May 13 - Little Gloria... Happy at Last

Today’s movie is a biography, with a scene that happens on May 13. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

LITTLE GLORIA, HAPPY AT LAST                   

In 1921 Reggie Vanderbilt woos and weds Gloria Morgan, even though he is twenty-four years older than her. Their only child, daughter Gloria Vanderbilt is born in 1924. Emma Kieslich is hired as Gloria’s nanny by her maternal grandmother. Gloria’s father dies when she was eighteen months old and Gloria inherits $2.5 million (worth $458 million today].  Her mother has to petition the court for an allowance from her daughter’s trust fund, as Reggie died insolvent and a lawyer is made little Gloria’s guardian, as her mother is not yet 21.  Gloria moves to Europe to be near her sister Thelma, who has become Lady Furness. Little Gloria’s nanny, Emma Kieslich works to turn her charge against her own mother. After their return to America, little Gloria and her mother are concerned about kidnappers. Little Gloria’s grandmother, Mrs. Morgan on May 13, 1932 reads her news of the body of the Lindbergh baby being found.[1:11:57 to 1:13:04] Gloria goes to stay with her grandmother, Grace Whitney, where Gloria has a series of psychosomatic illnesses. When Gloria moves to be appointed guardian for her daughter Gloria, Gloria’s own mother, Mrs. Morgan contests the appointment, as the stooge for Grace Whitney. When Gloria buys a house in the country and plans to move there with her daughter without the nurse, the evil nurse Kieslich calls Grace Whitney.  The nurse takes little Gloria to Mrs. Whitney’s house.  Little Gloria has a fit when her mother comes to retrieve her, so her mother flies a writ of habeus corpus to get her daughter back. At the custody hearing, Nurse Kieslich gives blistering, partisan testimony against Gloria Vanderbilt. A former servant testifies that Gloria was in a lesbian relationship with Lady Milford Haven.  Mrs. Morgan testifies against her daughter. Gloria has another fit when her mother tries to visit her, but eventually they are able to meet in a friendly manner. Mrs. Whitney testifies against Gloria. The judge interviews little Gloria in private and she seems unable to identify any specific incident of wrong doing or neglect by her mother. Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt testifies on her own behalf. During the trial the judge seems biased against Gloria, while the public supports her. Mrs. Whitney keeps custody, but Gloria has visitation. Mrs. Kieslich is fired.

Date given in film at 1:12: 23  

Director - Waris Hussein     

Screenplay - William Hanley

Awards - It was nominated for six Emmy Awards, including nominations for Davis for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie and Lansbury for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. It was also nominated for Outstanding Art Direction for a Period Series, Miniseries or a Movie (Single-Camera), Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.  Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Miniseries.

Released - October 24, 1982                                        Runtime – 3 hours

Starring – Angela Lansbury as Gertrude V. Whitney, Christopher Plummer as Reginald  Vanderbilt, Maureen Stapleton as Emma Kieslich, Martin Balsam as Nathan Burkan, Barnard Hughes as Judge John Francis Carew, Glynis Johns as Laura Fitzpatrick Morgan, John Hillerman as Maury Paul, Michael Gross as Gilcrist,
Joseph Maher as Smythe, Lucy Gutteridge as Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, Betty Davis as Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.