An Impressive Actress

Wow! Wow! Wow!

I‘ve been on an Alfred Hitchcock Presents kick recently. If you have Amazon Prime, you can watch a couple of seasons of full episodes.
Tonight I watched Season 2 Episode 32 A Body in the Barn, from 1964. I was making dinner at the same time so I didn’t see the opening credits. I walked in just aa the episode started and immediately saw a familiar face on the screen.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

This was a novel experience for me. I have trouble recognizing faces. I remember conversations with people but I have to meet someone several times before I’ll recognize their face.
So it was very odd for me to see this woman on screen and recognize her—particularly since I’ve only seen one movie she was in and it was filmed forty-five years before this episode.
1n 1919, Lillian Gish was already an established actress when she starred in the silent film Broken Blossoms, by controversial director D.W. Griffith. The  young actress and the powerhouse director were rumored to be a couple but it was never confirmed.

Lillian Gish is really is an excellent actress and that was evident in the show I saw tonight. I’m generally not impressed by actors but I am by her. She has such a peculiar intensity and maybe that was why I recognized her. Then again, her appearance didn’t alter that much over 45 years.

Lilian Gish in 1919 and 1964

Lilian Gish in 1919 and 1964

By the way, I highly recommend Alfred Hitchcock Presents! It’s very original, devious, and amusing stuff!