Why Tallulah Bankhead Never Became a Movie Star

In this video I take a look at Tallulah Bankhead's film career: why it never took off and why she never needed it to!

Lifeboat is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel

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Music from Epidemic Sound

[rozchristopherson]

Tallulah Bankhead, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra were among about 8 stars who pooled their money together to purchase a hotel where African American stars could stay in Las Vegas while performing. In those days, minorities were not permitted to stay in the hotels in the area and were forced to make arrangements with private people for lodgings while performing in Vegas. After trying to get the laws changed, these stars got together and found a way around these laws. Tallulah was ahead of her time in many ways. A wonderful woman. 🧡🧡

[PokhrajRoy.]

The fact that Tallulah Bankhead was so secure in herself in every aspect made everyone insecure.

[VeeLondon]

Tallulah Bankhead was an ally to the black community always. She supported civil rights, spoke at rally’s and strongly opposed racism and segregation. And made sure her plays and films where racially integrated. Was friends with Paul Robeson, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald etc, and a lover/friend of Dickie Wells. She was also bisexual and had relationships with women of colour. This was Jim Crow America. When Tallulah was appearing at the National Theater and under the contract obligations stage actors, union Actors Equity she couldn't refuse to perform. Actors Equity got a change in contract the following year that allowed actors to refuse to work in segregated theaters. Tallulah was involved in that. And I think her outspoken advocacy for the black community partly affected her career opportunities as an actor. Tallulah was a phenomenal woman.

[Fiona_fml]

These non-oscar winning actress profiles are quickly becoming my favorite on your channel!!! I would love to see a video about Mae West sometime!

[themroyalbabies]

My 2 cents: I think Tallulah didn't care if the screen showed her self-destructiveness. And Hollywood (one of the most self-destructive places in the world) ironically didn't like it.

[michaelcoyle]

My fav story about Tallulah is during Helen Hayes' wedding reception when Helen asked Tallulah how to not get pregnant right away and Tallulah said "Just keep doing what you've been doing darling!"

[danielflynn]

So glad you got to talk about Lifeboat, a seriously underrated Hitchcock film. Hitch loved working with her, and I am so happy he did because he did wonders with her. Her performance in that film disproves Cukor's remarks about her not being photogenic. My favorite anecdote about the making of Lifeboat is when it was brought to Hitch's attention that several members of the crew noticed that Ms. Bankhead was not wearing any underwear under her skirt. He reportedly remarked: "I don't know if this is a matter for the costume department or hairdressing."

[margolane]

Its a criminal offense that Tallulah Bankhead and Bette Davis never played sisters in a movie.

[EagleRockers]

What a joy this was to watch. My introduction to Tallulah came when I was an audience member at the Merv Griffin Show in NYC. I was 14 at the time and when he introduced Tallulah Bankhead I had no idea what or who to expect. The most magical creature with bright red lips swept onto the stage and commanded it until the show was over. She was totally captivating and from that day forward, I was a Tallulah fan.

[TheLaurenKat]

Beautiful essay, thank you! One of my favorite Tallulah quotes is her describing herself as "ambisextrous."

[davidfusco]

Just an interesting aside, during WWII, in the pacific island hopping campaign, Japanese troops would target American medics. Knowing that eliminating front line medics doomed most wounded soldiers. The enemy would call out, MEDIC! Hearing what sounded like a wounded American, the medics would go out searching for him, only to be killed by the waiting Japanese. American soldiers took to calling medics Tallulah. Orders were if wounded, NOT to call for the medic, but to call for Tallulah. The Japanese had difficulty pronouncing Tallulah, it seemed no matter how they tried to say it, it would never sound like an American crying out for medical attention.

[mariaherfst]

I'm so glad that you made this video, because my knowledge of Tallulah didn't extend further than just having seen some vintage photos of her looking fabulous, but this video is super insightful

[KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH]

I was born in the early 50s. When I was young my mother would often call me Tallulah when I was temperamental, which was often. I was always mystified about who she was. I wonder now if this was common parlance for misbehaving young girls or if my mother’s short lived attempt to be an actress in LA prompted her to use this descriptor. In any case, you did a great job with this video. I know more than I ever did about her and am more intrigued. Some of the comments here have also been very elucidating in terms of her personal life and political views. Bravo to you and the commenters.

[kibblemom]

My favorite Tallulah story is from Alfred Hitchcock directing her in Lifeboat. The lifeboat scenes were filmed in an elevated water tank that required the actors to climb up a ladder to get into the lifeboat. A representative from the Legion of Decency was observing the filming and somehow(!) learned that Tallulah wasn't wearing any underpants under her dress, something some of those present had observed as she ascended and descended the ladder. The representative insisted that Hitchcock force Tallulah to wear underwear. Hitchcock replied that he couldn't do that because he didn't know which department to speak to about the issue: wardrobe or hair dressing.

[lavenderamethyst]

Been recovering from a 1-2 punch of emergency surgery and then contracting COVID and am at home miserable. 😕 I was literally on YouTube last night wishing a new video of yours would be uploaded. My prayers have been answered! Cannot wait to dig into some soup and tea and watch! 💓💓💓

[katherinelynch]

I can't believe I never connected Tallulah to Cruella de Vil until you pointed it out! Fantastic work as always, Ms. Rewind!

[AmberAHue]

Growing up in Alabama, Tallulah Bankhead had kind of a mythical quality, but I didn't really know a lot about about her career. I honestly thought she was one of the first "famous for being famous" socialites. But to hear her voice in this video is almost otherworldly. She sounds like my grandmother (who is a lifelong smoker and has chronic dry mouth) putting on an air. Thanks for showcasing her career and legend!

[kennykine]

Her stint on the Luci Desi Comedy Hour is beyond legendary. I've been quoting it since I was ten! "You a do revolting imitation of me!" Tallulah to Lucy, Lucy to Tallulah, "So do you!"

[SirThopas]

The Cheat has an interesting history. It was originally a 1915 silent film (can be watched on its Wikipedia page) and one of the few surviving early films of silent heartthrob Sessue Hayakawa, who became a sex symbol in America despite anti-Asian racism at the time (although, because of anti-Asian racism, he was forced to do films like The Cheat, in which he plays a villainous "Burmese" businessman -- originally Japanese, until protests forced it to be changed -- who does things like brand white women).

[MG-rojj]

The only thing I knew about her was that she was a) a sassy smoker and b) also befriended with the Fitzgeralds during their glory time in New York. I watched the Zelda show from 2017 and I'm very thankful to you that you showed me that she wasn't only very loud and present but also very gifted. Traveling back in time to see one of her plays will be my new favourite day dream from now on <3