Polly Benedict

Background:

Ann Rutherford is perhaps best remembered for playing Mickey Rooney's girlfriend, Polly Benedict, in the “Andy Hardy” film series at MGM from 1937 to 1942. She also played Carol Lambert in Red Skelton's movie “Whistling in the Dark” (1941) and the two installments “Whistling in Dixie” (1942) and “Whistling in Brooklyn” (1943). She also portrayed Carreen O'Hara and Lydia Bennet in “Gone With The Wind” (1939) and “Pride and Prejudice” (1940), respectively. Raised in an acting family, the attractive brunette began acting on stage as a child. She was a radio star before gaining success as a heroine in Mascot/Republic Western films. After leaving MGM in the early 1940s, Rutherford worked independently before eventually retiring in 1976 after a performance in the film “Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood.” Rutherford has also guest starred in several TV series, including “Perry Mason,” “The Donna Reed Show” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” Rutherford has been awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also received a Golden Boot in 1988.

Rutherford has been married twice. She and first husband David May (together from 1942 to 1953) have one daughter. Her second husband, producer/actor William Dozier, whom she married in 1953, passed away in 1991.

Vancouver

Childhood and Family:

Therese Ann Rutherford was born on November 2, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her father, John Defferin Rutherford, was a Metropolitan Opera singer and her mother, Lucille Mansfield, was an actress. Rutherford’s family moved to Southern California when she was a toddler. Ann subsequently followed in the footsteps of her show business parents by appearing on stage.

Ann married David May on December 24, 1942. The couple welcomed a daughter, Gloria May, in 1943 before divorcing a decade later in 1953. Later that same year, on October 6, she married TV and film producer and actor William Dozier (born on February 13, 1908) and stayed with him until his death on April 23, 1991. Ann is the stepmother of Robert and Debbie Dozier.

Gone With The Wind

Career:

Growing up in California, Ann Rutherford made her stage debut in a local production of “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” when she was 4 years old. She went on to perform in various theatrical and radio shows until she was signed by Mascot/Republic in 1934. The next year, the 15 year old radio star made her feature film acting debut in “Waterfront Lady” (1935), where she starred as Joan O'Brien. Before long, she achieved the status of being a well known leading lady in Western films thanks to her work with actors like Gene Autry and John Wayne.

Rutherford first collaborated with Autry in “Melody Trail” (1935). They next starred together in the films “The Singing Vagabond” (1936), “Comin' 'Round the Mountain” (1936) and “Public Cowboy No. 1” (1937). With John Wayne, she could be seen in such movies as “The Oregon Trail” (1936), “The Lawless Nineties” (1936) and “The Lonely Trail” (1936). In addition, she also starred in “The Fighting Marines” (1935), “Doughnuts and Society” (1936), “The Harvester” (1936) and “Down to the Sea” (1936).

Rutherford left her previous studio to begin a partnership with MGM in 1937. The following year, she was cast in the role of Polly Benedict, the girlfriend of Andy Hardy (played by Mickey Rooney), in “You're Only Young Once” (1937). She would go on to reprise the role in 12 sequels, including “Judge Hardy's Children” (1938), “Love Finds Andy Hardy” (1938), “Out West with the Hardys” (1938), “The Hardy’s Ride High” (1939), “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever” (1939), “Judge Hardy and Son” (1939), “Andy Hardy's Dilemma: A Lesson in Mathematics... and Other Things” (1940), “Andy Hardy Meets Debutante” (1940), “Andy Hardy's Private Secretary” (1941), “Life Begins for Andy Hardy” (1941), “The Courtship of Andy Hardy” (1942) and “Andy Hardy's Double Life” (1942).

Apart from her work in the “Andy Hardy” series, Rutherford also had supporting roles in the MGM films “Of Human Hearts” (1938), a drama starring Walter Huston and James Stewart, “A Christmas Carol” (1938, as the Spirit of Christmas Past), “Dramatic School” (1938), where she first appeared with Lana Turner, “Four Girls in White” (1939, with Florence Rice and Una Merkel), “These Glamour Girls” (1939) and “Dancing Co-Ed” (1939). She was reunited with Turner in the latter two films. Also in 1939, she was loaned to Selznick International Pictures to portray Careen O'Hara, the sister of Scarlett O'Hara (played by Vivien Leigh), in the blockbuster hit “Gone With The Wind” (1939), which was adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name. Rutherford was then seen in “The Ghost Comes Home” (1940), “Keeping Company” (1940) and “Washington Melodrama” (1941, all with Frank Morgan), “Wyoming” (1940, with Wallace Beery), the big screen adaptation of Jane Austen's “Pride and Prejudice” (1940, as Lydia Bennet), “Badlands of Dakota” (1941, with Robert Stack), “This Time for Keeps” (1942, with Robert Sterling) and a series of Red Skelton comedy films called “Whistling in the Dark” (1941), “Whistling in Dixie” (1942) and “Whistling in Brooklyn” (1943). She then left MGM to be a freelance actress.

“There was a quality about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that was so special. It was just the most exciting studio in the world. They looked after their people so perfectly. And then to go to a place (20th Century-Fox) where you don't know anybody and they don't know you and they don't give a rip, it was not a happy time. I got so ticked off I got married!” Ann Rutherford

Rutherford was next cast in such movies as “Happy Land” (1943, with Don Ameche), “Two O'Clock Courage” (1945, with Tom Conway), “Bedside Manner” (1945, with John Carroll, Ruth Hussey and Charles Ruggles), “The Madonna's Secret” (1946, with Francis Lederer and Gail Patrick), “Murder in the Music Hall” (1946, starred Vera Ralston), “Inside Job” (1946, with Preston Foster), “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1947, starred Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo) and “Adventures of Don Juan” (1948, starred Errol Flynn). She also played Clara Masters in the low budget drama “Operation Haylift” (1950), opposite Bill Williams. The last movie would mark her last big screen film appearance for over two decades.

During her long term hiatus from films, Rutherford turned her attention to television. Making her debut in an episode of the anthology series “Nash Airflyte Theatre” (1950), the actress soon found herself guest starring in a number of shows, including “Stars Over Hollywood” (1951), “Gruen Guild Playhouse” (1951), “Suspense” (1953), “Robert Montgomery Presents” (1953), “Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City” (1953), “General Electric Theater” (1953), “Kraft Television Theatre” (1957), “Playhouse 90” (1958), “Panic” (1958), “The Red Skelton Show” (1958), “Tales of Wells Fargo” (1959), “U.S. Marshal” (1959) and “The Donna Reed Show” (1959). She also had multiple episode appearances in “Climax” (1955-1958) and “Perry Mason” (1959-1964).

In 1972, Rutherford resumed her film career by playing the supporting role of Gloria, the wife of Walter (played by Tom Ewell), in the MGM mystery “They Only Kill Their Masters,” which was directed by James Goldstone and starred James Garner and Katherine Ross. She next landed a recurring role on the CBS sitcom “The Bob Newhart Show” (1973-1974), where she played Aggie Harrison. After appearing as Bruce Dern's secretary in the depressing comedy “Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood” (1976), directed by Michael Winner, she retired from acting.

“It's titillating to do an occasional film, but really, I don't need it. Oh I suppose if you were a Helen Hayes, it might mean something if you left the business. You'd be depriving the show world of something. I'm depriving that world of nothing.” Ann Rutherford

Awards:

• Golden Boot: 1988