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Bodil Rosing, The Painted Veil, 1933. From Bondi to Bodil… Apparently, Bondi started as Frau Koerberg (still there in long shots, of course) but the Danish Rosing completed the role when re-shoots were necessary to help shorten Richard Boleslawski’s vehicle for Garbo. (That was her billing, no need for anything else).
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May Robson, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1937. As directors changed from HC Potter to Norman Taurog, so did Aunt Polly. Elizabeth Patterson was first signed, then substituted by Robson, who then fell ill and was replaced by Bondi – when suddenly, Robson was well again. (Works every time).
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Jane Darwell, TheGrapes of Wrath, 1939. Bondi’s biggest regret was losing the John Ford classic. Yet it is Impossible to imagine another Ma Joad – even if Steven Spielberg planned to produce a re-make. Both Jane and Ford won Oscars. Thereafter, Darwell was invariably Ma This or Aunt That in the rest of her career – 198 screen roles over 51 years. While Bondi was James Stewart’s Ma in four films and his TV series.
Birth year: 1888Death year: 1981Other name: Casting Calls: 3