Glenda Farrell (1904-1971) was the movies’ archetypal 1930s tough gal, an attractive blonde with a machine-gun dialogue delivery that made her perfect as a gold digger, tart-tongued best friend or, as in her series of Torchy Blane movies, a reporter who always got her story. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, Farrell was on the stage from her early teens and reached Broadway in 1928. She made her film debut the following year and attracted attention, and a Warner Bros. contract, after appearing as a gangster’s moll in Little Caesar (1931).

Repeating her stage role in Life Begins (1932), Farrell gives a touching performance as a jaded chorus girl who warms to motherhood after delivering twins. After receiving second billing in the prestigious I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932), Farrell embarked on her most productive year -- 1933, when she appeared in 11 movies including Girl Missing, the first film in which she was top-billed; Grand Slam, in support of Loretta Young and Paul Lukas; and Havana Widows, Farrell’s first of seven teamings with Warners pal Joan Blondell.

Farrell stayed with Warners until 1937, working non-stop there and on loan-out to other studios in films with the likes of Spencer Tracy, Loretta Young, Cary Grant, Edward G. Robinson and Bette Davis. As a free-lancer she remained active throughout the 1940s and ‘50s in such films as Johnny Eager (1941) and The Law in Her Hands (1936), as well as on the stage. She also branched out into television, where her efforts won her an Emmy. One of her best film performances is featured in Middle of the Night (1959) as Kim Novak’s troubled mother. Among her final films were Kissin’ Cousins (1964) with Elvis Presley and The Disorderly Orderly (1964) with Jerry Lewis.

The following films will be shown in TCM’s birthday tribute to Glenda Farrell: Life Begins (1932), Girl Missing (1933), Grand Slam (1933), Havana Widows (1933) and The Law in Her Hands (1936).