The ever-great Jean Simmons, at her most disturbingly beautiful in Preminger's perverse thriller Angel Face, 1952. The actress, a paragon of refinement and grace, died yesterday, age 80.
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January 23, 2010
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The look she gives Mitchum just before you-know-what, at the end of ANGEL FACE, is the primary reason that's one of my favorite movies. RIP.
Posted by: bill | January 23, 2010 at 12:10 PM
A radiant beauty, indeed.
Jean Simmons, May God bless you and may your sweet soul forever rest in peace.
Posted by: Jimmy | January 23, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I once had a meeting with Jean Simmons at her house in Los Angeles. She insisted we drink white wine and I could not have been more starstruck. Sorry to hear that she's gone.
Posted by: greg mottola | January 23, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Just saw Elmer Gantry recently, and she was every bit as good as Burt Lancaster. Such a diverse and underrated career.
A shame that AMPAS never got around to giving her a Lifetime Achievement Award; especially when they just handed one out to Lauren Bacall.
Posted by: lazarus | January 23, 2010 at 01:25 PM
The scene in Angel Face where she walks alone through her empty, newly-inherited mansion is one of my all time favorites. Rest in peace, angel face!
Posted by: michaelgsmith | January 23, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Loved her in Spartacus. A much under-rated actress.
Posted by: jeer9 | January 23, 2010 at 03:26 PM
Quite provocative in her dance scene in BLACK NARCISSUS.
Posted by: Tony Dayoub | January 23, 2010 at 03:41 PM
My partner actually saw Jean Simmons in the national tour of "A Little Night Music" as Desiree in the early 70's. And Margaret Hamilton (!) as Madame Armfeldt. He said Simmons was radiant and Hamilton was sublime. I am envious.
Posted by: Brian Halligan | January 23, 2010 at 10:52 PM
Great call on Black Narcissus - she's utterly mesmerizing in it.
Without a doubt, Jean Simmons is my all-time classic movie crush. Heart-stoppingly beautiful in Great Expectations, Angel Face, and pretty much everything else she ever did. I've always loved her in Guys and Dolls, too, despite the movie's failings and even if she didn't sing it. And I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to her wonderfully earthy performance in The Big Country, which I've always felt really grounds the film. May she rest in peace indeed, but thank God she'll always live on film.
Posted by: MarkVH | January 24, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Greg, you lucky bastard.
Posted by: jbryant | January 24, 2010 at 03:44 PM