Addie Allen

Actor

Active: 1943

About Addie Allen

Addie Allen was an American actress who had a brief career in Hollywood during the early 1940s. Her only known film appearance was in John Ford's acclaimed documentary 'December 7th' (1943), which dramatized the attack on Pearl Harbor and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. Like many performers of her era, Allen appears to have been a bit player or supporting actress who may have had uncredited or minor roles that were not extensively documented. Her career spanned only the year 1943, suggesting she may have been a contract player at a studio or someone who briefly pursued acting before moving on to other endeavors. Unfortunately, detailed information about her life, training, or reasons for leaving the film industry has not been preserved in historical records, which was common for many minor actors from Hollywood's Golden Age.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in Academy Award-winning documentary 'December 7th' (1943)

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • December 7th (1943)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • John Ford (director)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

As a minor actress with only one known film credit, Addie Allen's direct cultural impact was limited. However, her participation in 'December 7th' connects her to one of the most significant documentary films of World War II, which helped shape American public understanding of the Pearl Harbor attack and contributed to the war effort through its propaganda value. The film itself became an important historical document and represents the type of wartime filmmaking that characterized Hollywood's contribution to the American war effort.

Lasting Legacy

Addie Allen's legacy is primarily that of the countless supporting players and bit actors who contributed to Hollywood's Golden Age but whose individual stories have been largely lost to time. She represents the anonymous workforce of performers who filled out casts in both fictional films and documentaries, helping to create the rich tapestry of classic cinema. Her brief appearance in an Academy Award-winning documentary ensures she has at least one permanent connection to film history, however minor.

Who They Inspired

Given her brief career and limited filmography, there is no documented evidence of Addie Allen having influenced other performers or filmmakers. Her contribution appears to have been limited to her performance in 'December 7th,' where she was one of many actors helping to bring the documentary's dramatic recreations to life.

Off Screen

Very little information is available about Addie Allen's personal life, which was typical for minor actors of the Golden Age whose private lives were not extensively documented in press or studio records.

Did You Know?

  • December 7th (1943) won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject
  • The film was directed by legendary director John Ford
  • December 7th was originally a longer film but was heavily edited by the government before release
  • The film combined documentary footage with dramatic reenactments
  • Addie Allen's entire known film career consisted of just one year (1943)
  • Many actors in wartime documentaries were uncredited, making their contributions difficult to trace
  • The film was created by the Office of War Information to document the Pearl Harbor attack

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Addie Allen?

Addie Allen was an American actress active in 1943 who appeared in the Academy Award-winning documentary 'December 7th' directed by John Ford. She appears to have had a very brief career in Hollywood, with this being her only known film credit.

What films is Addie Allen best known for?

Addie Allen is known only for her appearance in 'December 7th' (1943), an acclaimed documentary about the Pearl Harbor attack that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject.

When was Addie Allen born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, the birth and death dates for Addie Allen are not documented in available historical records, which was common for minor actors from Hollywood's Golden Age.

What awards did Addie Allen win?

While Addie Allen herself did not receive any known awards, she appeared in 'December 7th' (1943), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject.

What was Addie Allen's acting style?

There is insufficient documentation to describe Addie Allen's specific acting style, as she appears to have been a minor performer with only one known film credit from 1943.

Did Addie Allen work with any famous directors?

Yes, Addie Allen worked with legendary director John Ford on 'December 7th' (1943). Ford was one of the most acclaimed directors of Hollywood's Golden Age and a multiple Academy Award winner.

Why was Addie Allen's career so brief?

The reasons for Addie Allen's brief career are not documented, but this was not uncommon for minor actors of the era. Many performers had short careers in Hollywood due to the competitive nature of the industry, studio contract systems, or personal career choices.

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Films

1 film