Jean Muir would spend her film career under contract to Warner Brothers until 1937, when she freelanced some in Hollywood before a failed attempt to return to the stage. A TV deal in 1950 would blow up less than two hours before she was to go live, as Muir was mistakenly fingered as a Red. This precipitated a descent into alcoholism which she would pull out of by 1960, when she made some appearances both on television and on Broadway. Eventually Muir became a master acting teacher at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri–I have that date as 1968, then nothing following it until her death, July 23, 1996.
I’m mostly familiar with Jean Muir through her appearances alongside Warner’s leading man Warren William. Besides Dr. Monica (1934), which is on my DVR awaiting viewing, she featured with William in the excellent Bedside (1934), though is in my view perhaps the weakest link of that overall strong movie. I preferred her alongside William again, later on, as the female lead in Columbia’s Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940). The biggest title Jean Muir was a part of was A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935), and she names Desirable (1934), in which she’s opposite George Brent, as her own favorite.
In their 1974 look back at 1930’s starlets, They Had Faces Then
But Warners threw her into everything that came along–program pot-boilers, “B” mysteries, undemanding supporting roles, even a stint opposite Joe E. Brown … you would go to a Jean Muir film, however humble, with high hopes that perhaps this time they would have given her a role in which she could make some use of her expressive gifts–Those hopes were always dashed.
Muir was born Jean Muir Fullarton in New York City on this date in 1911. After a tour of Europe was ended by the great Stock Market crash, Muir came home to New York and played on the stage rising from understudy to star in John Drinkwater’s Bird In Hand.
In Star Quality
The same authors explain Muir’s blacklisting as being a case of her joining a questionable group because she thought its sole intention was to support President Roosevelt. The IMDb quotes her as saying, “”I am not a Communist, have never been one, and believe that the Communists represent a vicious and destructive force, and I am opposed to them.”
“Star Quality” was published in 1974 and it appears the authors had a chance to chat with Muir, as her entry includes mention of her favorite director being Mervyn Leroy and that her closest Hollywood friends were Joan Crawford and James Cagney.
Piecing together all of the quotes with Jean Muir’s resume I have to agree with the conclusion of Springer and Hamilton – Despite her talent, Warner Brothers wasted Jean Muir.
Read about the movie Jean Muir named as her favorite, Desirable (1934), at Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings HERE.
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Jean Muir taught at UNC Wilmington; she was my Voice and Diction teacher in the Fall of 1982. I have very distinct memories of her. One of the memories was that she received a telegram one day while we were in class. I had never actually seen anyone receive a telegram before. The entire class watched curiously as she read the contents. She sank to her knees and said something to the effect of “Class is dismissed. One of my dearest friends has died”. About an hour later, I learned that Grace Kelly had been killed in an automobile accident.
Very interesting, Sonja, thank you for sharing! On another note, I’ve seen a ton of Jean Muir movies since I wrote this 3 years ago … it could really stand a rewrite! Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!
Sonja, she’s very good in “Dr. Monica” and “A Modern Hero,” (both 1934) which show on TCM sometimes. Thank you for adding a dash of personal knowledge to this page, I love stories like this!
Jean Muir was one of my acting teachers, { and my favorite, hands down }, during the summer of 1973 at Stephens College. She directed me in a Mollier play that summer which was warmly received. A very fond memory of the heart.
Best Regards, Randy Burnett
Thanks for sharing, Randy! It’s wonderful to hear that she was such a popular teacher!
cliff, nice piece…i knew jean as a neighbor in harrison ny in the mid-50’s. i was age 14. (this was way before her teaching career)… she introduced me to sandy meisner, where i attended the neighborhood playhouse in 65-67…but prior to that (58-65)we were as much best friends as is possible between a child and grownup….but, ofcource it was also a student /teacher relationship, but went farther: i fed the dog rusty.
this was all pre-teaching, and right after the scandals in the 50’s, which, at my young age, i had little interest in or knowledge about…, except for her many bitter remarks that soon passed, in the process of just living as mother and women : this was when she was bringing up her 3 children. (one was micheal jaffee, a friend of mine in high school. which is how i met her)…..how, i don,t know, but we hitched up as formitable buddies as kid and mature actress: she was to oversee all my pursuits and dreams of the stage by example and outings to all sorts of shows with her close friend henretta buckmaster (writer and parapalegic).and more: like painting the walls of her daughter margaret bedroom for $25 …what a mess i made of it !
at that time she was looking frantically to act in theater on any level, from producing shows at the local converted movie theater, to a small amateur class of adults. …but she rarely worked professionally at that point (ocassionally small roles in naked city etc). but was still totally dedicated intellectually and otherwise,to all things theater and acting, with a determind ferocity and frustration that i now understand; this business can drive anyone to drink and i,ve had my controversies as well.
although i became a choreographer (70 -90’s) and now painter…my closeness to theater and jean remained my initial impetus to achieve if i could, (and i didn,t have to pay for it )….. she was my first influence and friendship in that world…but, as is natural, the inevitable break between mentor and protoge ended as naturally as it began..as i ran into the mid 60’s and into the avant garde dance and theater that marked that era- and jean went on to great respect as teacher and mentor for another generation or two-we lost touch.
one rarely looks back at these relationships until their well over, (and now is that time for me)…yes, jean was an exceptional lady to many, .who’s influence will not soon be forgotten as actress, mother, and teacher extroadinaire ….and the greatest friend to the theater, as a whole, that i,ve ever met.
@Anonymous thanks so much for sharing your connection with Jean Muir. She really seems to have touched many people’s lives long after her period of movie stardom was over. One of these days I’m going to have to update this biography because unlike most actors who touch people from the distance of the screen, Jean Muir really seems to have made the most of dealing with real people, one on one. Thanks again!
She was my acting teacher at Stephens Perry Mansfield summer school in 1967.
She was brilliant and sweet and managed to bring out the best in us.
You’re absolutely right about Jean Muir. She was terrific. I have just seen Desirable (co-starring George Brent, directed by Archie Mayo). She should have won the Oscar for that.