Edward Arnold
Arnold in 1941
Born
Günther Edward Arnold Schneider

(1890-02-18)February 18, 1890
DiedApril 26, 1956(1956-04-26) (aged 66)
Resting placeSan Fernando Mission Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1907–1956
Spouses
Harriet Marshall
(m. 1917; div. 1927)
    Olive Emerson
    (m. 1929; div. 1949)
      Cleo McLain
      (m. 1951)
      Children3
      5th President of the Screen Actors Guild
      In office
      1940–1942
      Preceded byRalph Morgan
      Succeeded byJames Cagney

      Günther Edward Arnold Schneider[1] (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 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.[2]

      Acting career

      Arnold on the radio show Three Thirds of a Nation, May 6, 1942

      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 (left) with J. Carrol Naish; from the trailer for Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

      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).

      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.[3] In 1953, he hosted Spotlight Story on the Mutual network.[4]

      Television

      Arnold hosted Your Star Showcase, "a series of 52 half-hour television dramas ... released by Television Programs of America."[5] It was launched January 1, 1954, and ran in 150 cities.[5] He co-starred in "Ever Since the Day", an episode of Ford Theatre on NBC.[6]

      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 was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1940 to 1942. In 1940, his autobiography Lorenzo Goes to Hollywood was published. He was the co-founder of the I Am an American Foundation.

      Starting in the 1940s, Arnold became involved in Republican politics and was mentioned as a possible candidate for the United States Senate. He lost a closely contested election for Los Angeles County Supervisor and said at the time that perhaps actors were not suited to run for political office.

      Arnold supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.[7]

      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.[8]

      Recognition

      Midwestern University awarded Arnold the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) on May 24, 1951.[2] He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard in the recording category on February 8, 1960.[9]

