Dorothy Abbott
Biography: Perennial starlet Dorothy Abbott was a sexy, vivacious, wide-smiling model, showgirl and actress who could brighten up a room. Unfortunately, her cinematic offerings wound up being pretty minimal and her last years were marred by depression and, ultimately, a tragic end. She was born Dorothy E. Abbott on December 16, 1920, in Kansas City, Missouri and started her career off as a chorine with Earl Carroll and his Los Angeles-based revues and in Las Vegas showrooms where she was dubbed the rather mystifying title of "The Girl with the Golden Arm". Paramount Studios perked up on the lovely blonde with the Betty Page-like bangs and gave her a starting contract at $150 a week. Groomed in dozens of decorative "good time girl" bits -- dancers, chorus girls, waitresses, stewardesses, party girls, nurses and models -- she was at the same time promoted as a cheesecake pinup, "winning" such dubious titles as "Miss Wilshire Club," "Miss Los Angeles Transit" and "Miss Oil Cans". The dusky-voiced Dorothy was usually briefly seen and not heard in such dramatic and lightweight fare as The Razor's Edge (1946), Road to Rio (1947), Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) (in which she has her first speaking role as a maid), Words and Music (1948), Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949), Little Women (1949), Neptune's Daughter (1949), Annie Get Your Gun (1950), His Kind of Woman (1951), Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1952), _The Las Vegas Story (1952)_, The Caddy (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), Jailhouse Rock (1957), South Pacific (1958), The Apartment (1960), That Touch of Mink (1962), A Gathering of Eagles (1963) and Dear Heart (1964). Her one starring role came early in the exploitative, lowbudget potboiler A Virgin in Hollywood (1953) as a star reporter out to get a seamy Hollywood story, but she was unable to capitalize on it. Working bit parts at the studio during the days, she would often perform on stage in little theatre shows at night. On the sly, when work was meager, she became a real estate agent in the 1950s in order to help supplement her income. TV chores included guest roles in "Leave It to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet". She also had a recurring part for one season as Jack Webb 's girlfriend on the Dragnet (1954) series. Dorothy married LAPD narcotics squad officer-turned homicide detective Adolph Rudy Diaz in 1949. Diaz, who was of Native American (Apache) descent, eventually retired as a cop in order to pursue acting. By this time, the marriage was in trouble and the couple separated. Going by the stage name of Rudy Diaz in 1967, he began to get work and was seen out in public with other women. The divorce was finalized in 1968, but Dorothy took it hard and never seemed to get over it. On December 15, 1968, she committed suicide at her Los Angeles home -- one day before her 48th birthday. She was interred (as Dorothy E. Diaz) at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California, Plot: Valley Lawn, Lot 2939.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: December 16, 1920
Deathday: December 15, 1968
Popularity:
Known For
Bachelor in Paradise
1961-11-01
Bachelor in Paradise
Overview: A bachelor author of sleazy books moves to a family-oriented subdivision where he becomes an unofficial relationship advisor to unhappy local housewives, to the dismay of their respective husbands who suspect him of sexual misconduct.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-11-01
Popularity:
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954-12-16
There's No Business Like Show Business
Overview: Molly and Terry Donahue, plus their three children, are The Five Donahues. Youngest son Tim meets hat-check girl Vicky and the family act begins to fall apart.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-12-16
Popularity:
Little Women
1949-03-10
Little Women
Overview: Louisa May Alcott's autobiographical account of her life with her three sisters in Concord Mass in the 1860s. With their father fighting in the civil war, the sisters: Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth are at home with their mother - a very outspoken women for her time. The story is of how the sisters grow up, find love and find their place in the world.
Genres: Romance Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-03-10
Popularity:
East Side, West Side
1949-12-22
East Side, West Side
Overview: A vain businessman puts strains on his happy marriage to a rich, beautiful socialite by allowing himself to be seduced by a former girlfriend.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-12-22
Popularity:
A Gathering of Eagles
1963-06-21
A Gathering of Eagles
Overview: Rock Hudson plays an Air Force Colonel who has just been re-assigned as a cold war B-52 commander who must shape up his men to pass a grueling inspection that the previous commander had failed, and had been fired for. He is also recently married, and as a tough commanding officer doing whatever he has to do to shape his men up, his wife sees a side to him that she hadn't seen before.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-06-21
Popularity:
Pardners
1956-08-01
Pardners
Overview: Rich momma's boy Wade Kingsley Jr. an Eastern dude, tries to follow in his murdered father's footsteps by returning to the West to partner up with Slim Moseley Jr.,the son of his father's former partner. Wade overcomes Slim's initial reluctance to accept him by using his fortune to buy a prize cow and new car to help Slim in his job as foreman on the Kingsley family ranch, currently under siege by a gang of outlaws called "masked raiders." Wade generously tries to pay off the ranch's mortgage with $15,000 of his own money, but unfortunately neither "pardner" realizes that respected banker Dan Hollis, the son of their fathers' murderer, is the leader of the gang.
Genres: Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-08-01
Popularity:
The Unholy Wife
1957-06-24
The Unholy Wife
Overview: A woman marries a man for his wealth, then concocts a plan to kill him, take his money, and run off with her lover. Things go wrong when they accidentally kill the wrong person.
