Edward Arnold (actor)

Günther Edward Arnold Schneider (February 18, 1890 – April 26, 1956) was an American actor of the stage and screen.

Early life Arnold was born on February 18, 1890 in the Lower East Side of New York City, the son of German immigrants Elizabeth ( Ohse) and Carl Schneider. His schooling came at the East Side Settlement House.

Acting career

Stage Arnold was interested in acting ever since he appeared on stage as Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice at age 12. He made his professional stage debut in 1907 and had important roles in several plays on Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s. Among them is the 1927 revival of The Jazz Singer, with Arnold as the second lead to the star, George Jessel.

Film

He found work as an extra for Essanay Studios and World Studios, before landing his first significant role in 1916's The Misleading Lady. He returned to the stage in 1919, and did not appear in movies again until his talkie debut in Okay America! (1932). He recreated one of his stage roles in one of his early films, Whistling in the Dark (1933). His role in the 1935 film Diamond Jim boosted him to stardom. He reprised the role of Diamond Jim Brady in the 1940 film Lillian Russell. He played a similar role in The Toast of New York (1937), another fictionalized version of real-life business chicanery, for which he was billed above Cary Grant on posters, with his name in much larger letters.

Arnold appeared in over 150 movies. Although he was labeled "box office poison" in 1938 by an exhibitor publication (he shared this dubious distinction with Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Fred Astaire and Katharine Hepburn), he never lacked work. Rather than continue in leading man roles, he gave up losing weight and went after character parts instead. He said, "The bigger I got, the better character roles I received." He was so sought-after, he often worked on two pictures at once.

Arnold was expert as rogues and authority figures, and superb at combining the two as powerful villains quietly pulling strings. He was best known for his roles in Come and Get It (1936), Sutter's Gold (1936), the aforementioned The Toast of New York (1937), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), and a larger than life star turn as Daniel Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). He was the first to portray Rex Stout's famous detective Nero Wolfe, starring in Meet Nero Wolfe (1936), based on the first novel in the series.

He played blind detective Duncan Maclain in two movies based on the novels by Baynard Kendrick, Eyes in the Night (1942) and The Hidden Eye (1945).

Leonard Maltin stated, "Few character actors achieved the particular kind of stardom that came to Edward Arnold in the 1930s, playing historical figures and dynamic, larger-than-life characters. Burly and round-faced, with piercing eyes and sharp nose, Arnold was a commanding presence." Leslie Halliwell called him "Rotund but dynamic actor who played go-getter leading roles in the thirties. Although he later became typed as kindly father/apoplectic business man, he never lost his popularity." Halliwell further praised him "For maintaining an ebullient star personality through two decades of talkies, despite his unromantic physique."

An image of Arnold made a posthumous appearance in the 1984 film Gremlins as the deceased husband (visible in a large framed photograph) of Mrs. Deagle, a character much like the rich, heartless characters Arnold was known for. Director Joe Dante mentioned that they received permission from Arnold's family to use his image.

Radio From 1947 to 1953, Arnold starred in the ABC radio program Mr. President. He also played a lawyer, Mr. Reynolds, on The Charlotte Greenwood Show. In 1953, he hosted Spotlight Story on the Mutual network.

Television Arnold hosted Your Star Showcase, "a series of 52 half-hour television dramas ... released by Television Programs of America." It was launched January 1, 1954, and ran in 150 cities. He co-starred in "Ever Since the Day", an episode of Ford Theatre on NBC.

Personal life

Arnold was married three times: to Harriet Marshall (1917–1927), with whom he had three children—Elizabeth, Jane, and William (who had a short movie career as Edward Arnold Jr.); to Olive Emerson (1929–1948), and to Cleo McLain (1951 until his death).

Arnold supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.

Arnold died at his home in Encino, California, at age 66, from a cerebral hemorrhage associated with atrial fibrillation. He was interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Recognition Midwestern University awarded Arnold the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) on May 24, 1951. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard in the recording category on February 8, 1960.

