Gracie Fields

Filmography. In 2002, her friend and author Janie Hampton published the book Joyce Grenfell. Famous Songs. In 1998, the British government memorialized Joyce Grenfell with her image on a postage stamp as part of a series of stamps celebrating "Heroes of Comedy". She made a final appearance at the Royal Variety Show at the age of eighty in 1978. Her autobiography, The Time of My Life was published in 1990. She did a great deal of charity work, and established a home on the island of Capri. Diagnosed with cancer, she retired from performing and passed away in 1979.

She continued recording, but made no more films, moving more towards light classical music as popular tastes changed. She gained additional popularity as a result of her frequent appearances on the BBC's classical music quiz show, Face the Music. After the war, Fields continued her career on a less active basis. Grenfell is now best remembered for her one-woman shows and monologues, in which she invented roles including a harassed nursery teacher (George, don't do that). Although she spent much of her time entertaining troops and supporting the war effort outside Britain, this led to a fall-off in her popularity. During the 1950s she made her name as a sidekick to such comedy greats as Alastair Sim and Margaret Rutherford in films such as The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) and the St Trinian's series. However because Banks remained an Italian citizen and would have been interned in the United Kingdom, Fields was forced to leave Britain during World War II. As a writer at the BBC during and just after the war, she collaborated with Stephen Potter in writing the "How" series of 30 satirical programs from "How to Talk to Children" to "How to Listen".

In 1940 she married film director, Monte Banks, following her divorce from Pitt. Although she performed in a number of films, she continued with her recording career, producing a number of humoristic albums as well as books. She went on to make films in both England and America. Her singing and comedic talents on stage led to offers to appear in motion picture comedies. Her most famous song, which became her theme, Sally, was worked into the title of her first cinema film, Sally in Our Alley (1931), which was a major box-office hit. In 1989 her wartime journals were published under the title The Time of My Life: Entertaining the Troops. Fields had a great rapport with her audience, which helped her become one of Britain's highest paid performers. During World War II, Grenfell toured India, North Africa, and the Middle East with a company performing for British troops.

She gained a devoted following with a mixture of self-deprecating jokes, comic songs and monologues, as well as cheerful "depression-era" songs all presented in a "no-airs-and-graces" northern, working class style. Wanting to pursue a career in the theatre, she made her stage debut in 1939 in the "Little Revue." In 1942 she wrote what became her signature song, "I'm Going to See You Today.". Fields came to major public notice at the Alhambra Theatre in London's West End in 1925, making the first of ten appearances in Royal Variety Shows in 1928. As such, Joyce Phipps grew up around money and privilege. In 1915 she married struggling comic Archie Pitt, who became her manager. Born Joyce Irene Phipps in London, England, she was the daughter of architect Paul Phipps and an eccentric American mother, Nora Langhorne, the daughter of an American railroad millionaire and sister of Nancy Astor. Her professional debut in variety took place at the Rochdale Hippodrome theatre in 1910. Joyce Grenfell, born February 10, 1910 - died November 30, 1979, was a British film and television actress, comedienne, and singer-songwriter.

Born over a fish and chip shop in Rochdale, in Lancashire, she made her first stage appearance as a child in 1905. A Letter from Home (1941). Gracie Fields, born Grace Stansfield (January 9, 1898 - September 27, 1979) was a British singer and comedian who became one of the greatest stars of both cinema and music hall. The Lamp Still Burns (1943). 1945 Paris Underground (U.S.). The Demi-Paradise (1943). 1945 Molly and Me (U.S.). While the Sun Shines (1947).

1943 Holy Matrimony (U.S.). A Run for Your Money (1949). 1943 Stage Door Canteen (U.S.). Poet's Pub (1949). 1939 Shipyard Sally. Stage Fright (1950). 1938 Keep Smiling. The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950).

1938 We're Going to Be Rich. Alice in Wonderland (1950). 1937 The Show Goes On. Laughter in Paradise (1951). 1936 Queen of Hearts. The Galloping Major (1951). 1935 Look Up and Laugh. The Magic Box (1951).

1934 Sing as We Go. The Pickwick Papers (1952). 1933 Love, Life and Laughter. The Million Pound Note (1953). 1933 This Week of Grace. Genevieve (1953). 1932 Looking on the Bright Side. Trinian's (1954).

1931 Sally in our Alley. The Belles of St. The Isle of Capri. Forbidden Cargo (1954) . Now Is the Hour. The Good Companions (1957). Nuns Chorus. Happy Is the Bride (1957).

Angels Guard Thee. Trinian's (1957). Christopher Robin is Saying His Prayers. Blue Murder at St. Only a Glass of Champagne. Trinian's (1960). The Biggest Aspidestra in the World. The Pure Hell of St.