Ann Sothern first appeared as an extra in ‘Broadway Nights’ (1927), then played minor parts in several films including ‘The Show of Shows’ (1929), ‘Song of the West’ (1930), ‘Kid Millions’ (1934) and more.
After working in stage productions, Sothern returned to star in many B-films such as  romantic-musical ‘Let’s Fall in Love’ (1933), crime-film ‘You May Be Next’ (1936), comedy-films ‘The Party’s Over’ (1934), ‘My American Wife’ (1936), Otto Preminger-directed ‘Danger-Love at Work’ (1937), murder-mystery ‘Trade Winds’ (1938) amongst others.
Next, under MGM contract Sothern portrayed ‘Mary Anastasia O’Connor aka brazen burlesque dancer Maisie Ravier’ in comedy-film ‘Maisie’ (1939), the big success of which brought on a series of 10 popular Maisie sequels – ‘Congo Maisie’ (1940), ‘Gold Rush Maisie’ (1940), ‘Ringside Maisie’ (1941), ‘Maisie Gets Her Man’ (1942), ‘Swing Shift Maisie’ (1943), ‘Maisie Goes to Reno’ (1944), ‘Up Goes Maisie’ (1946), ‘Undercover Maisie’ (1947). The film-series brought her wide acclaim.
Sothern’s other starrers of the time include mystery-comedy ‘Fast & Furious’ (1938), crime-comedy ‘Brother Orchid’ (1940), comedy-film ‘Dulcy’ (1940), musical-film ‘Lady Be Good’ (1941). She played title-role in commercially hit film-adaption of Broadway musical ‘Panama Hattie’ (1942). Further she starred in war-drama film ‘Cry ‘Havoc’ (1943), 1948’s musical-films ‘April Showers’ and ‘Words & Music,’ and ‘Oscar-winning’ ‘A Letter to Three Wives’ (1949). Thereafter a health issue led to a set-back in her film-career.
In 1952, Sothern made her TV debut in ‘Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.’ She played title-role as ‘Susan Camille ‘Susie’ MacNamara’ in TV-sitcom ‘Private Secretary’ (1953-1957) which earned her popularity and four ‘Primetime Emmy’ nominations. Next, she starred as ‘Kathleen ‘Katy’ O’Connor’ in ‘The Ann Sothern Show’ (1958-1961) which won ‘Golden Globe Award for Best TV-series’ (1959). She made guest-appearances in several TV-shows including ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.’
Sothern received ‘Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress’ for her role in political-drama film ‘The Best Man’ (1964). Further, she appeared in psychological-thriller films ‘Lady in a Cage’ (1964) and ‘The Killing Kind’ (1973), action-adventure films ‘Golden Needles’ (1974) and ‘The Little Dragons’ (1979), action-comedy ‘Crazy Mama’ (1975) and others.
Sothern played recurring-role in ‘The Lucy Show’ (1965), provided voice for fantasy-sitcom ‘My Mother the Car’ (1965-1966), and appeared in TV-adaption of her previous film ‘A Letter to Three Wives’ (1985).
Sothern’s final film role in drama-film ‘The Whales of August’ (1987) brought her ‘Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.’
A seductress living in a small town writes a letter to her three best friends notifying that she is going to run off with one of their husbands. However, she doesn’t inform them which one, which makes things more complicated.
Set during the Second World War, the film focuses on thirteen American women serving at a field hospital in war torn Philippine. Out of the thirteen, only two are trained nurses, the rest being lay volunteers from different backgrounds. The story chronicles how they battle constant Japanese air raids, short medical supplies and bouts of malaria before they evolve into a cohesive team.
A poor Brooklyn boy inherits $77 million from his biological father; but to get it he must travel to Egypt. Traveling in the same ship is his father’s common-law wife and her rogue boyfriend, intending to lay claim on the booty and so is his sponsor, who is also expecting a share. Then there is a local sheikh who is unwilling to give up the money.
A millionaire hires a private detective to learn the truth about his fiancée. Although the detective begins his investigation, he slowly starts falling in love with her.
Eugene Charlier, a stage entertainer, successfully impersonates rich and famous but unfaithful banker Baron Ferdinand Cassini, who is drawn towards Charlier’s partner Mimi. When the Baron disappears for a secret meeting, his partners hire Charlier to imitate him at a state reception. The comical game of mistaken identity leads to several amusing confusions for both Mimi as well as Baroness Genevieve Cassini.
The musical comedy follows Sally Morgan who has fallen in love with mixed-race Native American Wanenis. When she flees her wedding with Sheriff Bob Wells, with the help of a completely oblivious Henry Williams who is just giving her a ride, they are pursued by Wells and Henry’s nurse Mary.
A theater producer hires Nancy to star in his show, but doesn’t inform her superstar mother Frances, that she has been replaced. Unknown to each other, both mother and daughter head south for the same role.
This war drama short film tells the story of an air force officer named John Jones, whose daughter is preparing for a school event, when he is suddenly called away due to an air raid alarm. He soon realizes that he is quite lucky to be in America, as there is no bombing and no suffering like the war-torn nations of Europe.
Broadway Through a Keyhole is a musical film which tells the story of Frank Rocci, a racketeer who finds himself attracted to a dancer named Joan, working at a Broadway night spot. He is uses his influence to help her get a significant role in the show, hoping that it will make her fall for him. She eventually accepts his marriage proposal, although it is more out of gratitude than love.
The fictionalized retelling of the creative partnership of legends, lyricist Lorenz Hart and composer Richard Rodgers, narrates their struggles to find success. It also provides a view to Larry’s personal demons, his death, and the heartbroken Dick regretting the loss of his friend when success eventually comes knocking.
