When Barbara Stanwyck was filming the climactic scene of the 1953 movie Titanic, she was submerged in a massive outdoor water tank, and let me tell you, it was no walk in the park. "It was freezing cold, and I was 47 feet in the air, hanging in a lifeboat," she recounted. "I looked down and thought, if one of these ropes snaps now, it's all over for me. But then I thought about the real men and women who went through this tragedy. We were recreating an actual disaster, and I couldn't stop shaking with great, racking sobs." It was moments like these that truly showcased Barbara's incredible ability to channel both physical toughness and emotional depth.
Barbara's Early Career: A Tough Cookie with a Heart of Gold
It was this unique combination of grit and vulnerability that made Barbara such a compelling presence both on and off the screen. Starting August 16, the Criterion Channel will be showcasing 11 films from her early career, spanning from 1930 to 1934, before the Hays Code of censorship clamped down on on-screen behavior. In rarely seen titles like Night Nurse and Baby Face, you'll see her oscillate between the fierce determination of a tough woman and the sensitivity of someone who carries inner pain. Film historian Imogen Sara Smith, who will be providing commentary for the marathon, told Closer Weekly, "Both of these characteristics stem from her childhood." And boy, does that make sense when you delve into her backstory.
Barbara's Rocky Road to Stardom
Born into poverty in 1907 Brooklyn as Ruby Stevens, life wasn't easy from the get-go. She lost her mom in a streetcar accident in 1911, and shortly after, her dad abandoned the family. Barbara was shuffled through a series of grim foster homes. At just 15, she had an abortion that left her unable to have children, and all these experiences, according to Sara, "instilled in her a tremendous sense of self-reliance and an extraordinary drive." That drive would carry her through a career that spanned screwball comedies, film noirs, Westerns, and primetime soaps.
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A Career That Knew No Bounds
Barbara made 85 films in 38 years, and when roles for women her age started drying up, she didn't miss a beat. She transitioned to television in her 50s with remarkable success. On shows like The Big Valley, "she was one of the few actresses who refused to dye her hair," says Sara. "She let it go white and wasn't clinging to playing younger roles." Talk about staying true to herself.
Love and Loss: The Turbulent Side of Barbara's Life
Holding onto love proved to be a challenge for Barbara. Her first love, actor Rex Cherryman, tragically died of septic poisoning at the age of 31. She later married actor Frank Fay, and their tumultuous marriage became the inspiration for A Star Is Born. "Their levels of success and status completely flipped," explains Sara. "And he had a serious drinking problem." They adopted a son, Dion, but Barbara was estranged from him for nearly his entire life. "Some kids are born with bad blood, just like horses," she once remarked.