      Filmography

      Year Film Role Director Notes
      1916The Misleading LadySidney ParkerArthur Berthelet
      The Strange Case of Mary PageDr. FosterJ. Charles HaydonLost film
      Vultures of SocietyJoseph Gripp
      Sherlock HolmesMoriarty Henchman In Striped CapArthur Berthelet
      William Postance (assistant director)
      uncredited
      The Return of EveSeymour Purchwell
      1917The Slacker's HeartFrank Allen
      The Wide, Wrong WayHugh ChilversE.H. CalvertEssanay Studios
      1919Phil for ShortTom WentworthOscar Apfel
      A Broadway SaintMr. FrewenHarry O. Hoyt
      1920The CostHampden ScarboroughHarley KnolesLost film
      1932Murder in the PullmanNick ValentineShort
      Okay, America!Duke MorganTay Garnett
      Three on a MatchAceMervyn LeRoy
      Afraid to TalkJig SkelliEdward L. Cahn
      Rasputin and the EmpressDr A. RemezovRichard Boleslawski
      1933Whistling in the DarkDillonCharles Reisner
      The White SisterFather SaracinescaVictor Fleming
      The BarbarianPasha AchmedSam Wood
      The Life of Jimmy DolanInspector EnnisArchie Mayouncredited
      Jennie GerhardtSen. BranderMarion Gering
      Secret of the Blue RoomCommissioner ForsterKurt Neumann
      Her BodyguardOrson BitzerWilliam Beaudine
      I'm No Angel"Big Bill" BartonWesley Ruggles
      Duck SoupPoliticianLeo McCareyuncredited
      Roman ScandalsEmperor ValeriusFrank Tuttle
      1934Madame SpySchultzKarl Freund
      Sadie McKeeJack BrennanClarence Brown
      Unknown BlondeFrank RodieHobart Henley
      Thirty Day PrincessRichard M. GreshamMarion Gering
      Hide-OutDet. Lt. 'Mac' MacCarthyW.S. Van Dyke
      Million Dollar RansomVincent SheltonMurray Roth
      Wednesday's ChildRay PhillipsJohn S. Robertson
      Ray Lissner (assistant)
      The President VanishesSecretary of War Lewis WardellWilliam A. Wellman
      1935Biography of a Bachelor GirlMr. 'Feydie' FeydakEdward H. Griffith
      Cardinal RichelieuLouis XIIIRowland V. Lee
      The Glass KeyPaul MadvigFrank Tuttle
      Diamond JimDiamond Jim BradyA. Edward Sutherland
      Remember Last Night?Danny HarrisonJames Whale
      Crime and PunishmentInsp. PorfiryJosef von Sternberg
      Sutter's GoldJohn SutterJames Cruze
      1936Meet Nero WolfeNero WolfeHerbert Biberman
      Come and Get ItBarney GlasgowWilliam Wyler
      1937John Meade's WomanJohn MeadeRichard Wallace
      Easy LivingJ.B. BallMitchell Leisen
      The Toast of New YorkJim FiskRowland V. Lee
      Blossoms on BroadwayIra CollinsRichard Wallace
      1938The Crowd RoarsJim CainRichard Thorpe
      You Can't Take It with YouAnthony P. KirbyFrank Capra
      1939Idiot's DelightAchille WeberClarence Brown
      Let Freedom RingJim KnoxJack Conway
      Man About TownSir John ArlingtonMark Sandrich
      Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonJim TaylorFrank Capra
      Slightly HonorableVincent CushingTay Garnett
      Charles Kerr (assistant)
      1940The Earl of ChicagoQuentin 'Doc' RamseyRichard Thorpe
      Johnny ApolloRobert Cain Sr.Henry Hathaway
      Lillian RussellDiamond Jim BradyIrving Cummings
      1941The PenaltyMartin 'Stuff' NelsonHarold S. Bucquet
      The Lady from CheyenneJames 'Jim' CorkFrank Lloyd
      Meet John DoeD.B. NortonFrank Capra
      Nothing but the TruthT.T. RalsonElliott Nugent
      The Devil and Daniel WebsterDaniel WebsterWilliam Dieterle
      Unholy PartnersMerrill LambertMervyn LeRoy
      Johnny EagerJohn Benson FarrellMervyn LeRoy
      Design for ScandalJudson M. BlairNorman Taurog
      1942The War Against Mrs. HadleyElliott FultonHarold S. Bucquet
      Eyes in the NightDuncan 'Mac' MaclainFred Zinnemann
      1943The Youngest ProfessionBurton V. LyonsEdward Buzzell
      1944Standing Room OnlyT. J. ToddSidney Lanfield
      JanieCharles ConwayMichael Curtiz
      KismetThe Grand VizierWilliam Dieterle
      Mrs. ParkingtonAmory StilhamTay Garnett
      1945Main Street After DarkLt. LorrganEdward L. Cahn
      Ziegfeld FolliesLawyerGeorge Sidney'Pay the Two Dollars'
      The Hidden EyeCapt. Duncan MaclainRichard Whorf
      Week-End at the WaldorfMartin X. EdleyRobert Z. Leonard
      1946Janie Gets MarriedCharles ConwayVincent Sherman
      Three Wise FoolsTheodore FindleyEdward Buzzell
      No Leave, No LoveHobart Canford StilesCharles Martin
      1947The Mighty McGurkMike GlensonJohn Waters
      My Brother Talks to HorsesMr. BledsoeFred Zinnemann
      Dear RuthJudge Harry WilkinsWilliam D. Russell
      The HuckstersDavid 'Dave' LashJack Conway
      1948Three Daring DaughtersRobert NelsonFred M. Wilcox
      Big CityJudge Martin O. AbercrombieNorman Taurog
      WallflowerAndrew J. LinnettFrederick de Cordova
      Command DecisionCongressman Arthur MalcolmSam Wood
      1949John Loves MarySen. James McKinleyDavid Butler
      Take Me Out to the BallgameJoe LorganBusby Berkeley
      Big JackMayor MahoneyRichard Thorpe
      Dear WifeJudge Harry WilkinsRichard Haydn
      1950The Yellow Cab ManMartin CreavyJack Donohue
      Annie Get Your GunPawnee BillCharles Walters
      The Skipper Surprised His WifeAdm. Homer ThorndykeElliott Nugent
      1951Dear BratSenator WilkinsWilliam A. Seiter
      1952Belles on Their ToesSam HarperHenry Levin
      1953City That Never SleepsPenrod BiddelJohn H. Auer
      Man of ConflictJ.R. ComptonHal R. Makelim
      1954Living It UpThe MayorNorman Taurog
      Twelve Angry MenJuror #10Franklin SchaffnerTV movie
      1956The Houston StoryPaul AtlasWilliam Castle
      The Ambassador's DaughterAmbassador William FiskNorman Krasna
      Miami ExposéOliver TubbsFred F. Sears

      Radio appearances

      YearProgramEpisode/source
      1942Philip Morris PlayhouseThe Maltese Falcon[10]

      References

      1. Franzen, Michael (June 17, 2019). Tagebuch der Geschichte der USA des 19. Jahrhunderts Band 8 1889 - 1899 [Diary of the History of the United States of the 19th Century: Volume 8 1889--1899] (in German). neobooks. ISBN 978-3-7485-9769-8.
      2. 1 2 "Edward Arnold Is Often Called 'Mr. President' In Private Life". Denton Record-Chronicle. February 3, 1952. p. 14. Retrieved August 18, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
      3. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
      4. "MBS Sets Lineup for Program Plan" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 28, 1953. p. 73. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
      5. 1 2 "Release of Film Series Costing $1.85 Million" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 14, 1953. p. 37. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
      6. "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 12, 1953. p. 41. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
      7. Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics (footnote 63). p. 67. ISBN 978-1-1076-5028-2.
      8. "Edward Arnold, Actor, Dies at 66". The New York Times. April 27, 1956. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
      9. "Edward Arnold". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
      10. "Arnold Is Playhouse Guest Star". Harrisburg Telegraph. August 8, 1942. p. 25. Retrieved August 18, 2015 via Newspapers.com.

      Further reading

      • Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Edward Arnold". The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 18–21. ISBN 978-1-7200-3837-5.
      • Arnold, Edward (1940). Lorenzo Goes to Hollywood: The Autobiography of Edward Arnold. New York: Liveright.
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