During her second divorce hearing, singer Dixie Donegan recounts to Judge Murdock, the ups and downs of her marriage to composer Eddie Crane. After initially working together, falling in love, and getting married the two separated due to differences. They got married a second time to each other only to realize that they want different things, again.
This 1930 pre-code musical comedy film tells the story of an upper class couple, Bob and Angela Brooks. However, since Bob is unfaithful, to teach him a lesson, and to win back his love, Angela disguises herself as a mysterious devil woman aboard a magnificent ball, and tries to seduce her unknowing husband.
A movie company is showing the Arabian Nights when a hobo enters their camp and gets injured on the head. After taking too many painkillers, he falls asleep and starts dreaming about being in Baghdad and also being the Sultan’s advisor.
Tom Marlowe is the star of his college’s football team, although his college grades are not very good. After a series of bad grades, the college decides to exclude Marlowe from the team. But Professor Kenyon decides to help Marlowe improve his grades, so that he can lead his football team once again.
Henry MacMorrow is a junior partner working at a law firm who is assigned a task of obtaining the signatures of several members of the Pemberton family so that a property owned by them can be sold. He makes his way to their home by train, and on route, he meets Junior Pemberton, and his sister Toni. Toni eventually starts developing feelings for Henry.
A comedy mystery film about a detective who chases a socialite accused of committing a murder. She must outwit him to avoid going to prison.
Maisie is a showgirl in Chicago who falls on difficult times, after which she begins to work for a building manager. After getting fired, she ends up in another position as an assistant to an aspiring comedian named Hap. However, since Hap is not able to find much success in his shows, they begin to work for a con man. Meanwhile Maisie and Hap also begin to fall for each other.
Private Eddie Marsh has recently joined the army but possesses an entertainer’s spirit. On his way to arranging a grand show for his fellow soldiers, he falls in love with Colonel Bill Jones’ daughter Kathryn. Now he must put on the greatest show to impress the Colonel and get his blessings.
A detective couple visit Seaside City for a vacation, where the husband is made one of the judges of a beauty pageant. Together, they witness a scam and investigate a murder.
A young man is framed in a gang rape and goes to prison. When he is released, one of the tenants at his mother's boarding house takes a fancy to him. However, his lust for violence triggered during his prison sentence causes him to commit gory crimes one after another.
Maisie is overworked at her defense job, until she is given a vacation for two weeks. She meets a man named Tommy, who offers her a job of singing with his band in Reno. However, she needs to get there on her own. At the bus station, she meets a soldier who asks her to deliver a letter for his wife, who is waiting for a divorce.
April Showers is a musical film which tells the story of a struggling vaudeville couple, who manage to find a lot of popularity and success after they add their son to the show. However, things turn upside down when the father begins to take a liking to alcohol, and gets addicted.
Blind Date is a romantic comedy film which tells the story of Kitty, a hardworking switchboard operator who is engaged to Bill, an auto mechanic. When Bill opens his own garage, his relationship with Kitty is affected due to his busy schedule. Frustrated, Kitty agrees to go on a blind date with the son of a rich businessman.
Doug Tyler is a young man who is an aspiring Broadway producer. After taking a liking to a singer named Pat Thatcher, he decides to invest his ancestral property into a show starring her. However, he is not aware about her cunning father’s schemes.
Hattie Maloney’s hotel in Panama is frequented by American sailors, who come here to have a good time, often singing Cole Porter numbers and dancing. The plot heats up when an upper class gentleman visits the hotel and sparks begin to fly between the two. However, there are problems on the way.
Elmer is a rich and naive young man, who falls for a working girl named Mary. While trying to find a driver for himself, he gets enlisted in the military accidentally. However, he is happy when he finds that Mary is working there as well.
The film gave a chance to the 1929 audiences to see and hear the famous stars of silent movies for the first time. Frank Fay is the Emcee of this music-comedy revue, where the well-known names of the silent era, actors from first ‘talkie’ movies, and the Broadway stars perform in a series of musical, dramatic and comedy acts.
Jerry and Connie are the best reporters in the field, but they work for rival newspapers. When they take a liking to one another, and plan to get married, both of their employers and co-workers try every trick in the book to keep the two apart.
This action comedy film tells us the story of three women who begin a crime spree, after their family farm was taken off them by corrupt authorities.
The musical comedy follows Sally Morgan who has fallen in love with mixed-race Native American Wanenis. When she flees her wedding with Sheriff Bob Wells, with the help of a completely oblivious Henry Williams who is just giving her a ride, they are pursued by Wells and Henry’s nurse Mary.
Broadway Through a Keyhole is a musical film which tells the story of Frank Rocci, a racketeer who finds himself attracted to a dancer named Joan, working at a Broadway night spot. He is uses his influence to help her get a significant role in the show, hoping that it will make her fall for him. She eventually accepts his marriage proposal, although it is more out of gratitude than love.
This 1930 pre-code musical comedy film tells the story of an upper class couple, Bob and Angela Brooks. However, since Bob is unfaithful, to teach him a lesson, and to win back his love, Angela disguises herself as a mysterious devil woman aboard a magnificent ball, and tries to seduce her unknowing husband.
A movie company is showing the Arabian Nights when a hobo enters their camp and gets injured on the head. After taking too many painkillers, he falls asleep and starts dreaming about being in Baghdad and also being the Sultan’s advisor.
Tom Marlowe is the star of his college’s football team, although his college grades are not very good. After a series of bad grades, the college decides to exclude Marlowe from the team. But Professor Kenyon decides to help Marlowe improve his grades, so that he can lead his football team once again.
Ann Sothern Awards
| The Ann Sothern Show | Television Achievement | 1959 |
