Katharine Cornell: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Katharine Cornell built her stature not on film but on tour: a Buffalo-raised actress who apprenticed in stock and little-theater companies, then ran her own producing firm with husband-director Guthrie McClintic, carrying serious drama by rail to cities that rarely saw Broadway. This mix traces the divas she measured herself against, the amateur companies that made her, and the actors she handed the craft to.

The Kynda mix for Katharine Cornell

• Key Influence · Cenere by Eleonora Duse (1916). Duse was the model for the interior, un-theatrical acting Cornell pursued — stillness, suppressed feeling, no Bernhardt flourish. Cornell's generation of American actresses revered Duse's 1923-24 American farewell tour, and Cornell's own restrained Candida and Elizabeth Barrett descend from that line. Cenere, Duse's only film, is the single surviving record of the technique Cornell's admirers heard echoed in her voice and repose.
• Influencia Obscura · Bushido by Washington Square Players (1916). Cornell's professional debut was with the Washington Square Players, the amateur-rooted Greenwich Village company that later became the Theatre Guild, in their production of the Japanese play Bushido. She played a small part for little money in a group devoted to one-acts and European experiment rather than commercial star vehicles — the formative, almost forgotten root of her lifelong preference for literary drama over hits.
• Local Roots · The Night Wind by Charles Burchfield (1918). Cornell was raised in Buffalo, where her family ran a theater and her grandfather had built the Star. Burchfield, the region's defining painter, worked the same western New York of clapboard streets and weather — the provincial America Cornell's touring company deliberately served, playing cities like Buffalo, Cleveland and Des Moines that commercial Broadway treated as afterthoughts in its booking schedules.
• Beyond the Medium · Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1850). Cornell's defining role was Elizabeth Barrett in The Barretts of Wimpole Street, the part she played for years on Broadway and across America. The sonnets are the primary document behind that character — the private record of the invalid poet's courtship by Robert Browning. Cornell built a performance of concealed passion from Victorian verse, turning a poet's biography into the most lucrative serious drama of its decade.
• Peer · Victoria Regina by Helen Hayes (1935). Hayes, Cornell and Lynn Fontanne were routinely grouped as the reigning trio of the American stage in the 1930s, and Hayes inherited the 'First Lady of the Theatre' title after Cornell. Victoria Regina, her Victoria across sixty years of a reign, is the direct counterpart to Cornell's Elizabeth Barrett: historical English womanhood as a vehicle for a long, nation-crossing run.
• From the Canon · The Barretts of Wimpole Street by Katharine Cornell (1931). Rudolf Besier's play, produced by Cornell herself and directed by McClintic, became her signature and the engine of her independence. After the Broadway run she took it on a legendary cross-country tour in the depths of the Depression, playing dozens of cities and proving that serious drama could travel. It is the production that explains her entire method: own the vehicle, control the company, go to the audience.
• Key Collaborator · Winterset by Guthrie McClintic (1935). McClintic, Cornell's husband and the 'M.C.' of their firm, directed nearly all her productions and also staged major work without her — Maxwell Anderson's verse tragedy Winterset among them. It shows the taste that shaped her repertoire: poetic language, moral seriousness, contemporary subject matter. Their marriage was also a working partnership in which he cast, directed and ran the company's artistic side.
• Legacy · The Belle of Amherst by Julie Harris (1976). Harris appeared with Cornell's company, including in the 1946 Antigone, early in her career and went on to become the most honored actress in Tony history. The Belle of Amherst — a solo evening as Emily Dickinson, literary, intimate, and toured widely — is Cornell's model continued: a star carrying a serious, text-driven portrait of a nineteenth-century woman poet across America.

