Harriette Underhill (1877-1928) was an American film critic for the New-York Tribune and its successor the New York Herald Tribune. She was the most prominent American female film critic of the silent film era.[1]
Underhill was born in Troy, New York and came to New York City not long after marrying (at age 16 according to older reports of her life). She then played minor parts in some theatre productions, including in the original chorus for the popular musical Florodora. Her father Lorenzo Underhill was a sportswriter, and she turned to journalism after his death, taking over her father's sports column at the New-York Tribune in 1908, first writing about horse and dog shows. Sometime after seeing her first movie, The Coward (1915), she asked to start writing film reviews.[1] This was when films were first starting to get reviews in newspapers.[2] She also wrote for film and general magazines.[3]
Underhill was severely injured in 1919 when she was hit by a car, but continued to write. She succeeded to Virginia Tracy's film column at the Tribune. She died at her home in Manhattan on May 18, 1928, after a month-long illness, though she continued to write until the day she died, even dictating copy to her doctor and nurse.
Film scholar Richard Abel, writing in 2020 for the Women Film Pioneer Project at Columbia University, described Underhill as a "a perceptive, intelligent film critic and a compelling stylist."[4] Her sway in Hollywood was apparent from the fact that numerous stars visited her in her final illness.[1][5][3]
In 1923, Screenland magazine canvassed top film critics to identify the ten best movies ever made. Every critic except Underhill included The Birth of a Nation (which was already controversial at the time of its release) in their list.[6] Of director D. W. Griffith, she once said he "is the most uneven director; some of his pictures are good and some are terrible."[2]
Personaledit
Underhill was married and divorced thrice per her obituary.[7][8] In a 1925 interview she said "I've been married thousands of times, perhaps because I've always loved anything with an element of chance or danger."[2][9]
Referencesedit
^ abcSlide, Anthony. Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine, p. 40 (2010).
^ abcCallender, Agnes (9 May 1925). Turning the Tables on Harriette Underhill, Brooklyn Life
^ ab(26 May 1928) Harriette Underhill: New York Herald Tribune Writer Dies -- Served Daily 20 Years, Editor & Publisher
^Abel, Richard. Harriette Underhill, Women Film Pioneers Project, Columbia University (2020), Retrieved 15 July 1921
^(November 1923). The Ten Best Screen Dramas, Screenland, p. 45 (in the next issue of the magazine, Alison Smith of the New York Evening Mail included the movie on her list but "with reservations").
^(19 May 1928). Harriette Underhill, Film Critic, Is Dead; Writer for Tribune and Herald Tribune Since 1908--Was In Original 'Floradora' Troupe, The New York Times
^(July 1925). Inside Life Stories of Photoplay Staff Writers, Photoplay, p. 55.
External linksedit
Harriette Underhill as the Women Film Pioneers Project (Columbia University)
Harriette Underhill reviews compilation at Rotten Tomatoes
January 01, 1970
harriette, underhill, 1877, 1928, american, film, critic, york, tribune, successor, york, herald, tribune, most, prominent, american, female, film, critic, silent, film, underhill, 1925born1877diedmay, 1928new, york, city, usoccupationwriter, film, critic, con. Harriette Underhill 1877 1928 was an American film critic for the New York Tribune and its successor the New York Herald Tribune She was the most prominent American female film critic of the silent film era 1 Harriette UnderhillUnderhill in 1925Born1877DiedMay 18 1928New York City USOccupationWriter and film critic Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal 3 References 4 External linksBiography editUnderhill was born in Troy New York and came to New York City not long after marrying at age 16 according to older reports of her life She then played minor parts in some theatre productions including in the original chorus for the popular musical Florodora Her father Lorenzo Underhill was a sportswriter and she turned to journalism after his death taking over her father s sports column at the New York Tribune in 1908 first writing about horse and dog shows Sometime after seeing her first movie The Coward 1915 she asked to start writing film reviews 1 This was when films were first starting to get reviews in newspapers 2 She also wrote for film and general magazines 3 Underhill was severely injured in 1919 when she was hit by a car but continued to write She succeeded to Virginia Tracy s film column at the Tribune She died at her home in Manhattan on May 18 1928 after a month long illness though she continued to write until the day she died even dictating copy to her doctor and nurse Film scholar Richard Abel writing in 2020 for the Women Film Pioneer Project at Columbia University described Underhill as a a perceptive intelligent film critic and a compelling stylist 4 Her sway in Hollywood was apparent from the fact that numerous stars visited her in her final illness 1 5 3 In 1923 Screenland magazine canvassed top film critics to identify the ten best movies ever made Every critic except Underhill included The Birth of a Nation which was already controversial at the time of its release in their list 6 Of director D W Griffith she once said he is the most uneven director some of his pictures are good and some are terrible 2 Personal editUnderhill was married and divorced thrice per her obituary 7 8 In a 1925 interview she said I ve been married thousands of times perhaps because I ve always loved anything with an element of chance or danger 2 9 References edit a b c Slide Anthony Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine p 40 2010 a b c Callender Agnes 9 May 1925 Turning the Tables on Harriette Underhill Brooklyn Life a b 26 May 1928 Harriette Underhill New York Herald Tribune Writer Dies Served Daily 20 Years Editor amp Publisher Abel Richard Harriette Underhill Women Film Pioneers Project Columbia University 2020 Retrieved 15 July 1921 Betz Peter 21 June 2021 Odd bits number 14 The Leader Herald November 1923 The Ten Best Screen Dramas Screenland p 45 in the next issue of the magazine Alison Smith of the New York Evening Mail included the movie on her list but with reservations 19 May 1928 Harriette Underhill Film Critic Is Dead Writer for Tribune and Herald Tribune Since 1908 Was In Original Floradora Troupe The New York Times Ross Ishbel Ladies of the Press pp 412 1936 July 1925 Inside Life Stories of Photoplay Staff Writers Photoplay p 55 External links editHarriette Underhill as the Women Film Pioneers Project Columbia University Harriette Underhill reviews compilation at Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harriette Underhill amp oldid 1197167909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
