
Rear Window (1954): A film classic directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Suspense abounds in this thriller, in which a wheelchair-bound James Stewart spies on his neighbors. Grace plays his socialite girlfriend Lisa Fremont.
The Country Girl (1954): Grace Kelly won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Georgie, the wife of a washed up singer/actor Frank Elgin (played by Bing Crosby). Grace is wonderful in this examination of a relationship challenged by alcoholism.
To Catch a Thief (1955): This film marks Grace Kelly's third and final collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock. Grace plays Frances Stevens, who romances a retired cat burglar who is living on the French Riviera, played by Cary Grant.
High Society (1956): Grace plays Tracy Lord in this musical version of The Philadelphia Story. This musical extravaganza also stars Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Grace is a high society socialite who is planning on marrying a dull but successful man. Her ex-husband tries to win her back after learning of her engagement. To top it all off, a reporter covering her nuptials falls for her. With three men pursuing her attention, Tracy must come to terms with the meaning of true love. With engaging commentary and music from Louis Armstrong throughout.
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