Ann Blyth in THE KING'S THIEF (1955)

Ann Blyth plays the daughter of a persecuted nobleman after the rise of Charles II in England in The King's Thief (1955), and she's out to find out what happened to her father and confront the evil fellow responsible - played by David Niven.  You can watch it today on Turner Classic Movies - 4:30 pm. ET. 

Ann is reunited with Edmund Purdom, who starred with her in The Student Prince (1954). George Sanders plays the lusty Charles II in this extravagant historical adventure, and look for a young and dashing Roger Moore early in his career.

Have a look at this post on The King's Thief at my Another Old Movie Blog here.  

For more on the movie, and her career, have a look at my book on Ann's career -- Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

eBook edition (Amazon)

print edition available at Amazon and also my Etsy shop.

audiobook edition

Also available in eBook at:

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

...and a variety of other online shops!

For more on my other books and plays, please see my website: JacquelineTLynch.com  

"Lynch’s book is organized and well-written – and has plenty of amusing observations – but when it comes to describing Blyth’s movies, Lynch’s writing sparkles." - Ruth Kerr, Silver Screenings

"Jacqueline T. Lynch creates a poignant and thoroughly-researched mosaic of memories of a fine, upstanding human being who also happens to be a legendary entertainer." - Deborah Thomas, Java's Journey

"One of the great strengths of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is that Lynch not only gives an excellent overview of Blyth's career -- she offers detailed analyses of each of Blyth's roles -- but she puts them in the context of the larger issues of the day."- Amanda Garrett, Old Hollywood Films

"Jacqueline's book will hopefully cause many more people to take a look at this multitalented woman whose career encompassed just about every possible aspect of 20th Century entertainment." - Laura Grieve, Laura's Miscellaneous Musings''

"Jacqueline T. Lynch’s Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. is an extremely well researched undertaking that is a must for all Blyth fans." - Annette Bochenek, Hometowns to Hollywood

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures receives a gown worn by Ann Blyth

A gown worn by Ann Blyth in The King's Thief (1955) has been donated to the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.  It is from the Arnold R. Kunert Collection.  Ann wore several period gowns in the film, and at this point, I don't know which of them is the one donated to the museum, but I'll let you know when I have more description.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is slated to open to the public next year at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

For more on The King's Thief, have a look here at my post on Another Old Movie Blog, and here in my book on Ann's career: 

Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

eBook edition (Amazon)

print edition

audiobook edition

Also available in eBook at:

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

Two Ann Blyth Movies Next Week on TCM!

If it's Mother's Day, then you know Turner Classic Movies will be featuring our favorite mother-daughter drama, Mildred Pierce (1945).  Joan Crawford imparts some motherly advice to young Ann in the photo above, but we know darn well the girl has ideas of her own. Tune in Sunday, May 13th at 8 p.m. ET.

We get a chaser, however, the very next day, Monday the 14th, when TCM will be showing The King's Thief (1955) co-starring David Niven as the corrupt official in the reign of King Charles II in this lavish costume piece.  Tune in Monday, May 14th at 9:45 a.m. ET.

For more on these films, see my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

Modern Screen cover April 1955

Ann Blyth graces the cover of Modern Screen this April 1955 edition.  Still a top star in Hollywood, there were two more films to be released in that year: The King's Thief in August, and the lavish musical Kismet in December.  Her second child, her daughter Maureen, was born in December as well, so we can assume that the year 1955 was a fairly busy one for Ann.

The cover does, however, intimate that the climate was changing in Hollywood, as we note the references to two other up-and-coming -- and major -- stars, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.  Monroe's career ended with her tragic death, but her stardom -- which we may argue is something different than a career -- continues to this day.  Audrey Hepburn's career slowed in the early 1960s due to her preference to remain at home and raise her children, but she did continue to work in films sporadically through the rest of her life and devoted her last years to UNICEF.

Ann quietly managed to be active in raising her children, participating in charitable causes, and dabbling in her career, which took a sharp turn from films to television and most notably, theatre.  How funny not to achieve the icon status those other two talented ladies did through their screen magnetism, and yet we may smile at her magnificent success in accomplishing so much and without fanfare.

From my book Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.:

Was her forgotten status due, perhaps, to a combination of circumstances unique to Hollywood—that because the quiet stability of her private life did not make headlines she therefore couldn’t be exploited for profit; because the bulk of her films are hardly, if ever, shown today or available on DVD; and because, unlike those tragic stars who died young, or younger, she outlived all her co-stars?

Had she done more television, she might have regained recognition among younger audiences.  (For instance, like Angela Lansbury, who without Murder She Wrote might be known only to classic film buffs and theatre fans, but not have household name recognition in the U.S. and around the world.)  Still, though her staunch fans might mourn her lack of icon status, probably Ann would not.  Truly, she got the best of the bargain in a rich and rewarding private life—long and happy marriage, five children, ten grandchildren, life-long friends in and out of the entertainment industry, charitable work—and a satisfying career in proportions she could deal with...