What influenced Katharine Cornell

• Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1850). Sonnets from the Portuguese (Elizabeth Barrett Browning) — culture for Katharine Cornell “Her most famous role was that of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning in the 1931 Broadway production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Bushido by Washington Square Players (1916). Bushido (Washington Square Players) — ghost for Katharine Cornell “There she joined the Washington Square Players and was hailed as one of the most promising actresses of the season.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Little Women. Little Women (Jessie Bonstelle) — ghost for Katharine Cornell “After just two seasons, she joined Jessie Bonstelle's company, a leading New York repertory company that divided its summers between Detroit and Buffalo.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Antigone by Jean Anouilh (1944). Antigone (Jean Anouilh) — culture for Katharine Cornell “She followed that with Jean Anouilh's adaptation of the Greek tragedy Antigone.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Casuarina Tree by W. Somerset Maugham (1926). The Casuarina Tree (W. Somerset Maugham) — culture for Katharine Cornell (wikidata.org)
• Cenere by Eleonora Duse (1916). Cenere (Eleonora Duse) — titan for Katharine Cornell
• Queen Elizabeth by Sarah Bernhardt (1912). Queen Elizabeth (Sarah Bernhardt) — titan for Katharine Cornell
• Becky Sharp by Minnie Maddern Fiske (1899). Becky Sharp (Minnie Maddern Fiske) — titan for Katharine Cornell