Genres: Thriller Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-06-24
Popularity:
The Petty Girl
1950-08-17
The Petty Girl
Overview: An artist famous for his calendar portraits of beautiful women becomes fascinated by a prim and proper professor and tries to get her to pose for his arwork. She declines his offer, but he's determined not to take no for an answer.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-08-17
Popularity:
Warning Shot
1967-01-18
Warning Shot
Overview: Hounded by the press for shooting a doctor, an ousted Los Angeles policeman works his own case.
Genres: Crime Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1967-01-18
Popularity:
Lover Come Back
1961-12-20
Lover Come Back
Overview: Jerry Webster and Carol Templeton are rival Madison Avenue advertising executives who each dislike each other’s methods. After he steals a client out from under her cute little nose, revenge prompts her to infiltrate his secret "VIP" campaign in order to persuade the mystery product’s scientist to switch to her firm.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-12-20
Popularity:
Neptune's Daughter
1949-06-10
Neptune's Daughter
Overview: Scatterbrained Betty Barrett mistakes masseur Jack Spratt for Jose O'Rourke, the captain of the South American polo team. Spratt goes along with the charade, but the situation becomes more complicated when they fall in love. Meanwhile, Betty's sensible older sister Eve fears Betty's heart will be broken when Jose returns to South America. She arranges to meet with the real O'Rourke and love soon blossoms between them as well.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-06-10
Popularity:
Words and Music
1948-12-31
Words and Music
Overview: Encomium to Larry Hart (1895-1943), seen through the fictive eyes of his song-writing partner, Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): from their first meeting, through lean years and their breakthrough, to their successes on Broadway, London, and Hollywood. We see the fruits of Hart and Rodgers' collaboration - elaborately staged numbers from their plays, characters' visits to night clubs, and impromptu performances at parties. We also see Larry's scattered approach to life, his failed love with Peggy McNeil, his unhappiness, and Richard's successful wooing of Dorothy Feiner.
Genres: Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-12-31
Popularity:
A Virgin In Hollywood
1953-10-06
A Virgin In Hollywood
Overview: A revealing "behind the scenes" feature about glamour girls in Hollywood in startling scenes of EXCITEMENT
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-10-06
Popularity:
Rebel Without a Cause
1955-10-27
Rebel Without a Cause
Overview: After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark is supposed to have a clean slate, although being the new kid in town brings its own problems. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato, and falls for local girl Judy. However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz. When Buzz violently confronts Jim and challenges him to a drag race, the new kid's real troubles begin.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1955-10-27
Popularity:
Night Has a Thousand Eyes
1948-08-20
Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Overview: When heiress Jean Courtland attempts suicide, her fiancée Elliott Carson probes her relationship with John Triton. In flashback, we see how stage mentalist Triton starts having terrifying flashes of true precognition. Now years later, he desperately tries to prevent tragedies in the Courtland family.
Genres: Thriller Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-08-20
Popularity:
Beyond Glory
1948-08-03
Beyond Glory
Overview: Thinking he may have caused the death of his commanding officer Captain Daniels in Tunisia, Rocky visits Daniels' widow. She falls for him, he falls for her, she encourages him to go to West Point. While there he faces serious disciplinary review for having forced a plebe into resigning. He may even be court-martialled.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-08-03
Popularity:
The Apartment
1960-06-21
The Apartment
Overview: Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-06-21
Popularity:
If You Knew Susie
1948-02-07
If You Knew Susie
Overview: In the small town of Brookford, everybody can trace their ancestors back to the Revolutionary War, except Sam and Susie Parker. One day, however, they find a letter written by George Washington that mentions the bravery of a Revolutionary War hero named Parker.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-02-07
Popularity:
A Life of Her Own
1950-09-01
A Life of Her Own
Overview: A young woman from Kansas moves to New York City, becomes highly successful at a prestigious modeling agency, and falls in love with a married man.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-09-01
Popularity:
South Pacific
1958-03-18
South Pacific
Overview: Can a girl from Little Rock find happiness with a mature French planter she got to know one enchanted evening away from the military hospital where she is a nurse? Or should she just wash that man out of her hair? Bloody Mary is the philosopher of the island and it's hard to believe she could be the mother of Liat who has captured the heart of Lt. Joseph Cable USMC. While waiting for action in the war in the South Pacific, sailors and nurses put on a musical comedy show. The war gets closer and the saga of Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque becomes serious drama.
Genres: Music Romance War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-03-18
Popularity:
Where Danger Lives
1950-11-16
Where Danger Lives
Overview: A young doctor falls in love with a disturbed young woman and apparently becomes involved in the death of her husband. They head for Mexico trying to outrun the law.
Genres: Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-11-16
Popularity:
His Kind of Woman
1951-08-15
His Kind of Woman
Overview: Career gambler Dan Milner agrees to a $50,000 deal to leave the USA for Mexico, only to find himself entangled with fellow guests at a luxurious resort and suspecting that the man who hired him may be the deported crime boss Nick Ferraro aiming to re-enter to the USA.
Genres: Crime Comedy Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1951-08-15
Popularity:
Red, Hot and Blue
1949-09-05
Red, Hot and Blue
Overview: In her attempts to make a splash on Broadway, a lively would-be-actress lands herself in hot water with the mob.
Genres: Music Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-09-05
Popularity: