So I'm watching Nicholas Ray's On Dangerous Ground (short summing-up: great atmosphere, great performances, great Bernard Herrmann score with one cue that he would recycle in North By Northwest; terrible ending). And thanks to the commentary by DVD Savant Glenn Erickson, I realize that the girl who has a two-line role as a teenaged prostitute -- one of the many shady characters who drive Robert Ryan to near-psychosis about the "garbage" he has to deal with as a cop -- is one of my favourite TV character actresses, Nita Talbot. In the '60s through the '80s she had guest spots on dozens of TV shows; nobody was better at playing sexy wisecracking women who were over 30 (or "middle-aged," in the Hollywood term for "over 30"). Here's the scene from On Dangerous Ground, which also has the writer of the movie, A.I. Bezzerides, as a guy who tries to offer Ryan a bribe:
And here's Nita Talbot in her guest-starring prime, from an episode of "Soap," as Mrs. Fein, one of several women who was having an affair with Peter Campbell (Robert Urich) before he was shot, stabbed suffocated and bludgeoned:
Another Nita Talbot guest role you might remember is as the woman in the pilot of The Rockford Files who tried to marry a rich guy even though he'd died before the wedding.
Nita may be best known as the Russian spy Marya, whom Col. Hogan never knew whether to trust, in a recurring role on "Hogan's Heroes." Maybe it was just her character there, but I found her kind of obnoxious and off-putting. I can't specifically recall other guest appearances of hers, but I think I found her a bit annoying in all her roles. On the other hand (speaking of potentially annoying actors), I love Paul Lynde, so go figure.
ReplyDeleteI loved Ms Talbot in Bundle of Joy and have always enjoyed her many TV performances---hope she is doing well.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was always in love with her. I always thought she was funny, better than Carole Lombard. What better combination can you have than sexy, blonde, funny and smart too!. Glad to know she is still alive. Hope all is well with her. Best Wishes and Happy New Year, Miss Talbot. From one SBFS to another. MKH
ReplyDeleteNita Talbot was one the coolest actresses of the period, great to look at and funny as anyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the site. I saw Ms. Talbot performing in a "Night Stalker" episode with Daren McGavin recently. She always lights up the screen and does a marvelous job with any role she chose to do.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she is doing well. My very best to her.
Ken Couch
Kansas City
I wanted her bad when she was Marya, but when I saw her on an episode of Columbo in 1973, I fell in love.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Clips ..
ReplyDeleteI have carried a torch for Nita as long as I can remember ...
Anything she's in just gets lifted a notch by her presence ..
I wish there was more info about her on the WEB...
frank
Positively beautiful woman. Just saw her on a Perry Mason episode. Wow! Never knew she was the Hogan's Hero woman (haven't seen the show in 30 years at least). Wow, so beautiful and what a body!
ReplyDeleteHi HH,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say how much I have always enjoyed Nita Talbot's character, Marya, on "Hogan's Heroes." She is simply fantastic. Marya really gave Hogan a run for his money, always keeping him slightly off-balance and on his toes when very few others could do that. Good stuff!!
I have to say that I have been trying to locate Ms. Talbot for a couple of years now but without any luck. HH, as you are her second cousin, perhaps you can help me. I am currently working on a project with an author (Linda) that has allowed both Linda and myself to get to know several of Ms. Talbot's co-workers from "Hogan's Heroes" quite well. We understand and respect Ms. Talbot's privacy, but we would very much like to pass along their well wishes as well as discuss this project with her.
I'm sorry to be using a blog to relay this information, and as such, I cannot offer more here out of respect for all involved. But I am very happy to speak with you privately so that you may understand the project and what Linda and I are trying to accomplish, and to assure you that this request is genuine.
Please contact me at cmford714@gmail.com
Carol Ford
I thought Nita Talbot was extremely sexy! I wonder what she looks like now. I bet she is still a fox!!!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Ms. Talbot! Thank you for all the years you've entertained us.
ReplyDeleteAlways a fan!
My son is 12...He owns every season of Hogan's Heroes and is a big fan of "Marya." He asked me to look her up online. Does anyone out there know how to contact her?
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteThank you for Ms. Talbot's address. My son sent her a letter...
Best wishes,
Maria Llull
My wife (elizabetta) & I watch ogan's Hero's every night although reruns -last night was a classic of Nita.Elizabetta does a beaut copy of accent.Love the performances.Thanks Geoffrey
ReplyDeleteI really loved Nita on Hogan's Heros. She had a way of working well with her other cast members no matter what she was in. As far as i'm concerned, she was one of the best and really didn't get the praise that she should have gotten.
ReplyDeleteI just saw her in an episode of "The Littlest Hobo" Called "Cry Wolf" She was charming and so funny. Would have been a perfect Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. So glad to hear that she's doing well.
ReplyDeleteI saw Miss Talbot on an episode of Maverick and I just want her to know, I wish that her heart belonged to me becauce she is probably the most sexist woman I have ever seen on the tv, movies, or otherwise Marylyn Monroe had nothing on her.
ReplyDelete