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Bess Flowers (November 23, 1898 – July 28, 1984) was an American actress best known for her work as an extra in hundreds of films. She was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in more than 350 feature films and numerous comedy shorts in her 41-year career. She holds the record for appearances in films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (23).Slide, Anthony. 201
Silent Players: a Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses
Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. p. 103. .


Career

Born in Sherman, Texas, Flowers' film debut came in 1923, when she appeared in ''
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...
''. She made three films that year, and then began working extensively. Many of her appearances are uncredited, as she generally played non-speaking roles. By the 1930s, Flowers was in constant demand. Her appearances ranged from
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
and
John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...
thrillers to comedic roles alongside of Charley Chase, the
Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeare ...
, Leon Errol, Edgar Kennedy, and
Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...
. She appeared in the following five films which won the
Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only categ ...
: ''
It Happened One Night ''It Happened One Night'' is a 1934 pre-Code American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed and co-produced by Frank Capra, in collaboration with Harry Cohn, in which a pampered socialite ( Claudette Colbert) tr ...
'', '' You Can't Take it with You'', '' All About Eve'', '' The Greatest Show on Earth'', and ''
Around the World in Eighty Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (french: link=no, Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employe ...
''. In each of these movies, Flowers was uncredited. Including these five movies, she had appeared in twenty-three Best Picture nominees in total, making her the record holder for most appearances in films nominated for the award. Her last movie was ''
Good Neighbor Sam ''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael ...
'' in 1964. Flowers's acting career was not confined to feature films. She was also seen in many episodic American TV series, such as '' I Love Lucy'', notably in episodes, "Lucy Is Enceinte" (1952), "Ethel's Birthday" (1955), and "Lucy's Night in Town" (1957), where she is usually seen as a theatre patron. Outside her acting career, in 1945, Flowers helped to found the Screen Extras Guild (active: 1946–1992, then merged with the
Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to me ...
), where she served as one of its first vice-presidents and recording secretaries.


Personal life

Flowers was first married on September 2, 1923, in Ventura County, California, to
Cullen Tate Cullen Tate (March 10, 1886 – October 12, 1947) was an American assistant director as well as a director. He was nominated for an Oscar in the dead category of Best Assistant Director at the 1934 Academy Awards for the film ''Cleopatra''. He ...
, an assistant director for Cecil B. DeMille. They had a daughter, and they were divorced in 1928 in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
.


Death

Flowers died on July 28, 1984, at age 85 in the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.


