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Mamie Van Doren performances

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Van Doren in Untamed Youth (1957)

American actress Mamie Van Doren (born February 6, 1931) has been in 41 films from 1951 to 2012. Van Doren was discovered by Howard Hughes as Miss Eight Ball, and Hughes put Van Doren in 4 RKO movies, including Jet Pilot, His Kind of Woman, and Two Tickets to Broadway.[1] These movies would have Van Doren playing minor roles, where she was often uncredited or credited as Joan Olander.

In 1953, Van Doren signed to Universal, with Universal having hopes of Van Doren becoming their version of Marilyn Monroe. Her first major film role, The All American, helped to shape her distinctive role in the 1950s as a "bad girl". Van Doren rose to fame, starring in rebellious-teen films, exploitation films, teen dramas, and musicals. These films, such as Untamed Youth, Running Wild, Teacher's Pet and High School Confidential, made her different from Monroe's roles as a "dumb blonde". These films, which would sometimes be risque, would challenge the Hays Code.

In the 1960s, Van Doren starred in several independent B-movies due to her contract with Universal not being renewed in 1960. Her last film with Universal was the 1960 film The Private Lives of Adam and Eve. In 1964, she starred in 3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt, a film directed by Tommy Noonan and inspired by the success of Promises! Promises! (1963), which Van Doren had turned down.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Film title Role Studio Notes Ref.
1951 Footlight Varieties Blonde in theater RKO Radio Pictures Credited as Joan Olander
His Kind of Woman Lodge guest at bar [2]
Two Tickets to Broadway Showgirl
1953 Forbidden Singer Universal Pictures Uncredited [3]
The All American Susie Ward First major film role
1954 Hawaiian Nights Glamour girl Uncredited

Short film

Yankee Pasha Lilith, Harem slave
Francis Joins the WACS Cpl. Bunky Hilstrom [4]
1955 Ain't Misbehavin' Jackie
The Second Greatest Sex Birdie Snyder
Running Wild Irma Bean
1956 Star in the Dust Ellen Ballard Last film under contract with Universal. Van Doren stopped accepting roles from the studio, because they were not giving her the breakthrough roles she so desperately craved.
1957 Untamed Youth Penny Lowe Warner Brothers In this film, Van Doren became the first actress to sing rock 'n roll in an American musical film.
The Girl in Black Stockings Harriet Ames United Artists Van Doren's final film to be lined-up for her by Universal in 1956.

a.k.a.: Wanton Murder and Wanton Murder Mystery

Jet Pilot WAF RKO Radio Pictures Uncredited.

Filmed from 1949 to 1953, but not released until 1959

1958 Teacher's Pet Peggy DeFore Paramount Pictures Van Doren's role was originally bigger, but was edited to be smaller because of the outfits she was required to wear in the film.
High School Confidential Gwen Dulaine Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Born Reckless Jackie Adams Warner Brothers
1959 Guns, Girls, and Gangsters Vi Victor United Artists
The Beat Generation Georgia Altera Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina Sabrina Her first non-Hollywood motion picture release
The Big Operator Mary Gibson Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Girls Town Silver Morgan The first film to feature Van Doren nude. She appears nude through a fuzzy shower door.
1960 Vice Raid Carol Hudson United Artists
College Confidential Sally Blake Universal Pictures
Sex Kittens Go to College Dr. Mathilda West Allied Artists
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve Evie Simms/Eve Universal Pictures In this film, Van Doren wore only leaves for dream sequences.
1961 The Blonde from Buenos Aires
1964 The Candidate Samantha Ashley
Freddy in the Wild West Olivia - a.k.a.: The Sheriff Was a Lady (alternative title)
3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt Saxie Symbol Harlequin International Pictures Filmed as a sequel/spinoff of Promises! Promises!, a film that Van Doren had turned down.
1966 The Las Vegas Hillbillys Boots Malone Woolner Brothers Co-starred Jayne Mansfield. This is the only time that any of the "Three M's" appeared together in a motion picture.
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters Nora Hall Realart Pictures Inc. The first of two science fiction films that Van Doren made.
1967 You've Got to Be Smart Miss Hathaway
1968 Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women Moana American-International Television The last science fiction film of Van Doren's career.
1970 The Arizona Kid Sharon Miller
1975 That Girl from Boston Princess Tassel
1986 Free Ride Debbie Stockwell Galaxy International Releasing
1999 The Vegas Connection Rita
2002 Slackers Miss Van Graaf Screen Gems
2012 The American Tetralogy Mazu or the Goddess of the Sea

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Van Doren, Mamie; Aveilhe, Art (1987). Playing the Field: My Story. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 9780399132407.
  2. ^ "His Kind of Woman". catalog.afi.com. AFI|Catalog. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Forbidden". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Francis Joins the WACS". AFI|Catalog. Retrieved 6 July 2024.