In memory of Thelma Todd

For all of 2019, I've been reviewing at least one film featuring actress Thelma Todd each week, and posting quarterly photo galleries from Todd's modeling sessions, having declared it The Year of the Hot Toddy. During this time, I have focused entirely on the legacy of entertainment this talented actress left behind, which, sadly, seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Today is December 16, and on this day in 1935, Todd passed away. She died of carbon monoxide poisoning, in a car that was idling in a closed garage. Whether her death was accidental or homicide, we'll never know, but it has eclipsed everything else that she brought to the world. Aside from this single paragraph, we here at Shades of Gray will always remember Thelma Todd for her performances instead of her death. We will always remember her lighting up the screen with some of Hollywood's stars, such as....

William Powell and Gary Cooper

Chester Morris

Cary Grant

Buster Keaton

Bela Lugosi, Marjorie White, William Collier Jr, Ona Munson & Joe E Brown

The Year of the Hot Toddy may be coming to an end--we have two weeks and two reviews left--but plan to continue to remember Thelma Todd in 2020 and beyond. In this space, you will find reviews of her films every few weeks, plus photo galleries every few months in the Thelma Todd Quarterly post series, and we will close the coming year with post like this one highlighting the many great actors she appeared along side. We hope you'll continue to join us in celebration of this great and beautiful actress's life instead of morbidly dwelling on her death.