1930s
The 1930s was the decade in which Luise's life changed forever. At the start of the 1930s she was acting with Max Reinhardt's company on tour in Europe (specific dates are not yet known). Then, in 1935, she left to take up her new life in Hollywood, and, creatively, she achieved more in the 1930s than at any other time in her life; but this was also to be her most destructive and passionate decade. In only three years at MGM she made eight films, she won her two Academy Awards, she met, married and separated from Clifford Odets and she lost her first child. This period would turn out to be less than 10% of her life, but it changed everything. Aside from the Oscars and Odets, notable highlights of the 1930s were Luise's discovery on stage in Vienna, her American citizenship and her UK stage debut.
The list is in chronological order and includes key dates in Luise's life and career.
A * denotes magazine and newspaper articles and interviews, most of which have been copied in full and are available on this site - click the links to open a new page.
1930
Plays 'Anitra' in Ibsen's Peer Gynt, Dusseldorf
1932
1933
In Berlin, Luise witnesses the burning of the Reichstag building (27th February)
1934
Plays 'Roberta' in Dreiser's An American Tragedy. Spotted by an MGM talent scout and offered a contract
Signs five-year contract with MGM
1935
Leaves Le Havre on the ship Ile de France for New York and MGM (9th January)
Release of Escapade, her first English language film (6th July)
1936
Attends Leopold Stokowski concert at the Pan Pacific Auditorium, with William Wyler - picture (27th April)
1937
Joins the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League protests against Vittorio Mussolini's visit
Wins the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Actress in The Great Ziegfeld (4th January)
Marries Clifford Odets at their home in Brentwood Heights (8th January)
Takes part in a Flood Relief Benefit show at Radio City Music Hall, New York (11th February)
*Cover portrait for New York's Sunday Mirror Magazine (11th April)
Release of Big City (3rd September)
Addresses 22,000 people at Madison Square Garden, New York upon the occasion of the Japanese invasion of China (1st October)
1938
Pregnant with Odets' child, has an abortion
Awarded her second Oscar for Best Actress for The Good Earth (10th March)
Announces that she has filed for divorce from Clifford Odets (10th June
Takes her American citizenship examination in Los Angeles (July 25th)
Wrap party for Dramatic School, held at Eddie Price's house (16th October)
Becomes a US citizen, sworn in by Judge Jeremiah Neter (19th November) (pictured)
1939
Dissolution of contract with MGM
Separation from Clifford Odets
Opens at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, UK in Jacques Deval's play Behold the Bride (1st May)
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