For about the fourth time I am re reading Ida Lupino, a biography by William Donati.
Not many fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood films realize that Ida was born in Herne Hill, London, and came from a great theatrical family, going back to the 16th century.
Her father was Stanley Lupino, a popular musical hall star from the early part of the last century. Her uncle Lupino Lane had a smash success in the Musical, Me and my Girl in 1937, and it was still being revived in the West End in the 1980's.
Ida went to Hollywood in 1933 at the age of 15 to star in Alice in Wonderland, but even at that tender age she was already too sophisticated to be a convincing Alice.
By the late 1930's she was already scene stealing from Humphrey Bogart and George Raft in They Drive By Night, and with Bogart again in High Sierra.
By the late 1940's she was the first actress to turn to directing, and with great success too.
Probably the most underrated of all the great stars, she is only remembered today by film buffs of the Golden Age of Movies.
Not many fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood films realize that Ida was born in Herne Hill, London, and came from a great theatrical family, going back to the 16th century.
Her father was Stanley Lupino, a popular musical hall star from the early part of the last century. Her uncle Lupino Lane had a smash success in the Musical, Me and my Girl in 1937, and it was still being revived in the West End in the 1980's.
Ida went to Hollywood in 1933 at the age of 15 to star in Alice in Wonderland, but even at that tender age she was already too sophisticated to be a convincing Alice.
By the late 1930's she was already scene stealing from Humphrey Bogart and George Raft in They Drive By Night, and with Bogart again in High Sierra.
By the late 1940's she was the first actress to turn to directing, and with great success too.
Probably the most underrated of all the great stars, she is only remembered today by film buffs of the Golden Age of Movies.




