It all began with Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and an interstitial series of dedications the network has aired honoring character actors. You have no doubt seen them, video tributes to Edna May Oliver, Beulah Bondi, William Demarest, Butterfly McQueen, and many other supporting players whose work stands the test of time. With these tributes WHAT A CHARACTER! was born and, unable to resist those actors, Paula, Kellee and I decided to dedicate a blogging event in their honor. Now, for the tenth consecutive year, we continue the tradition.
Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled and @Irishjayhawk66, Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club and @Paula_Guthat, and yours truly Aurora of Once Upon a Screen and @CitizenScreen would like to extend this invitation to the 2021 WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon to all bloggers who appreciate the laughter, the good taste, the double takes, the heart, and the comfort all the character actors have brought us through the years.
This entry also serves as a heartfelt thank you to all who have participated in this event so graciously for nine years. The talent, enthusiasm, and passion with which you have approached our beloved character actors are beyond anything we could have imagined. We hope you join us again for this special celebration.
The WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon
When: Saturday, December 4
How:
- Let the hosts know which character actor you choose by leaving a comment below
- We prefer no repeats and character actors can be from any era of film or television
- Please include the name and URL of your blog and your Twitter handle to help us promote your work properly
- Publish your post on or before December 4
- Include the event banner courtesy of Paula Guthat on your blog to help us promote this special event
- HAVE FUN and spread the word!
Giveaways!
A tenth anniversary is a big deal, a fact recognized by Turner Classic Movies and The University Press of Kentucky who have offered books to give away to 10 lucky U.S. and Canada participants of the WHAT A CHACRACTER! Blogathon.
From the TCM Library, we have 5 copies of The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter by Jeremy Arnold with foreword by Robert Osborne. A big thank you to Justin Gottlieb, Entertainment Marketing, Social Media Manager at Turner Classic Movies for securing these books for us.
While you may well be familiar with TCM, you may not know about The University Press of Kentucky, which has a wonderful array of film history-related biographies and analytical studies in its Screen Classics series. For our event, Director of Sales & Marketing, Brooke Raby has offered a sampling of their offerings, one copy of each of the following titles:
Charles Boyer: The French Lover by John Baxter
Natalie Wood: A Life by Gavin Lambert
Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King by Foster Hirsch
Cecil B. DeMille’s Hollywood by Robert S. Birchard
Radical Innocence: A Critical Study of the Hollywood Ten by Bernard F. Dick
Thank you to Raby Brooke for the terrific list of books.
Before we get to blogging with character, I want to express my appreciation and a hearty congratulations to my friends and co-hosts, Kellee and Paula. One decade down: forever to go. Happy WHAT A CHARACTER! Anniversary!
Chosen Actors & Participating Blogs
Felix Bressart – Taking Up Room
Jack Carson – Second Sight Cinema
Hans Conried – A Shroud of Thoughts
Elisha Cook, Jr. – Whimsically Classic
Wally Cox – Journeys in Classic Film
Diana Dors – Real Weegie Midget Reviews
Mildred Dunnock and Patricia Collinge – The Last Drive In
Hope Emerson – Shadows and Satin
William Frawley – By Rich Watson
Theresa Harris – Blog of the Darned
Kathleen Harrison – Caftan Woman
Edward Everett Horton – Silent Film Music
Jessie Royce Landis – Michele Price
Lucille La Verne – The Classic Movie Muse
Cloris Leachman – Outspoken & Freckled
Doro Merande – Unknown Hollywood
Eugene Pallette – Top 10 Film Lists
Lillian Randolph – Another Old Movie Blog
George Tobias – A Person in the Dark
Conrad Veidt – Lady Eve’s Reel Life
Once upon a screen... 
Oooh! I’d love to join!
I’ve been wanting an excuse to write on Wally Cox forever.
(Journeys In Classic Film)
Thank you!!!
Sounds great, thank you! I’ll add you to the post later today.
Hi there, can you add me with Valerie Perrine, was planning on reviewing her work more fully and this is the perfect way to honour her!
Ok! Thanks for joining us.
Thanks and congratulations for your decade long blogathon!
Wow, 10 years!?!! I’m in like Flynn! Can I do Hope Emerson?
Yes!! I almost chose Emerson myself. Fantastic choice. Thank you, Karen.
Oh, I want to write about Hans Conried! Of course, the blog is A Shroud of Thoughts https://mercurie.blogspot.com
Love him! Thanks so much for joining, Terry.
I’d love to do Charles Lane if he’s not already snatched up.
Great banner! And congrats on 10 fabulous years of What a Character!
You got Mr. Lane! We’re happy to have him and you. Thank you for the good wishes.
Hi there, can you please change my choice to Diana Dors.? Thanks, Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews
Ten years–that’s great! I’d like to write about Felix Bressart, if that’s OK.
Ack! You’re gonna make me keep writing. Okay – how about George Tobias for me?
Yay!! You have to continue. I’m even letting you believe Cary is yours. THAT’s the kind of gal I am!
I’ll add George and you to the list in the morning. Thanks for joining.
And I’ll let you believe that you are letting me believe….
That’s not how this is supposed to work!
It’s that time already?!
Please put me down for a piece on Kathleen Harrison this year. Thanks.
https://www.caftanwoman.com/
@CaftanWoman
I’ve been waiting for you. 🙂 Thank you for joining us with Ms. Harrison.
Hi Aurora, congrats on ten years! So awesome! May I join with Lucille La Verne, please?
The Classic Movie Muse
http://www.theclassicmoviemuse.wordpress.com
@classymoviemuse
Sounds great! Thank you for joining us and the congratulations.
Can I write about Elisha Cook Jr. ?
Whimsically Classic
whimsicallyclassic.wordpress.com
@kaylar622
Wonderful! Excellent choice. Thank you for joining us.
Conrad Veidt for me (if he is as yet unclaimed)
He’s been waiting for you. Great choice! One of my favorite classic faces.
Hi Aurora. I’ve been searching for an excuse to get back into movie blogathons and this looks like a good one.
I’d like to write about William Frawley, with an emphasis on his sports-related movies. He did one called IT HAPPENED IN FLATBUSH that I wanna watch for this blogathon. Don’t link to WSW—this is the address for my new blog:
byrichwatson.blogspot.com
Hey Rich, it’s great to “see” you. Hope all is well. I’m thrilled you’re joining us and Frawley is a terrific choice. Almost chose him myself. I’ll add you to the list tomorrow.
I’m currently drafting a post about Doro Merande for a December 1, 2021 publishing. She doesn’t look like a repeat. Thanks for the opportunity to share.
Sounds great. Thank you!
What is your blog url?
Hi, Aurora – I hope you will see this. I was (literally) putting the finishing touches on my Hope Emerson post when I realized that I wrote about her for your What a Character blogathon in 2016!!!! Too ridiculous. Is it okay for me to substitute Barton MacLane for her?
Hi Karen. Whichever you prefer or is easiest works for me.
Thank you! Barton MacLane it is! I’m on it!
Great!
Hi there, here’s my post for the blogathon… https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/random-real-stuff/starring/diana-dors/
Wonderful. Thank you!
Can you please share it with your co-hosts. Thanks in advance and looking forward to reading all the posts later…
Yes, of course.
Hi Aurora, my post on Charles Lane is here: https://silverscreenings.org/2021/12/02/why-charles-lane-matters/
This is one of my fave blogathons!
Hi Aurora, my post on Charles Lane is here: https://silverscreenings.org/2021/12/02/why-charles-lane-matters/
This is one of my fave blogathons!
Thank you so much, Ruth. Cannot wait to read this.