Gloria Swanson on "What's My Line?"

From one of the earliest surviving episodes. (I want to make a blanket apology that so many of these clips are coming out with slightly out-of-sync audio...my converter sometimes gets a little tempermental in this area.)

[@moniquelacosta8522]

Gloria Swanson should have won the Oscar but I guess that The Academy Voters thought that her portrayal was too over the top. Sunset Blvd was an instant Classic. Gloria Swanson was Super Great.

[@Magnetron33]

They were apparently pissed that Hollywood's treatment of older women was exposed so realistically.

[@hcombs0104]

Trouble is, she was perfect in that part.

[@photo161]

@@hcombs0104 She was only perfect for one reason, and one reason only; because she was a great actress.

[@hcombs0104]

@@photo161 As much as I love Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday, my choice that year would have been Gloria Swanson.

[@SwiftFoxProductions]

Actually, the real reason she lost that year was simply that the competition that year was so incredible it split the voting. That was the same year Bette Davis gave her iconic performance as Margo Channing in All About Eve, Judy Holliday gave her star-making performance in Born Yesterday, and Anne Baxter was also nominated for All About Eve, as well. Even Bette Davis believed that many of the same people who loved Sunset Blvd, also, loved All About Eve (since they share similar themes) and having to choose between the 3 actresses from those movies kinda allowed Judy Holliday to slip on through. I think any other year Gloria Swanson would've definitely won the Oscar for Best Actress.

[@thomaslombardo3401]

Gloria Swanson was a movie star in every sense of the word. Glamour, sophistication and talent.

[@arthurmaestrini4350]

And she was so funny

[@Paminlp]

Gloria Swanson was so darn good in Sunset Blvd

[@mhikl4484]

She had real soul. I'm searching out all her best flicks.

[@gatewayski1]

Because of great writing and direction!

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

I know: I'm ready for my closeup up. DeMille

[@luisenriquequijadarodrigue7060]

No one could have played that part as Gloria Swanson did

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

She was ready for her 'Close Up'

[@roo7227]

"I AM big, it's the pictures that got small!"..

[@Steff2929again]

Gloria Swanson was indeed magnificent in Sunset Boulevard. If you know more about the silent era, you will notice and understand more of the many subtle connotations and quotations in the film. You will also realise that she was so much more than just the star of that particular film noir of the 50's. She was one of the greatest stars during the entire silent period. She deserves more credit for that.

[@Magnetron33]

Von Stroheim was also considered a great director in real life too.

[@lizzyallan9665]

Wasn't she incredibly unusual in a fascinating way?

[@njplr]

God, I used to love this segment of the show. They had REAL celebrities, today it would feature the "star of new A&E hit reality show blah blah blah". These guests were truly STARS. And it was all classy in a way that has all but evaporated from entertainment today. Sigh. I guess I HAVE turned into an old fart...:)

[@SuzLa1]

+njplr I think celeb industry is now being used to dumb down society. Why else do most news pages now have Daily Mail style sidebars we can't avoid on every news story, to get easily influenced gullible people to care about what over hyped talentless half wits are doing. They turn ex-manufactured band members who can't sing solo, or reality show contestants into style icons, because it involves no more skill than wearing clothes, except they're less stylish than everybody else I've ever seen, as have orange skin, obvious fake chest they like showing off, scouse brows, plastered on make-up. Or half a news page had Kardashian naked, and then they said she broke the internet, when nobody wanted to see her naked anyway. Can't even walk into a newsagents without being confronted by rows of magazines full of thick orange people, with their dumb made up stories. Before their promoters make up a new career for attention, like business person for putting their name on a perfume somebody else made, or fashion designer for drawing a picture of a dress, and then getting somebody to make it who has worked in and studied the industry. Or the Beckhams selling their ugly kids into the celeb industry so their talentless mother can use them to keep selling dumb stories to magazines. Then the gullible brainwashed army of people say they must be great if rich, from there being so many gullible brainwashed people to care about types who are worse than most people.

[@andrewc.2952]

njplr Oh I dare say you're right. It's shameful. I feel they're kept around distract us from real news and things we should be keeping in touch with

[@willyboy6126]

Totally agree...Hollywood's golden age had the great & *TRUE STARS!*

[@dexterlang1403]

@@SuzLa1 dont hold back

[@SuzLa1]

@@willyboy6126 Who decided that actors are the stars? Aren't they just people pretending to be others?

[@reinacoffee8557]

"I am BIG, it's the picture that got small." Outstanding performance by Ms. Gloria and William Holden in Sunset Boulevard.

[@YoBoyMarcus]

Pictures... plural

[@susanb2015]

Ain't that the truth.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

In 1972, when Nixon was trying to deport John Lennon (for his political beliefs), Ms. Swanson defended John in public. Quite a fine lady and citizen.

[@duetforherbivores]

@EL GRECO 777 Many women weren't allowed to have opinions on politics, their place was in the home or bedroom. So why wouldn't she be more progressive, if it weren't for progressivism she would've never been able to become a successful business woman and powerhouse in the film industry. She was also openly feminist and a vegan who didn't eat sugar and did yoga, she was ahead of her time. But don't get your panties to and a twist over a dead woman's political affiliation (which is as superfluous as it is personal), she only voted Republican.

[@karenfromfinasse8430]

She deserved a lot more respect than she was given. She was GLORIA SWANSON!

[@allancuseo7431]

Gave me chills --- theatre and the film industry are but a pale leftover from the glory days.

[@budmangt2]

"Alright Mr DeMille I'm ready for my closeup"

[@acyutanandadas1326]

"We had faces"

[@mscott3918]

@@acyutanandadas1326 And we had the eyes of the whole world but that wasn't enough, they wanted words. So they opened their mouths and out came talk talk talk. Well they've made a noose of words.

[@Forensource]

You have to wonder how much those "sign in" boards would be worth.

[@MrChoirDirector87]

I just watched Sunset Boulevard for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I can HONESTLY SAY IF THERE WAS A YEAR FOR THE OSCARS TO GRANT MORE THAN 1 BEST ACTRESS AWARD 1950 WOULD BE IT BETTE, JUDY & GLORIA DID A SMASH UP JOB IN THEIR PERFORMANCES!!!!!!

[@jamessandy5873]

She didn’t try to disguise her voice AT ALL. How could they not know who she was right away?

[@leadcloud8290]

James Sandy Well ... they didn’t need voice; they had her face.

[@johelenfugate3498]

She was primarily a silent film star. Her voice wouldn’t have been that familiar.

[@nattiemae61fleshman24]

Now that's what you call a "Class Act". 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@StellaDallas1970]

Gloria Swanson was a very intelligent and talented woman. She had something very unique and looked and behaved like an aristocrat, but no ego at all! So respectful and charming this lady. In Sunset Boulevard she was so brilliant!...

[@wheninrome345]

She was such a lady. One of the few instances I wish I was a little older to have experienced her in her lifetime. I watch "Sunset Boulevard" quite often, and I am stilll mesmerized each time I view it. R.I.P., Ms. Swanson. You left an indelible mark within the ranks of Hollywood.

[@CityHunter_Kai]

new hollywood is joke compare with all these real stars

[@oksills]

City Hunter I would agree but add cesspool, at the very best!

[@MrZakazeeko]

You Got that right!

[@stulazar7174]

City island

[@haranoe]

Which means that, back then, they could make gods and goddesses out of jokes like Gloria Swanson. Not hating, simply stating things as they are... and as they really were, not as the image of them that you shape in your own head.

[@wallybeep]

That’s one ignorant comment.

[@majorneptunejr]

Shows how old this episode is, when was this last time you heard someone say the King & Queen of England.

[@tonichappell7596]

True this would be before 1953 when Queen Elizabeth was coronated.

[@richiedownik6981]

Screen Legend !!!!!! One of a kind .....

[@thomeguitar]

I met Gloria Swanson in1970 @ the Ritz-Carlton, Boston, I spoke w/her/small talk. A very polite, & petite lady, about 5'2" & a nice smile!

[@mctalks]

As a silent film queen, she's one of the few actresses who could use her own voice and still stump the panel as " Sunset Boulevard " hadn't actually been in released yet....right?

[@mermodfreres]

When actors had class.

[@ediekoller2636]

Gloria Swanson was great in Sunset Blvd.

[@superkeito]

"I am big. It's the pictures that got small"

[@superkeito]

" Get out! Or, shall I call my servant?"

[@acyutanandadas1326]

"We had faces!"

[@juliachild834]

It was the year for Judy Holiday in "Born Yesterday" Bette Davis in "All About Eve" Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Blvd" Seeing those three films, I thought they were each perfect and brilliant, I guess it came down to comedy versus tragedy---the ones liked the drama split the vote between Davis and Swanson, and Holiday got the rest. It makes sense, but it shows how competition between performers doesn't really even out. It should have been a three-way-tie or something.

[@virghammer1]

Acting Oscars almost always go to the movie that specifically needs the award boost for box office. Even back then. - Yes, of course, it’s got to be “up there” in group (Academy)-approved consensus, re quality - but it’s primarily a political/$$ biz matter. Ijs ! Yes, once in a great while, I would say an actor might actually get one for sentimental value… if it’s a highly important current issue or if it’s an award for the actor’s entire body of work ….

[@flurng]

Such a gracious lady! So classy and graceful!

[@freddielynn7773]

And a great sense of humor - Beverly Hillbillies - "Passion's Plaything"

[@Glinkaism1]

Gloria Swanson is FANTASTIC. Bet she was easy to work with. :) I recall her interview show on WOR in New York.

[@TheMusicalJourneys]

What an interesting person Gloria Swanson seems to be! I never knew much about her apart from her fame, she's just delightful! (Well, past tense)

[@bronxbearbud272]

Just saw her in an Alfred Hitchcock episode named "The locked door" which showed her serious dramatic acting chops continuing well into the 60s and not simply via some camphorror movie, not that there's anything wrong with baby Jane or Charlotte

[@soulierinvestments]

Reference to theater: within a few months she co-starred in a Broadway revival of Hecht and MacArthur's "Twentieth Century"

[@you2449]

What a classy and modest lady. That's how a legend ought to be.

[@jacktwist5907]

This woman is iconic! What a talent!

[@RichardHannay]

It’s so weird that Gloria Swanson looks older here (in 1951) than she does during the 1960s

[@piustwelfth]

She might have had a little work done around her eyes.

[@esquibelle]

Wow! Love this! She looks lovely. Did you all know she was a devout vegetarian most of her life?

[@smug8567]

No but then again ho cares

[@numbereightyseven]

The majority of stars are devout meat-eaters; they'd refuse to be vegetarians. But your point is ...

[@TheBatugan77]

Good. More beef for me.

[@tonyktown]

I sure did! Second hand knowledge. My mom was a secretary and household planner for a very famous singer in the 60's. My grandmother was in charge of his kitchen. He was having a dinner party and Gloria Swanson was one of his guest...I'll never forget how irritated my mom was about having to plan a menu JUST for her.

[@debraejay]

And her husband wrote the book "Sugar Blues." A friend of mine knew her well and said she never wavered from her dedication to vegetarianism, staying away from sugar and drinking only specific purified waters. My friend said she had the most beautiful skin.

[@madeinheaven1955]

You dont need to have a degree to be informed, kind and respectful, THAT is called CLASS..take that over any degree

[@Galantski]

One of the earliest episodes indeed: Gloria Swanson doesn't even make an attempt to disguise her voice.

[@tonymazz9912]

This is when Hollywood had class and Ms. Swanson defined that 100%.

[@hjb103055]

In the movie Sunset Boulevard Gloria Swanson played a faded silent film star named Norma Desmond. You should check out Gloria Swanson's photos on the internet when she was in silent movies.

[@hopelewis5650]

The same one Carol Burnett spoofed?

[@LaptopLarry330]

This episode aired during the show's first season in 1950. It was supposed to be a replacement series, and it only aired every two weeks during its first season. Harold Untermeyer was on the show's first several episodes, until he was let go because of his past membership in the Communist Party in the 1930s. He was replaced by Hal Block, who only lasted a season or two before being forced out because the sponsor thought that his style of humor was too "low-brow", despite his popularity with the fans of the show. Block was replaced by Steve Allen, who stayed on until 1954, when he left to host "The Tonight Show" on NBC. Steve Allen was replaced by radio comedian/author Fred Allen, who was on the panel for two years before he died of a heart attack in 1956. After Fred Allen's death, the seat on the panel was filled with guest panelists for the remainder of the show's 17-year run on prime-time TV.

[@LWOPP]

Louis Untermeyer -- later US Poet Laureate, but he was plunged into depression after his firing from WML? He didn't leave his apartment for over a year. IIRC, he was replaced by Bennett Cerf. Block was an original member, and yes, he was replaced by Steve Allen.

[@stuartashbourne-martin9629]

Very beautiful woman incredibly difficult to work with so I've been told but I can't take my eyes off the tree on her head

[@caticia1]

i'm 14 and i really love this show.

[@shanegreen1677]

@annamal pete I wonder if he still watches?

[@tigergreg8]

People had so much class back then, What happened?

[@Silkendrum]

Yes. Sunset Boulevard was released in 1950. Since they mention the King of England, who died in Feb. 1952, that places this clip as somewhere between early 1950 and February 1952.

[@AlexanderArsov]

Nowadays the pictures have indeed become too small for the likes of Gloria.

[@AxelQC]

How did they not recognize that distinctive voice? It's Norma Desmond!

[@rr7firefly]

Arlene Francis with dark hair? This is definitely an old show. This could very well be the Oct 15, 1950 show. "What's my Line" originally ran in the United States on CBS Television from 1950 to 1967. Long before the end of that run, Arlene's hair was very blond.

[@KTO030]

I have never heard of this show and found it one day when I got lost on KZbin. I love it!

[@karenhill3970]

It was Very popular...! Every star in the world cameo d on it..judt ABOUT...then regular everyday people on it too...it was so neat

[@flossygallaway6565]

Who ever thumbing down this video does not know who Gloria Swanson was.

[@gtlfb]

When making 'Sunset Boulevard", one problem the producers had was that Swanson looked too good - she was a real pioneer in the health food movement and it paid off for her.

[@tigergreg8]

Seems like a humble classy woman to me.

[@MrMoonlightmile]

The ultimate star

[@kz1000ps]

I love how Dorothy flairs her arms when she says "oh of course it is!"

[@h0boErectus]

Love her!!!

[@bobbobato]

@blabblab1212 Well, actually, society is much more educated now then it has ever been. Its just that the poorly educating now have greater access to media.

[@irvinemuscle]

Amazed she used her own distinctive voice and no one seemed to know it...

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Is that a firecracker on top of her head?

[@mizofan]

it's the pictures that got small

[@TheSlowdream101]

An early episode the panel still has problems asking questions to the mystery guest

[@abouttravel-fantastic]

You watch one episode and get hooked - Been watching for the last 90 minutes. Gloria looked amazing, very elegent, up front lady of her time. Arlene Francis is very good at this game, love watching - Thanks for posting!

[@sendoh873]

Twaddles McGee Linda McCartney was vegetarian but she died of breast cancer. No matter what her diet would be it wouldn't matter.

[@WitoldBanasik]

Yes, but take in mind that statistics matter... vegetarians like Japanese people and Italian folks live statistically several years longer than average meat devourers like GB, USA and German people. Cheers to you anyway !

[@sendoh873]

It is true. Personally I can't go vegan but I'm trying to eat more veggies than meat now.

[@jslasher1]

Beauty and brains.

[@crispypoohs]

damn how awesome would it be if they still gave away designer clothes on game shows.

[@ragemanchoo82]

2:30 - 3:15, this part really needs some actual closed captions because I can only pic out parts of the dialogue. 3:13 there's a blip in the film :( I wonder what was said there?

[@mle7143]

This is so early in the show...no chalkboard...cheesy draping of the background...and Arlene is a brunette!

[@miltonmoore5294]

I am wont to automatically hit the 👍button before the episodes even begin because I have never seen one I didn't thoroughly enjoy.

[@sandrodream5418]

fantastic actress and fantastic game

[@whiteenglishandproud9170]

Gloria and Bette were my favourites actresses of the period, not just because of their phenomenal acting talent but because they were super smart independent woman....they were out of their time and an example to all women on how to live life in an uncompromising way, not self absorbed in that sense , indeed both were very altruisitc, but they had a sound sense of themselves . Women of today, especially the new age feminiza could learn a great deal from studying how to be accomplished and respected whilst at the same time maintaining and embracing their feminine qualities.

[@user-je6ye9rh1o]

When Actors were truly talented. Truly Celebrities, Truly Stars...nowadays, it's only about money. No Art, no skill, and NO TALENT.

