Sarah Edwards (far left), Stage Mother. Image: Zeus DVDs
If you have ultra-talented children, perhaps you’ve thought of nudging them towards a career in show business. After all, why should the world miss out on your child’s artistry?
Your child may have the ability and good looks to Make It Big, which is only natural considering those are your genes. Your children didn’t bring themselves into the world, nor did they infuse themselves with talent. That’s all You, baby.
So if there’s a burgeoning showbiz career to be managed, why outsource it? After all, how much can a Complete Stranger possibly know – or care – about your child’s well-being?
Before we go any further, let’s get one thing out of the way. Don’t be afraid of the term “stage mother”, even though it’s loaded with baggage. Your child needs an advocate, do they not? And who better to fight for their rights (and top billing) than their own mother?
Dance your way to fame and fortune. Image: Famous Fix
Our mentor is actress Sarah Edwards, who plays a successful stage mother in the 1929 musical dramedy Glorifying the American Girl.
The story here is time-worn, and was, even in 1929. A young woman (Mary Eaton) auditions for, then becomes the star of a major showbiz enterprise, in this case, the Ziegfeld Follies.
The Ziegfeld Follies, based on the Folies Bergère in Paris, was an elaborate, annual revue that ran from 1907 to 1931. It had music, outlandish costumes, and lots of young female dancers known as Ziegfeld Girls.
These shows were popular and very influential. If you went to New York on holiday, you went to the Ziegfeld Follies.
Glorifying the American Girl was based on one of Ziegfeld’s actual stage productions. The first half of the film centres on Eaton and her Big Break; the second half is a re-enactment of the stage show.
Because this film is a product of the early sound era, there are lots of things a modern viewer must overlook, e.g. stilted acting. Even so, there’s some really impressive camera work here.
But our interest is in Edwards, the long-suffering stage mother who ferociously chews the scenery. She’s the most interesting character in this film.
You’re cute, but not mother’s type. Image: IMDb
Edwards shows us two things when shepherding your child’s career: (1) You have to outmaneuver your child; and (2) You cannot be afraid to use emotional blackmail.
Our gal Edwards loves her daughter, but a mother has to be Practical. Your child might be making lots o’ dough now, but who paid the bills when your child was a toddler? In fact, your child’s salary may never equal your investment.
Edwards also wields an arsenal of emotional weaponry, such as the Guilt Trip (“After all the things I’ve done for you!”), and the ol’ Don’t-Worry-About-Me-I’ll-Manage-Somehow assault.
Edwards is so confident in her stage mothering that she engineers a marriage for her daughter. What of it? Is it too much to expect a mother might have opinions regarding potential in-laws?
Nay, she’s on the Look-Out for a son-in-law who will advance her daughter’s career while providing for Dear Old Mother.
I brought you into this world and I can take you out. Image: IMDb
Glorifying the American Girl was filmed in both black and white and two-strip Technicolor*. The black & white television cut, which you can view here, has been edited to remove some of the naughty bits.
The film was made “Under the Personal Supervision of Florenz Ziegfeld”. It certainly has Spectacle, although it’s a bit of a grind to sit through. Some of the acts have Not Aged Well.
Also: If you have an interest in cussing, you’ll be pleased to know this film uses the term “dammit”, which is some of the earliest-recorded swearing in the sound era (a full decade before that famous scene in Gone with the Wind).
Naturally, the phrase is uttered – more than once – by the most determined Stage Mother in the talkies. If your goal is to take charge of your child’s career, you may want to see this film and take notes.
♠
*The UCLA Film Archive has restored the film and its Technicolor sequences.
This post is part of The GREAT ZIEGFELD Blogathon, hosted by Hollywood Genes.
Glorifying the American Girl: starring Mary Eaton, Eddie Cantor, Helen Morgan. Directed by Millard Webb. Written by J.P. McEvoy and Millard Webb. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1929, B&W, 95 mins.
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Photos of the Ziegfeld Follies are always great fun. I might need to watch this!
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If you’re a fan of the Follies, you need to see this one. The costumes are STUNNING.
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She was the original Momager!
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Haha! Brilliant!
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Is that “Mrs. Hatch”, Mary’s mom? She never got over that need to be in control, did she? Tried to get Mary to pass by her true love, George, to marry Sam Wainwright. Geesh!
Unfortunately, my kids have aged out of my pushiness. What a missed opportunity!
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Good eye! Sarah Edwards is indeed Mary’s mother, she of the “Sam Wainwright is WAITING!” scene. (I love her in that scene.)
Your lament re: missed Stage Mother opportunity made me laugh. I nearly choked on my tea! 😉
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Who’s down there with you, Mary?
It’s George Bailey.
George Bailey! What does he want?
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Haha! Perfect!!
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The next line from Mary always shocks me. It’s such a departure from the world I’m in while watching it. How was that allowed in there at that time?
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Haha! There are a couple of things in that movie I find surprising for the time. One is Mary’s line, as you pointed out, and the other is Mr Potter not being punished for his crime. I always wonder about those.
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Creepy. I’ve got to watch some of this emotional blackmail and whatnot. HOW WILL IT ALL END??? (A full decade before the Gone-with-the-Wind swear?! How risqué.)
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A parenthesis mishap in that comment is bugging me… 🙄
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(Psst! I fixed it…)
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You’re a star. ⭐️
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Oh yes, tres risque, and that’s not the half of it. The original film had barely-clad folks in the show tunes. That Mr Ziegfeld knew how to give dolks an eyeful…
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Wow. I’ve always loved your in-depth knowledge, behind-the-scenes info, and historical context. It’s fascinating.
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Aw, thanks, Sarah.a lot of interesting history (and stories) there.
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Well I was going to say I should watch it but now I can’t because of the “Dammit” 😂🤣😂🤣
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Haha! I suspect this film raised a few eyebrows when first released.
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Excellent (and funny!) post. Now I’m itching to go watch this and see Edwards strut her stuff!
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She is the ultimate stage mother – she knows all the tricks.
Thanks for organizing this blogathon. I’m looking forward to reading about the Ziegfeld enterprise this weekend. 🙂
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Hmm, the entertainment version of the helicopter parents.
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Bahaha! You said it!
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😀
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I already wanted to watch this movie – because I love early musicas, even when they’re kind of weird – and now I want to do that even more. I’ll be sure to pay a lot of attention to this overzealous mother. Great review.
Kisses!
Le
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Oh yes, Le, YOU above all must see this film!
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What a fun approach. It’s true–no one ever speaks for the stage moms! LOL.
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Haha! Being a stage mother would be exhausting, I think, but the pros make it look easy! 😉
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I remember seeing this movie on YouTube, but I think they cut out a bunch of things because I don’t remember the stage mother part of it at all. Silly YouTube. Anyway, it’s fun seeing a recreation of the Follies.
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What?! They edited out the stage mother? Who do they think they are? 😉
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LOL, curse you YouTube! *shakes fist like Snoopy* 🙂
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