CHARACTER ACTORS PART 3: THELMA RITTER. Here are some of the reasons why I love her:

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) All About Eve (1950) As Young As You Feel (1951) Pickup On South Street (1953) Rear Window (1954) Pillow Talk (1959) The Misfits (1961)

Her first movie role was a bit part in the Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street". Ritter plays the mother of a little tyke who wanted something that Macy's didn't carry; so Edmund Gwenn (as Santa Claus) referred them to a different department store that DID carry the toy. Ritter's mother was so impressed Macy's put the customer first that, even though she wasn't a regular customer, she vowed from now on to do all her shopping here. Apparently Darryl F. Zanuck noticed her bit part and insisted that the role be enlarged and soon Thelma Ritter was gracing movie after movie. In fact she was nominated for an Academy Award 6 times; this makes her one of the actor's most nominated without ever winning an Oscar. This is a crime since, if anyone deserved an Oscar it was ole Thelma. But hey, Hitchcock never won an Oscar for best director so. . . And who can forget Thelma in Hitchcock's Rear Window (I know Whatshisname can't) when she mused about chopped up body parts fitting in a trunk? Or her phenomenal role in the film noir classic Pickup On South Street. Or her hysterically funny turn in Doris Day & Rock Hudson's Pillow Talk. And don't forget: Thelma never trusted that wicked Anne Baxter and you know what - - Bette Davis shoulda listened to her because Thelma ALWAYS knows best! If I could entrust my daily life to Thelma -- well, hell I'd sure be a lot better off! Thelma was a hell of a broad and I love her!