By Allan R. Ellenberger

I’m often asked, “Why a biography on Miriam Hopkins?” I confess that I get this question mostly from people who are not fans of the actress. They can’t understand why anyone would be interested. On the other hand, those who are fans seem thrilled that one is being prepared. It’s scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

A few reasons why Miriam Hopkins would make a good biographical subject:

• Hopkins appeared in 35 films, 2 shorts, 18 Broadway plays, 20 plus summer stock plays and road tours, 20 television programs and multiple radio plays and appearances.

• Hopkins made her first film, Fast and Loose (1930) during the day while performing on the Broadway stage in Lysistrata in the evenings.

• Hopkins appeared in the very first Technicolor film, Becky Sharp (1935).

• Hopkins starred in the first produced play written by Tennessee Williams, Battle of Angels (1941).

• Hopkins appeared in a silent short film in 1928 with Humphrey Bogart.

• Hopkins had a love-hate relationship with her mother.

• Hopkins did not have contact with her father for more than twenty years — not until she became a Hollywood star.

• Hopkins was indirectly descended from Revolutionary figures, Arthur Middleton and John Dickinson.

• Hopkins was Margaret Mitchell’s choice to play Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939).

• Hopkins was nominated for an Academy Award (Becky Sharp) and a Golden Globe (The Heiress).

• Hopkins bought and remodeled John Gilbert’s house after his death and sold it ten years later to David O. Selznick.

• Hopkins costars include: Carole Lombard, Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, Maurice Chevalier, George Raft, Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Lionel Barrymore, Kay Francis, Bing Crosby, Fay Wray, Joel McCrea, Edward G. Robinson, Merle Oberon, Gertrude Lawrence, Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Olivia De Havilland, Gene Tierney, Laurence Olivier, Jennifer Jones, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and of course, Bette Davis.

• Hopkins was directed four times by William Wyler, three times by Ernst Lubitsch and twice by Rouben Mamoulian.

• Hopkins was married four times and had numerous lovers.

• Hopkins lived on Washington Square in New York during the late 1920s, the same place as her character in The Heiress (1949).

• Hopkins was seriously interested in astrology and numerology.

• Hopkins adopted a child as a single parent.

• Hopkins was involved in political causes during her Hollywood years.

• Hopkins was an authority at scene stealing.

• Hopkins preferred writers, directors and intellectuals as friends and not Hollywood types.

• Hopkins had an extensive book collection in her homes and was a voracious reader.

• Hopkins actions were followed closely by the FBI for more than 15 years.

• Hopkins never revealed her first marriage to her son

(he read about it in his mothers obituary)

• Hopkins died nine days before her 70th birthday.

• Hopkins feuded with Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Errol Flynn and numerous others and pissed off half of Hollywood.

What’s not interesting about that?

 ___________________________________