Peers and kindred spirits

• Maurice Evans. Maurice Evans played Romeo opposite Cornell. “McClintic cast Maurice Evans as the Dauphin, Brian Aherne as Warwick, Tyrone Power as Bertrand de Poulengey, and Arthur Byron as the Inquisitor.” (Wikipedia)
• Martha Graham (1894). Describes Graham's collaboration with actress Katharine Cornell on Lucrece. “Martha Graham , who choreographed the dance sequences, stepped in and fashioned a flowing robe for Juliet's balcony-scene costume shortly before curtain time.” (Wikipedia)
• Mildred Natwick. Natwick appeared in Cornell's revival of Candida. “Cedric Hardwicke Mr. Burgess (Original) Mildred Natwick Miss Proserpine Garnett (Original) View All Current Cast Opening Night "> Katharine Cornell Candida (Original)” (Playbill)
• Marlon Brando. Brando appeared with Cornell in her 1946 Candida revival. “Katharine Cornell Candida (Original) Wesley Addy The Reverend James Mavor Morell (Original) Marlon Brando Eugene Marchbanks (Original)” (Playbill)
• Cedric Hardwicke. Hardwicke appeared in Cornell's production of Antigone. “Marlon Brando Eugene Marchbanks (Original) Oliver Cliff The Reverend Alexander Mill (Original) Cedric Hardwicke Mr. Burgess (Original) Mildred Natwick Miss Proserpine Garnett (Original)” (Playbill)
• Charles Boyer. Boyer appeared in the television adaptation of Cornell's There Shall Be No Night. “Charles Boyer … Cast, Karoly Valkay Katharine Cornell … Cast, Miranda Valkay Ray Walston … Cast, Dave Corween” (The Paley Center for Media)
• Bradford Dillman. Dillman appeared in the television adaptation of Cornell's There Shall Be No Night. “Katharine Cornell … Cast, Miranda Valkay Ray Walston … Cast, Dave Corween Theodore Bikel … Cast, Uncle Lajos Phyllis Love … Cast, Katalin Tors Bradford Dillman … Cast, Erik Valkay” (The Paley Center for Media)
• Ray Walston. Walston appeared in the television adaptation of Cornell's There Shall Be No Night. “Katharine Cornell … Cast, Miranda Valkay Ray Walston … Cast, Dave Corween Theodore Bikel … Cast, Uncle Lajos” (The Paley Center for Media)
• Guthrie McClintic. McClintic directed many of Cornell's Broadway performances. (also via Winterset) “Cornell is noted for her major Broadway roles in serious dramas, often directed by her husband, Guthrie McClintic .” (Wikipedia)
• Washington Square Players. Cornell joined the Washington Square Players early in her career. (also via Bushido) “There she joined the Washington Square Players [ 1 ] [ 2 ] and was hailed as one of the most promising actresses of the season.” (Wikipedia)
• Florence Reed. Florence Reed performed alongside Cornell in the production. “Miss Cornell will be sup ported by Florence Reed as the nurse, Maurice Evans as Romeo and Ralph Richardson as Mercutlo.” (Evening Star (Washington, D.C.))
• Ralph Richardson. Ralph Richardson played Mercutio in Cornell's production. “Miss Cornell will be sup ported by Florence Reed as the nurse, Maurice Evans as Romeo and Ralph Richardson as Mercutlo.” (Evening Star (Washington, D.C.))
• Judith Anderson. Anderson and Cornell acted together in The Three Sisters. “Judith Anderson played Olga, Gertrude Musgrove was selected for Irina, and Cornell had the role of Masha.” (Wikipedia)
• C. & M.C. Productions, Inc.. Cornell and McClintic formed the production company together. “The couple formed C. & M.C. Productions, Inc., a company that gave them complete artistic freedom in choosing and producing plays.” (Wikipedia)
• The Actor's Theatre. Cornell belonged to The Actor's Theatre. “In 1924, Cornell and McClintic were part of The Actor's Theatre, a successor to the Washington Square Players.” (Wikipedia)
• The Garret Club. Cornell joined the club and took part in its theatrical activities. “In 1913, she joined The Garret Club, a woman's only private club in Buffalo, and participated in club theatricals.” (Wikipedia)
• The Rehearsal Club. Cornell served on the club's board of directors. “Cornell served on the Board of Directors of The Rehearsal Club . The club was a place for young actresses to stay while they looked for work, and offered support for their careers.” (Wikipedia)
• Jessie Bonstelle. Cornell joined Bonstelle's repertory company. “After just two seasons, she joined Jessie Bonstelle 's company, [ 16 ] a leading New York repertory company that divided its summers between Detroit and Buffalo.” (Wikipedia)
• Tallulah Bankhead. Cornell and Bankhead appeared together in Nice People. “She made her Broadway debut in the play Nice People by Rachel Crothers , in a small part with Tallulah Bankhead .” (Wikipedia)
• Brian Aherne. Aherne was cast opposite Cornell in The Barretts of Wimpole Street. “When McClintic was in London, he was able to secure Brian Aherne to play the part of Robert Browning.” (Wikipedia)
• Basil Rathbone. Rathbone played Romeo in Cornell's production. “Cornell's next production was Romeo and Juliet , with McClintic directing. It was the first Shakespeare for them both. [ 32 ] Romeo was performed by Basil Rathbone” (Wikipedia)
• Orson Welles (1915). Welles remained in Cornell and McClintic's New York production of Romeo and Juliet. “Orson Welles was kept, but played Tybalt instead of Mercutio , making his Broadway debut.” (Wikipedia)
