The Best of U
Ultimate
Movie Star
• The Understanding Heart • Universal
Studios
• Linn Unkefer •
The Unknown
• Untamed
• The Untouchables • USO
• USPS
Ultimate
Movie Star, The. Turner Classic Movies Joan documentary, directed by Peter
Fitzgerald and narrated by Anjelica Huston. It originally
aired in August 2002, when Joan was their featured "Star of the Month."
The doc is included on the Mildred Pierce DVD.
Understanding
Heart, The. MGM silent, 1927. Directed by Jack Conway, 67 minutes. Joan
stars as "Monica Dale," a lookout for the Forest Rangers. Joan says in CWJC: I
got my first rave reviews in "The Understanding Heart" because [co-star]
Francis X. Bushman, Jr., let me steal almost every scene. A fine gentleman.
Universal Studios. Joan made two pictures for Universal, 1955's Female on the Beach and '65's I Saw What You Did. She also dated studio head Milton Rackmil for a time in the mid-50s. (Their engagement broken off because they argued over who would be dropped off first...) She also appeared on the Universal TV series The Sixth Sense in 1972.
Unkefer, Linn. Publicist for Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Unknown,
The. MGM silent, 1927, starring Lon Chaney. Directed by Tod Browning (of
Freaks fame), 65 minutes. Joan plays carney-girl "Nanon,"
who hates men's hands (which eventually leads her obsessed co-worker Chaney
to cut off his arms for her!). Says Joan in CWJC: "The
Unknown" was a good film--and working with Lon Chaney was both traumatic
and delightful. He demanded so much from me I was scared, but I seemed to do
it right.
The film had been considered missing for years but was rediscovered in 1968 at the Cinematheque Francais, languishing among cans of films legitimately marked (because of missing titles, etc.) "L'inconnu"---"Unknown"!
Untamed.
MGM, 1929. Directed by Jack Conway. Joan stars as "Bingo," an
uncivilized girl raised in the jungle who inherits millions and goes to
live in the Big City. Co-starring Robert Montgomery,
a poor but proud suitor. Not including
her singing in Hollywood Revue of 1929, this was her first talkie.
Says Joan of her preparation for her speaking debut:
I was...given a diction book and told to study it. Mostly I read aloud to myself, and Doug [Fairbanks, Jr., her first husband] helped me tremendously. If I had difficulty pronouncing a word, I repeated it over and over again. I talked to myself a lot. I read newspapers aloud. 'Untamed' opened with me singing, 'Languid and plain-tive, hear the chant of the jun-gle!' I was horrified until Paul Bern explained that my husky voice was what people expected from a girl with my torrid looks. (CM)
Of the film itself, Joan says in CWJC: ... silly but fun--Bob Montgomery was terrific, I was awful, mostly because I was miscast.
Untouchables, The. Joan appeared on this U.S. TV series in a 4/13/61 episode.
USO
(United Services Organization). Joan first became a supporter of the USO
during WWII, an association that continued into the 1970s. On 3/2/65, the New York City branch named her Woman of the Year.
The organization was one of the beneficiaries of her will,
receiving one share of her estate.
USPS (United States Postal Service). If you'd like to write the USPS and nominate Joan for her very own (much deserved) stamp in its "Legends of Hollywood" series (as Bette Davis received in 2008), here's what to do (from the USPS website):
How can I submit my idea for a new
Stamp?
Almost all subjects chosen to appear on U.S. stamps and Postal
stationery are suggested by the public. Each year, Americans submit proposals to
the Postal Service on literally thousands of different topics. Every stamp
suggestion is considered, regardless of who makes it or how it is presented. On
behalf of the Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC)
is tasked with evaluating the merits of all stamp proposals. Established in
1957, the Committee provides the Postal Service with a "breadth of judgment and
depth of experience in various areas that influence subject matter, character,
and beauty of postage stamps."
Ideas for stamp subjects should be mailed
to:
CITIZENS' STAMP ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
1735 N LYNN ST STE 5013
ARLINGTON VA
22209-6432
Subjects should be submitted at least three years in
advance of the proposed date of issue. This allows for sufficient consideration
and for design production, should the subject be approved.
(Thanks to Lucas for the info.)