Alice Brady: The Short Life of an Oscar Winner

A wonderful group of films during Hollywood's golden age during the '30s were the screwball comedies bringing a smile to hard pressed depression audiences. The madcap pictures were deliberate in gaudy displays of wealth, opulence and zany rich people to bring relief and escape to the weary viewers. Of all the stars specializing in these romps, the dizziest of all society matrons had to be Alice Brady.

She portrayed Frank McHugh's rich mother and patroness of "stage genius" Adolphe Menjou in "Golddiggers of 1935." In "Three Smart Girls" (1936), she was the driving force behind golddigger daughter Binnie Barnes' attempt to snare Deanna Durbin's wealthy father. Brady supported Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "The Gay Divorcee" (1934). Her triumph came as Carole Lombard's dizzy mother whose fooling around with gigolo Mischa Auer in the classic "My Man Godfrey" (1936).

Brady was born November 2, 1892 in New York City to famous theatrical producer William A. Brady and French dancer Rosemarie Rene. Her mother died when Alice was only three and four years later, famed actress Gladys George became her stepmother. Following her education at the Convent of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey, Brady who possessed a soprano voice went to study opera at the Conservatory of Music in Boston. Her father wanted Brady to be an opera singer but she wanted to go on stage against his wishes. She began working as a bit player for a Boston stock company and broke the news to her father by telephone.