Selected filmography

;1920s * ''
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...
'' (1923) * '' The Silent Partner'' (1923) * ''
Irene Irene is a name derived from εἰρήνη (eirēnē), the Greek for "peace". Irene, and related names, may refer to: * Irene (given name) Places * Irene, Gauteng, South Africa * Irene, South Dakota, United States * Irene, Texas, United State ...
'' (1926) * '' Lone Hand Saunders'' (1926) * '' Hands Across the Border'' (1926) * '' Glenister of the Mounted'' (1926) * '' Old Ironsides'' (1926) (uncredited) * ''
Blondes by Choice ''Blondes by Choice'' is an American silent comedy film directed by Hampton Del Ruth and starring Claire Windsor. The script was written by Josephine Quirk and Paul Perez. Plot When a man named Cliff's car breaks down, he is towed into the ...
'' (1927) * '' Show People'' (1928) (uncredited) * ''
We Faw Down ''We Faw Down'' is a silent short subject directed by Leo McCarey starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 29, 1928. It was remade in part with their film ''Sons of the Desert'' in 1933. Plot S ...
'' (1928, Short) * '' The Saturday Night Kid'' (1929) (uncredited) * ''
Their Own Desire ''Their Own Desire'' is a 1929 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Norma Shearer, Belle Bennett, Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, and Helene Millard. The film was adapted by James Forbes and Frances ...
'' (1929) (uncredited) ;1930s * '' Ten Cents a Dance'' (1931) * '' Strangers May Kiss'' (1931) (uncredited) * ''
A Free Soul ''A Free Soul'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film that tells the story of an alcoholic San Francisco defense attorney who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with, who ...
'' (1931) (uncredited) * '' Monkey Business'' (1931) (uncredited) * '' Possessed'' (1931) * ''
Sinister Hands ''Sinister Hands'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Armand Schaefer. Plot summary A millionaire is murdered at a séance at a fortune-teller's home. Detective Capt Herbert Devlin, played by Jack Mulhall, and Detective Watkins in ...
'' (1932) * '' Sin's Pay Day'' (1932) * ''
It Happened One Night ''It Happened One Night'' is a 1934 pre-Code American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed and co-produced by Frank Capra, in collaboration with Harry Cohn, in which a pampered socialite ( Claudette Colbert) tr ...
'' (1934) - Agnes, Gordon's Secretary (uncredited) * '' One Exciting Adventure'' (1934) * '' The Whole Town's Talking'' (1935) (uncredited) * '' A Night at the Opera'' (1935) (uncredited) * '' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' Forgotten Faces'' (1936) * '' Two-Fisted Gentleman'' (1936) * ''
My Man Godfrey ''My Man Godfrey'' is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, who had been briefly married years before appearing together in the film. The screenplay for ''My Man Godf ...
'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' Dodsworth'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' Theodora Goes Wild'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' Topper'' (1937) (uncredited) * '' The Awful Truth'' (1937) (uncredited) * '' Nothing Sacred'' (1937) (uncredited) * ''
Paid to Dance ''Paid to Dance'' (also known as ''Hard to Hold'') is a 1937 drama film starring Don Terry, Jacqueline Wells and Rita Hayworth. Plot Government agents William Dennis and Joan Bradley are undercover, working to solve the disappearances of girls ...
'' (1937) * ''
The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...
'' (1937) * '' Ever Since Eve'' (1937) (uncredited) * ''
Termites of 1938 ''Termites of 1938'' is a 1938 short film, short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 28th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...
'' (1938, Short) (uncredited) * ''
Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or t ...
'' (1938) (uncredited) * '' You Can't Take It With You'' (1938) (uncredited) * ''
Mutts to You ''Mutts to You'' is a 1938 short subject directed by Charley Chase starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 34th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...
'' (1938, Short) * ''
The Lady Objects ''The Lady Objects'' is a 1938 American drama film written by Gladys Lehman and Charles Kenyon and directed by Erle C. Kenton. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Song at the 11th Academy Awards with the song ''A Mist Over the Moon'', with ...
'' (1938) * ''
Midnight Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date changes, on the local official clock time for any particular jurisdiction. By clock time, midnight is the opposite of noon, differing from it by 12 hours ...
'' (1939) (uncredited) * '' Rose of Washington Square'' (1939) (uncredited) * ''
The Roaring Twenties ''The Roaring Twenties'' is a 1939 American crime thriller film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, and Gladys George. The film, spanning the periods between 1919 and 1933, was written by Je ...
'' (1939) as a nightclub patron (uncredited) * ''
Ninotchka ''Ninotchka'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film made for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by producer and director Ernst Lubitsch and starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It was written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, and Walter Reisch, based ...
