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1. Favorite roles: Poseidon Adventure, Lolita.

   One of my bathrooms is painted in an underwater theme with whales, seahorses, etc because there used to be kids in the house and we did it as a project for them. My contribution was to paint a representation of Shelly Winters swimming underwater from Poseidon Adventure complete with swimming medallion and cheeks full of her last breath of air.

   Goodnight my precious, talented darling.
   

   Posted by: Chad Hanging | Jan 14, 2006 8:05:59 PM

   
   

2. Gutsy and an amazing talent who never wanted to be perceived as the ingenue. A true Hollywood icon.

   Posted by: Matthew | Jan 14, 2006 11:32:43 PM

   
   

3. "The Poseidon Adventure" was my favorite movie as a kid. My grandmother was a big fan of the 1969 Paul Gallico novel the film on which the film was based. In 1974, when ABC aired the film, my grandmother sat in her recliner and smiled in amazement as I was glued to the TV. And when Shelley Winters' character suffered a heart attack she sat on the edge of her chair and yelled at the TV..."Aww, come on Shelley!"

   My grandmother died this past Tuesday morning. I can't help but think she's up there telling Ms. Winters what a huge fan her grandson was.

   And I can't help but think of the symmetry. The two women were alike in so many ways. I'm not religous by any stretch, but knowing that two such wonderful gals are up there makes me feel a little better about being down here.

   Shelley and Sally...take good care of each other.

   Posted by: Wayne | Jan 15, 2006 1:50:29 AM

   
   

4. From her first days, a natural actor who never needed the Method training she took - she just always inhabitated her characters completely, even when she did crap.

   My favorite moment: from the awful 'Buono Sera, Mrs. Campbell'. Shelley's complaining about her husband to her shrink, says with disgust, "Men!", and spits venomously.

   Posted by: Jacko | Jan 15, 2006 4:18:14 AM

   
   

5. I haven't seen it in any of the obits that are online so far but there's a great story about Shelley Winters that may be apocryphyl but I hope it's true.

   It took place late in her career, about the time she hit age seventy. She had a string of auditions with directors and casting directors who looked like children to her and who, she felt, were not showing her the proper respect. She was, after all, Shelley Winters. So when her agent sent her to meet one particular gentleman who was casting a new feature film, she went prepared.

   She sat down in the casting director's office, right in front of his desk. After some pleasantries, the man said to her, "Now, Ms. Winters...remind me what you've done."

   Shelley Winters reached into a big bag she'd brought with her, pulled out an Academy Award statuette and slammed it down on the man's desk. "That was for The Diary of Anne Frank," she announced. Then she pulled out another Oscar and put it next to the first one. "And that one was for A Patch of Blue. Now, why don't you remind me what you've done?"

   I don't know for sure that happened. But it should have.

   I also admired the incredible candor she displayed in her books and talk show appearances. One time, she was telling Johnny Carson about how she'd go to a Hollywood spa every week and sit around the sauna, discussing the men of Hollywood with other actresses of all ages. Johnny asked, "What's the main topic?" And though NBC bleeped it, you could tell from the audience reaction and Mr. Carson's expression, she'd answered, "Penis size."

   Just when the laugh died down, she added, "Your name came up the other day." Johnny quickly decided it was a good time for a commercial...

   Posted by: Ken | Jan 15, 2006 8:47:16 AM

   
   

6. Thanks ken for the oscars and the young whipper snappers story. LOL I can totaly see it happening.

   Posted by: jimmy | Jan 15, 2006 9:42:55 AM

   
   

7. What a remarkable woman, with an amazing legacy.

   PS. Ken, I doubt that story is true as it has been mentioned in many obituaries that she donated her Oscar for The Diary of Anne Frank to the Anne Frank museum.
   

   Posted by: Tim | Jan 15, 2006 12:18:51 PM

   
   

8. Wayne...I'm sorry for your loss, but thanks for sharing such a sweet tribute.

   Posted by: PSMike | Jan 15, 2006 5:11:13 PM

   
   

9. I haven't seen/read news since Friday, so I was aware of her passing. Winters was in some great films, and was occasionally the one bright spot in some not-so-great films. A toast to your talents, Ms. Winters and I'm looking forward to the inevitable Turner Movie Classics tribute.

   Posted by: zinc alloy | Jan 15, 2006 5:19:57 PM

   
   

10. "Yet the picture that sticks in my mind will always be this one, from The Poseidon Adventure..."

    Thanks Andy for mentioning it as i recalled seeing her in that movie when it aired on TV and thought she was great... i've never invested time in watching reruns... but since it wasn't mentioned in the long list of her AP obit i thought i'd confused her with someone else... and couldn't think of who the someone might've been. At least now i know i've not totally lost my memory... maybe other things but not my memory... not yet!

    Posted by: HisHolynessDPope | Jan 15, 2006 5:41:31 PM

    
    

11. Godspeed, Shelley. Thanks for the memories.

    Posted by: Blair | Jan 15, 2006 8:54:59 PM

    
    

12. MGM used to say that they had more stars than there were in heaven. Today, sadly, there are more true stars in heaven than there are here on earth.
    

    Posted by: Arnie H. | Jan 16, 2006 7:32:03 AM

    
    

13. The pic that comes to my mind is the one just following the face shot above...it's the ass shot from behind...the HUGE ass shot. Still, one of the most memorably characters in film. I also loved the dark fairy tale, "Who Slew Auntie Roo"...she was vicious in that one!!

    Peace Shelly...

    Posted by: wayne | Jan 16, 2006 8:33:03 AM

    
    

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