[@mhikl4484]

There should have been a little more time for talking with the guest; however, that may take place when they guess the guest more quickly.

[@wmlfan9]

A very classy and sophisticated lady. During the era of silent pictures there was no bigger star.

[@jeansandjacketrequir]

He mentions that Gloria Swanson was to do a command performance before the King and Queen of England. Was this filmed before Queen Elizabeth II was Queen ? Because if SHE was Queen then he should have said the Queen and Prince of England.

[@lukabravos9344]

This was 1950. George VI still reigned. Prince Philip is styled the Duke of Edinburgh, not the "Prince of England."

[@asteverino8569]

Oh that Miss Swanson. “I have oil wells in Bakersfield, pumping, pumping, pumping” (Not sure if was two or three pumpings.)

[@AxelQC]

She's still big, it's the pictures that got small.

[@Foxx_33]

I love Arlene Francis, what a lovely woman.

[@piustwelfth]

The reference to "a certain well-known singer making a trip to Spain" was Frank Sinatra. At the time, he was married to and infatuated with Ava Gardner who was having an affair with a Spanish bullfighter. It was front-page news worldwide.

[@lizzyallan9665]

"I'm ready for my close-up Mr De Mille".......

[@brianelliott3817]

episode had to be 1950-51 as Poet Louis Untermeyer (1885-1977 was dismissed after only one season due to alleged communist ties, and subsequent pressure to the producers.

[@robertspeck]

@blabblab1212 Just for the record it's Louis Untermeyer. Mr. Untermeyer would become Poet Laurette of the United States and he suffered from polio.

[@willgraham8878]

What Year was this filmed? I'm guessing between 1950 and 53?

[@elainebmack]

She's really great looking.

[@mctalks]

I'm so glad the panel picked her out. As a silent film star they could have missed or dismissed her as so many subsequent Hollywood stars did.

[@ginnylorenz5265]

An intelligent, clever, witty, fascinating woman in movies and in interviews.

[@hairyscotman]

Lucy and Ethel wore the same hat when they played MARTIANS once on I LOVE LUCY.

[@marvinmartian7281]

Copy

[@jjr333]

What "latest picture" would they be talking about ? Sunset Blvd ?

[@lctrentham]

schiapparelli !!!

[@bedazzlejuju]

That hat!

[@davidanthonystone5165]

""there was a time when we had the eyes of the whole wide world, but that wasn't good enough for them, so they hired writers and out came talk talk talk"" Norma Desmond

[@poetcomic1]

Give her clothes? What a tacky gesture. Gloria handled it well though.

[@Will-im1cy]

Miss, Swanson donated that out-fit to her long devoted house keeper's nice as a Graduation Gift from High School. And YES,. Very tacky gesture, I must agree..

[@kimsmith1383]

I kind of thought the same thing.

[@mle7143]

Who is/was the guy on the panel named Undermeyer?

[@Rouben19]

its hard to believe, but Mary Pickford and Mae West were breifly thought of by Wilder before he picked and incorporated Gloria Swanson into Sunset Blvd.. he brilliantly intertwined her own life, items, people etc. into the story and made a blurr tto the reality of Swansons own life thus creating much confusion over the last 63 years...

[@MySpace662]

Gloria Swanson will always be remembered for her performance in "Sunset Boulevard".

[@marcosvalenca]

It would have been interesting to see Mae West and Mary Pickford as Norma Desmond. Of course they would come out with a different take than the wonderful way Swanson originated the role.

[@jackbettridge957]

She makes no attempt to disguise her voice and yet they were stumped

[@13loomisst]

Fascinating creature. Which, of course, was an aspect of her being an immortal star of the screen. Thanks very much.

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

Rip to All these Icons..

[@SeaToby11]

Louis Untermeyer was a regular panelist during the first year of the show with 37 appearances. This show was the 20th of the first year, and the first appearance of Bennett Cerf.. Louis Untermeyer was a renowned poet.. He was also backlisted as a member of the Communist Party...

[@blueskylazer]

@gtlfb she was only 50 anyway... I wouldn't expect her to be very old looking anyway regardless of health food.

[@Chutney1luv]

Gloria Swanson, was the last of the great Movie Stars! She played her part in "Sunset Blvd." as Norma Desmond! William Holden, played his part as a kept man! Excellent movie!⭐🎬⭐