'' (1939) (uncredited) ;1940s * ''
A Plumbing We Will Go ''A Plumbing We Will Go'' is a 1940 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 46th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures star ...
'' (1940, Short) (uncredited) * '' The Boys from Syracuse'' (1940) * ''
Boom Town A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth, or that is started from scratch. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although ...
'' (1940) (uncredited) * '' Mr. & Mrs. Smith'' (1941) (uncredited) * '' The Lady Eve'' (1941) (uncredited) * '' Meet John Doe'' (1941) (uncredited) * ''
Ziegfeld Girl Ziegfeld Girls were the chorus girls and showgirls from Florenz Ziegfeld's theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the '' Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), in New York City, which were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris. Desc ...
'' (1941) (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Came to Dinner'' (1942) (uncredited) * '' I Married an Angel'' (1942) (unconfirmed) * '' The Palm Beach Story'' (1942) (uncredited) * '' The Glass Key'' (1942) (uncredited) * '' Now, Voyager'' (1942) (uncredited) * ''
I Married a Witch ''I Married a Witch'' is a 1942 American fantasy romantic comedy film, directed by René Clair, and starring Veronica Lake as a witch whose plan for revenge goes comically awry, with Fredric March as her foil. The film also features Robert Benchl ...
'' (1942) (uncredited) * '' Springtime in the Rockies'' (1942) (uncredited) * ''
Tahiti Honey ''Tahiti Honey'' is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by John H. Auer and starring Simone Simon, Dennis O'Keefe and Michael Whalen.Martin p.199 The film's sets were designed by the art director Russell Kimball. Premise A new female ...
'' (1943) (uncredited) * '' Heaven Can Wait'' (1943) (uncredited) * ''
Mr. Skeffington ''Mr. Skeffington'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Vincent Sherman, based on the 1940 novel of the same name by Elizabeth von Arnim. The film stars Bette Davis as a beautiful but self-centered woman who has many suitors but marries Jo ...
'' (1944) (uncredited) * ''
Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American crime film noir directed by Billy Wilder, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler, and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. The screenplay was based on James M. Cain's 1943 novel of the same ...
'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' Laura'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' The Woman in the Window '' (1944) (uncredited) * '' Hollywood Canteen'' (1944) (uncredited) * ''
A Song for Miss Julie ''A Song for Miss Julie'' is a 1945 American film directed by William Rowland (film director), William Rowland. Plot summary Cast *Shirley Ross as Valerie Kimbro *Barton Hepburn as George Kimbro *Jane Farrar as Julie Charteris *Roger Cla ...
'' (1945) (uncredited) * '' The Affairs of Susan'' (1945) (uncredited) * '' Mildred Pierce'' (1945) (uncredited) * '' Micro-Phonies'' (1945) (cameo) (uncredited) * '' Gilda'' (1946) (uncredited) * ''
The Blue Dahlia ''The Blue Dahlia'' is a 1946 American crime film and film noir with an original screenplay by Raymond Chandler''Variety'' film review; January 30, 1946, page 12.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; February 2, 1946, page 19. directed by George M ...
'' (1946) (uncredited) * '' Notorious'' (1946) (uncredited) * '' The Big Sleep'' (1946) (uncredited) * ''
The Razor's Edge ''The Razor's Edge'' is a 1944 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. It tells the story of Larry Darrell, an American pilot traumatized by his experiences in World War I, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. The story b ...
'' (1946) (uncredited) * '' Humoresque'' (1946) (uncredited) * '' Dead Reckoning'' (1947) (uncredited) * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1947) (uncredited) * '' The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'' (1947) (uncredited) * '' The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'' (1947) (uncredited) * '' Song of the Thin Man'' (1947) * ''
Cass Timberlane ''Cass Timberlane'' is a 1947 romantic drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner and Zachary Scott and directed by George Sidney. It was based on the 1945 novel ''Cass Timberlane: A Novel of Husbands and Wives'' by Sinclair Lewis, which was ...
'' (1947) (uncredited) * '' A Double Life'' (1947) (uncredited) * ''
The Bride Goes Wild ''The Bride Goes Wild'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog. Van Johnson stars as irresponsible children's book author and part-time playboy Uncle Bumps, who is introduced to a no-nonsense children's book illustrato ...
'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' The Big Clock'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' The Noose Hangs High'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' Romance on the High Seas'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' A Date with Judy'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' A Song Is Born'' (1948) (uncredited) * '' Neptune's Daughter'' (1949) (uncredited) * '' The Great Gatsby'' (1949) (uncredited) * '' Mighty Joe Young'' (1949) (uncredited) * '' Sky Liner'' (1949) * '' My Friend Irma'' (1949) (uncredited) ;1950s * '' Young Man with a Horn'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' No Man of Her Own'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' The Damned Don't Cry'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' Father of the Bride'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' Born to Be Bad'' (1950) * '' All About Eve'' (1950) (uncredited) * '' Lullaby of Broadway'' (1951) (uncredited) * '' Show Boat'' (1951) (uncredited) * '' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) (uncredited) * ''
Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd C ...
'' (1952) (uncredited) * '' The Bad and the Beautiful'' (1952) (uncredited) * '' Angel Face'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Murder Without Tears'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' The Band Wagon'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' The Robe'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Torch Song'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Calamity Jane'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Easy to Love'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Executive Suite'' (1953) (uncredited) * '' Dial M for Murder'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' The Student Prince'' (1954) (uncredited) * ''
Rear Window ''Rear Window'' is a 1954 American mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written by John Michael Hayes based on Cornell Woolrich's 1942 short story "It Had to Be Murder". Originally released by Paramount Pictures, the film st ...
'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' A Star Is Born'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' White Christmas'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' Désirée'' (1954) (uncredited) * '' Interrupted Melody'' (1955) (uncredited) * ''
To Catch a Thief '' To Catch a Thief'' is a 1955 American romantic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from a screenplay by John Michael Hayes based on the 1952 novel of the same name by David Dodge. The film stars Cary Grant as a retired cat burglar ...
'' (1955) (uncredited) * ''
You're Never Too Young ''You’re Never Too Young'' is a 1955 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring the team of Martin and Lewis and co-starring Diana Lynn, Nina Foch, and Raymond Burr. It was released on August 25, 1955 by Paramount ...
'' (1955) * ''
Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...
'' (1955) (uncredited) * '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'' (1955) (uncredited) * '' Ride the High Iron'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Never Say Goodbye'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Anything Goes'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Giant'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Funny Face'' (1957) (uncredited) * '' Designing Woman'' (1957) (uncredited) * '' Sweet Smell of Success'' (1957) (uncredited) * '' Jailhouse Rock'' (1957) (uncredited) * '' Pal Joey'' (1957) (scenes cut) * '' Witness for the Prosecution'' (1957) - courtroom spectator (uncredited) * '' Vertigo'' (1958) (uncredited) * ''
Houseboat A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home. Most houseboats are not motorized as they are usually moored or kept stationary at a fixed point, and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Ho ...
'' (1958) (uncredited) * '' I Married a Monster from Outer Space'' (1958) (uncredited) * '' Imitation of Life'' (1959) (uncredited) * '' North by Northwest'' (1959) (uncredited) ;1960s * ''
Please Don't Eat the Daisies ''Please Don't Eat the Daisies'' (New York: Doubleday, 1957) is a best-selling collection of humorous essays by American humorist and playwright Jean Kerr about suburban living and raising four boys. The essays do not have a plot or through-sto ...
'' (1960) (uncredited) * '' Where the Boys Are'' (1960) (uncredited) * '' The Absent-Minded Professor'' (1961) (uncredited) * '' Return to Peyton Place'' (1961) (uncredited) * ''
Blue Hawaii ''Blue Hawaii'' is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written Americ ...
'' (1961) (uncredited) * '' Judgment at Nuremberg'' (1961) (uncredited) * ''
Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay fo ...
'' (1961) (uncredited) * '' Sweet Bird of Youth'' (1962) (uncredited) * '' The Manchurian Candidate'' (1962) (uncredited) * '' Who's Minding the Store?'' (1963) (uncredited) * '' Move Over, Darling'' (1963) (uncredited) * '' 7 Faces of Dr. Lao'' (1964) (uncredited) * '' The Carpetbaggers'' (1964) (uncredited) * ''
Good Neighbor Sam ''Good Neighbor Sam'' is a 1964 American Eastman Color screwball comedy film co-written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Finney. The film stars Jack Lemmon, Romy Schneider, Dorothy Provine, Michael ...
'' (1964) (uncredited)


See also


References


Further reading

*


External links

*
Essay
at ''
Senses of Cinema ''Senses of Cinema'' is a quarterly online film magazine founded in 1999 by filmmaker Bill Mousoulis. Based in Melbourne, Australia, ''Senses of Cinema'' publishes work by film critics from all over the world, including critical essays, career ...
''
Bess Flowers
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Flowers, Bess 1898 births 1984 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Texas American film actresses American silent film actresses People from Sherman, Texas