If they do so at all, most people probably remember Barbara Belle Geddes as Miss Ellie, the matriarch in the long running Dallas television series, but I remember Barbara from her role in I Remember Mama, a jewel of a film from 1948 set in San Francisco dealing brillianty with the usual things: life, death and coming of age. I also remember Barbara from Vertigo (the ultimate San Francisco tour film), where she plays Jimmy Stewart's old college flame, Midge, who watches sadly and helplessly as Kim Novak leads Jimmy's character, Scottie, deep into romantic obsession.
Some (including Ann Althouse) have commented that Barbara just wasn't sexy, but I thought she was a babe. Scottie would have been a lot better off spending more time with Midge, and spending less time pursuing the mysterious blonde Madeleine/Judy. Terry Teachout agrees with me about BBG's attractiveness, and suggests that the Western, Blood on the Moon is another film that fans of Barbara Belle Geddes should seek out.
Babe or not, she cartainly was an actress of distinction who left the world richer for having been here.
Leave a comment