Filmography Year Film Role Director Notes 1916 The Misleading Lady Sidney Parker Arthur Berthelet The Strange Case of Mary Page Dr. Foster J. Charles Haydon Lost film Vultures of Society Joseph Gripp Sherlock Holmes Moriarty Henchman In Striped Cap Arthur BertheletWilliam Postance (assistant director) uncredited The Return of Eve Seymour Purchwell 1917 The Slacker's Heart Frank Allen The Wide, Wrong Way Hugh Chilvers E.H. Calvert Essanay Studios 1919 Phil for Short Tom Wentworth Oscar Apfel A Broadway Saint Mr. Frewen Harry O. Hoyt 1920 The Cost Hampden Scarborough Harley Knoles Lost film 1932 Murder in the Pullman Nick Valentine Short Okay, America! Duke Morgan Tay Garnett Three on a Match Ace Mervyn LeRoy Afraid to Talk Jig Skelli Edward L. Cahn Rasputin and the Empress Dr A. Remezov Richard Boleslawski 1933 Whistling in the Dark Dillon Charles Reisner The White Sister Father Saracinesca Victor Fleming The Barbarian Pasha Achmed Sam Wood The Life of Jimmy Dolan Inspector Ennis Archie Mayo uncredited Jennie Gerhardt Sen. Brander Marion Gering Secret of the Blue Room Commissioner Forster Kurt Neumann Her Bodyguard Orson Bitzer William Beaudine I'm No Angel "Big Bill" Barton Wesley Ruggles Duck Soup Politician Leo McCarey uncredited Roman Scandals Emperor Valerius Frank Tuttle 1934 Madame Spy Schultz Karl Freund Sadie McKee Jack Brennan Clarence Brown Unknown Blonde Frank Rodie Hobart Henley Thirty Day Princess Richard M. Gresham Marion Gering Hide-Out Det. Lt. 'Mac' MacCarthy W.S. Van Dyke Million Dollar Ransom Vincent Shelton Murray Roth Wednesday's Child Ray Phillips John S. RobertsonRay Lissner (assistant) The President Vanishes Secretary of War Lewis Wardell William A. Wellman 1935 Biography of a Bachelor Girl Mr. 'Feydie' Feydak Edward H. Griffith Cardinal Richelieu Louis XIII Rowland V. Lee The Glass Key Paul Madvig Frank Tuttle Diamond Jim Diamond Jim Brady A. Edward Sutherland Remember Last Night? Danny Harrison James Whale Crime and Punishment Insp. Porfiry Josef von Sternberg Sutter's Gold John Sutter James Cruze 1936 Meet Nero Wolfe Nero Wolfe Herbert Biberman Come and Get It Barney Glasgow William Wyler 1937 John Meade's Woman John Meade Richard Wallace Easy Living J.B. Ball Mitchell Leisen The Toast of New York Jim Fisk Rowland V. Lee Blossoms on Broadway Ira Collins Richard Wallace 1938 The Crowd Roars Jim Cain Richard Thorpe You Can't Take It with You Anthony P. Kirby Frank Capra 1939 Idiot's Delight Achille Weber Clarence Brown Let Freedom Ring Jim Knox Jack Conway Man About Town Sir John Arlington Mark Sandrich Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Jim Taylor Frank Capra Slightly Honorable Vincent Cushing Tay GarnettCharles Kerr (assistant) 1940 The Earl of Chicago Quentin 'Doc' Ramsey Richard Thorpe Johnny Apollo Robert Cain Sr. Henry Hathaway Lillian Russell Diamond Jim Brady Irving Cummings 1941 The Penalty Martin 'Stuff' Nelson Harold S. Bucquet The Lady from Cheyenne James 'Jim' Cork Frank Lloyd Meet John Doe D.B. Norton Frank Capra Nothing but the Truth T.T. Ralson Elliott Nugent The Devil and Daniel Webster Daniel Webster William Dieterle Unholy Partners Merrill Lambert Mervyn LeRoy Johnny Eager John Benson Farrell Design for Scandal Judson M. Blair Norman Taurog 1942 The War Against Mrs. Hadley Elliott Fulton Harold S. Bucquet Eyes in the Night Duncan 'Mac' Maclain Fred Zinnemann 1943 The Youngest Profession Burton V. Lyons Edward Buzzell 1944 Standing Room Only T. J. Todd Sidney Lanfield Janie Charles Conway Michael Curtiz Kismet The Grand Vizier William Dieterle Mrs. Parkington Amory Stilham Tay Garnett 1945 Main Street After Dark Lt. Lorrgan Edward L. Cahn Ziegfeld Follies Lawyer George Sidney 'Pay the Two Dollars' The Hidden Eye Capt. Duncan Maclain Richard Whorf Week-End at the Waldorf Martin X. Edley Robert Z. Leonard 1946 Janie Gets Married Charles Conway Vincent Sherman Three Wise Fools Theodore Findley Edward Buzzell No Leave, No Love Hobart Canford Stiles Charles Martin 1947 The Mighty McGurk Mike Glenson John Waters My Brother Talks to Horses Mr. Bledsoe Fred Zinnemann Dear Ruth Judge Harry Wilkins William D. Russell The Hucksters David 'Dave' Lash Jack Conway 1948 Three Daring Daughters Robert Nelson Fred M. Wilcox Big City Judge Martin O. Abercrombie Norman Taurog Wallflower Andrew J. Linnett Frederick de Cordova Command Decision Congressman Arthur Malcolm Sam Wood 1949 John Loves Mary Sen. James McKinley David Butler Take Me Out to the Ballgame Joe Lorgan Busby Berkeley Big Jack Mayor Mahoney Richard Thorpe Dear Wife Judge Harry Wilkins Richard Haydn 1950 The Yellow Cab Man Martin Creavy Jack Donohue Annie Get Your Gun Pawnee Bill Charles Walters The Skipper Surprised His Wife Adm. Homer Thorndyke Elliott Nugent 1951 Dear Brat Senator Wilkins William A. Seiter 1952 Belles on Their Toes Sam Harper Henry Levin 1953 City That Never Sleeps Penrod Biddel John H. Auer Man of Conflict J.R. Compton Hal R. Makelim 1954 Living It Up The Mayor Norman Taurog Studio One Juror No. 10 Franklin J. Schaffner "Twelve Angry Men" (TV episode) 1956 The Houston Story Paul Atlas William Castle The Ambassador's Daughter Ambassador William Fisk Norman Krasna Posthumous release Miami Exposé Oliver Tubbs Fred F. Sears Posthumous release (final film role)

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source 1942 Philip Morris Playhouse The Maltese Falcon

References

Edward Arnold (actor)

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