Mitzi Gaynor, Star of ‘South Pacific,’ Dies at 93

As a movie critic with a penchant for the golden age of Hollywood, I must say that Mitzi Gaynor was an enchanting and captivating presence who graced the silver screen during the twilight years of the classic musical era. Her charm, elegance, and vivacious spirit were palpable in every performance, from her earliest days as a member of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera to her later triumphs on variety shows and Las Vegas stages.

As a film enthusiast, I’m saddened to share that Mitzi Gaynor, the radiant star who graced our movie screens with her captivating performances in musicals like “South Pacific” and “Les Girls” during the ’50s, and brought joy through her variety specials in the ’70s, passed away on Thursday. She was 93 years young.

According to a confirmation by Gaynor’s management duo, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda, it was natural causes that took her life. (EbMaster was informed of this.)

For over eight decades, she captivated audiences across films, television, and theater. She cherished every aspect of her professional life as an entertainer,” Reyes and Rosamonda stated on Gaynor’s official account. “Beyond the stage, she was a lively and exceptional woman, a compassionate and devoted friend, and a radiant, humorous, and all-around magnificent individual.

As a devoted cinephile, I had the privilege of playing Navy nurse Nellie Forbush in the 1958 cinematic rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical masterpiece “South Pacific”. Accompanying me were Rossano Brazzi, who brought French planter Emile De Becque to life, and John Kerr who portrayed Lt. Cable. Interestingly, I handled my own vocals, while many of the other actors relied on dubbing. As Nellie, I belted out the iconic tune “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair”, a song that would forever be synonymous with my name in the annals of cinema history.

A year prior, she performed alongside Gene Kelly and Kay Kendall in the musical “Les Girls,” under the direction of George Cukor.

Gaynor’s career can be conveniently split into two main phases: the first, spanning the 1950s, where she shone in several movie musicals, with “Les Girls” and “South Pacific” being the most notable; and a subsequent phase where, as the New York Times put it, her lively, unyielding energy as a dancer, dressed extravagantly by Bob Mackie, reached its pinnacle through a revolutionary series of television specials that aired from 1967 to 1978.

In my perspective, though Gaynor may not have been known for her immense vocal prowess, she possessed an infectious energy and unique charm that allowed her to shine brilliantly in show-stopping performances.

In her youth, the charming and blond-haired Gaynor possessed an endearing mix of childlike innocence and playful mischief.

In the realm of Hollywood, I stepped into the limelight for the first time in 1950 with “My Blue Heaven,” sharing the screen with Dan Dailey and the captivating Betty Grable. The following year, I landed my inaugural leading role in the musical “Golden Girl,” where I portrayed the historical figure, Lotta Crabtree, a Civil War-era entertainer. I was fortunate enough to be part of an ensemble cast alongside Marilyn Monroe and Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1952’s “We’re Not Married!”. That same year, I also graced the stage in musical productions like “Bloodhounds of Broadway,” a Damon Runyon-inspired tale set amidst the colorful underworld of the 1920s.

Gaynor graced the stages of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” in 1954 alongside Ethel Merman, Donald O’Connor, and Marilyn Monroe, and later appeared in “Anything Goes” in 1956 with Bing Crosby and once again with Donald O’Connor.

In 1957, she played a secondary character in the movie “The Joker Is Wild,” which starred Frank Sinatra. Interestingly, although she had fewer screen times compared to Sinatra, she was listed as the second-most important cast member in the credits of the film.

Following “South Pacific,” Gaynor acted in just three additional films: a romantic comedy titled “Happy Anniversary” alongside David Niven, a comedy named “Surprise Package,” where she shared the screen with Yul Brynner and Noel Coward under Stanley Donen’s direction, and finally, a 1963 comedy called “For Love or Money,” co-starring Kirk Douglas.

However, it wasn’t Gaynor’s acting career in films that was declining, but rather the period of the movie musical itself. “Les Girls” marked the end of Gene Kelly’s musical productions for MGM, a studio renowned for its exceptional musical films during the past three decades.

Starting from the late 1960s, I graced various variety shows like “The Frank Sinatra Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” and “The Dick Clark Show.” My first self-titled special aired on “The Kraft Music Hall” series in 1967, titled “Mitzi Gaynor Christmas Show.” Throughout the following years, I produced standalone specials with notable guests such as George Hamilton and Phil Harris (in 1968), Ross Martin (1969), Ken Berry, Dan Dailey, and Mike Connors (1973). In 1974, “Mitzi… A Tribute to the American Housewife” premiered, featuring stars like Ted Knight, Jerry Orbach, Jane Withers, Cliff Norton, and Suzanne Pleshette. The following year, I starred in “Mitzi and a Hundred Guys,” alongside Jack Albertson, Michael Landon, and numerous other celebrities.

As a dedicated cinephile, I continued to captivate audiences through my performances at prestigious award ceremonies. At the 1967 Academy Awards, for instance, I electrified the crowd with a mesmerizing rendition of the theme from “Georgy Girl,” followed by an exhilarating dance number that was met with thunderous applause.

Gaynor, on two occasions, released albums with Verve, titled “Mitzi” and “Mitzi Gaynor Sings the Words of Ira Gershwin.” She was a frequent performer in Las Vegas and graced stages at nightclubs across the United States and Canada.

Between 2008 and 2011, Mitzi Gaynor took turns performing her show “Mitzi … Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins.” During this time, she shared stories about her glamorous past, which included meetings with figures such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Howard Hughes, Gene Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Ethel Merman. Gaynor claimed that Merman told the most outrageous joke she had ever heard.

In 2010, The New York Times expressed some reservation, characterizing her mixed-media autobiography presented to Feinstein’s as a “gossipy and theatrical encounter with a celebrity.

On the 30th of July, 2008, I was part of an extraordinary event titled “TV Moves Live,” hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. This special gathering celebrated an impressive 60 years of dance on our television screens. Joining me were esteemed personalities like Shirley MacLaine, among others. It was a truly memorable evening!

In the year 2008, the documentary titled “Mitzi Gaynor Razzle Dazzle: The Special Years,” which focused on her time in variety shows, was broadcasted on PBS.

Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber hails from Chicago. Her mother was a professional dancer, while her father was skilled in both the violin and cello. The family later moved to Detroit, followed by a relocation to Los Angeles when she was 11 years old, as her dance teacher had shifted locations. In 1942, she joined the corps de ballet of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera.

Gaynor was married to agent and producer Jack Bean from 1954 until his death in 2006.

2024-10-17 18:48

Mitzi Gaynor, Star of ‘South Pacific,’ Dies at 93

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