• Edith Evans. Evans and Cornell performed in the same Romeo and Juliet production. “Brian Aherne took the part of Mercutio, Basil Rathbone played Romeo, and Edith Evans played the Nurse.” (Wikipedia)
• Burgess Meredith. Meredith appeared in the company's revival of Cornell's play. “the production company revived The Barretts of Wimpole Street , with Burgess Meredith in his first prominent Broadway role.” (Wikipedia)
• Tyrone Power. Power was cast in Cornell and McClintic's St. Joan. “McClintic cast Maurice Evans as the Dauphin, Brian Aherne as Warwick, Tyrone Power as Bertrand de Poulengey, and Arthur Byron as the Inquisitor.” (Wikipedia)
• Ruth Woodbury Sedgewick. Sedgewick helped Cornell write her memoir. “After the conclusion, she took a year off and wrote her memoir (with the help of Ruth Woodbury Sedgewick), titled I Wanted to Be an Actress and published by Random House in 1939.” (Wikipedia)
• Laurence Olivier. Olivier starred alongside Cornell in No Time for Comedy. “Immediately after that closed, Cornell starred in her second comedy, No Time for Comedy by S.N. Behrman . McClintic cast the young Laurence Olivier in the leading role of Gaylord.” (Wikipedia)
• Raymond Massey. Massey starred opposite Cornell in The Doctor's Dilemma. “Cornell next played in Shaw's play, The Doctor's Dilemma , and Raymond Massey starred with opposite her.” (Wikipedia)
• Gregory Peck. Peck participated in the tour of Cornell's The Doctor's Dilemma. “The play opened in 1941 in San Francisco, just one week before Pearl Harbor , and was the only show not cancelled, despite numerous blackouts. Given the distraction of the war, the play was not well received. Gregory Peck was part of the…” (Wikipedia)
• Kirk Douglas. Douglas made his Broadway debut in the production of The Three Sisters featuring Cornell. “Others included theater legend Edmund Gwenn , Dennis King and Kirk Douglas in his Broadway debut.” (Wikipedia)
• Tony Randall. Randall appeared in both plays on Cornell's West Coast tour. “Alternating with Antony , Cornell produced another revival of Barretts of Wimpole Street , for an eight-week tour to the West Coast, with Tony Randall in both plays, and Maureen Stapleton as Iras in Antony .” (Wikipedia)
• Maureen Stapleton. Stapleton appeared as Iras in Cornell's Antony and Cleopatra. “Cornell produced another revival of Barretts of Wimpole Street , for an eight-week tour to the West Coast, with Tony Randall in both plays, and Maureen Stapleton as Iras in Antony .” (Wikipedia)
• Christopher Plummer. Plummer understudied in Cornell's production of The Dark Is Light Enough and described her as his sponsor. “( Christopher Plummer was Power's understudy. In his memoir, Plummer states that Cornell was "the last of the great actress-managers," and that she was his "sponsor.")” (Wikipedia)
• Anthony Quayle (1913). Quayle performed in Cornell's production of The Firstborn. “The Firstborn , another play by Fry, was set in Biblical Egypt, with Anthony Quayle playing Moses.” (Wikipedia)
• Valentina. Valentina designed costumes worn by Cornell. “Cornell donated some of her costumes designed by the famed Russian fashion designer Valentina to the Museum of the City of New York .” (Wikipedia)
• Rachel Crothers. Cornell volunteered at the wartime canteen established by Crothers's organization. “This organization was created by playwright Rachel Crothers , and created the Stage Door Canteen to entertain troops during the war. Cornell donated time to work at the Canteen cleaning tables.” (Wikipedia)
• Gertrude Macy. Macy was Cornell's general manager and produced a revue. “Cornell's general manager Gertrude Macy produced a musical revue One for the Money , which starred unknown actors who later achieved fame, including Gene Kelly , Alfred Drake , Keenan Wynn and Nancy Hamilton.” (Wikipedia)
• Wesley Addy. Playbill lists Addy and Cornell in the 1946 Candida revival. “Katharine Cornell Candida (Original) Wesley Addy The Reverend James Mavor Morell (Original) Marlon Brando Eugene Marchbanks (Original)” (Playbill)
• Gilbert Miller. Playbill credits Miller as producing the 1946 Candida revival in association with Cornell. “Katharine Cornell Producer Gilbert Miller Produced in Association with View All Production Team” (Playbill)
• Dorothy Fields. Fields and Cornell appear together in the film. “Katharine Cornell , Aline MacMahon and Dorothy Fields serve soldiers played by Lon McCallister and Michael Harrison in the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)” (Wikipedia)

…and 9 more on the map above.

Who Katharine Cornell influenced

• Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen (1973). Respect for Acting (Uta Hagen) — legacy for Katharine Cornell (openlibrary.org)
• The Bright Lights: A Theatre Life by Marian Seldes (1978). The Bright Lights: A Theatre Life (Marian Seldes) — legacy for Katharine Cornell “Seldes studied with Sanford Meisner, Katharine Cornell, and Martha Graham.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Belle of Amherst by Julie Harris (1976). The Belle of Amherst (Julie Harris) — legacy for Katharine Cornell