'It's a Wonderful Life' Lillian Randolph as Anne

It's A Wonderful Life: Not so wonderful for one cast member

It’s the holiday season and one of the most popular movies is It’s a Wonderful Life. Most people think of the stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed when the film is mentioned. I used to fondly remember Karoline Grimes who portrayed little Zuzu. Now it is actress Lillian Grimes who played the maid Anne who comes to mind. She was also known for her television and radio role as Beulah. This comedy received negative reviews from the NAACP as well a criticism in Ebony magazine for its racial stereotypes but Randolph was thankful for the job.

Lillian Randolph: Just the facts

Lillian Randolph was born in either 1914 or 1915 and died on September 12, 1980. She is the voice behind Mammy Two Shoes, the black maid on the Tom and Jerry Cartoons. Her body is shown but never her face as she scolds Tom for his bad behavior, or hits him with a broom. There are only a few of the cartoons where her entire body is shown. These animated shorts were filmed between 1940 and 1952. Randolph was not given credit for this role as was the case when she actually lent her voice to Jerry mouse in The Milky Waif in 1946. Due to an outcry from Civil Rights groups, many of Randolph's scenes have now been edited out of the animated antics for the cat and mouse.

Lilian Randolph: A role model

I enjoyed these animated shorts and had no idea that the character of the black maid was actually named Mammy. It’s hard to believe that those who brought us such humorous cartoons were inserting something that is so offensive to African Americans. Even so, I look at Lillian Randolph not as a buffoon or ignorant woman but as someone who was trying to make a living.

I think of the characters on the sitcom Green Acres who were created to be country bumpkins and behind the times. Everyone knew the actors were role playing and no one thought they were like their characters in real time. Unfortunately, there were those who assumed that African Americans really acted like the roles they played, and during that time these stereotypical characters were the only way blacks could be on the screen. You can see the difference in the two photo's below. The one is from It's A Wonderful Life and the other was Lilian Randolph in her real life.

Lillian Randolph actually was given lessons to learn how to talk in the stereotypical black dialect that worked in the radio show. Off screen she probably was nothing like her characters, and might even have hated what she had to do to succeed. The actress is also known for Magic in 1978 and The Onion Field in 1979 which was her last film before her death. In 1938 Randolph allowed Lena Horne to stay at her home while she was filming The Duke is Tops. The movie had such a tight budget that Horne could not afford to stay in a hotel. During these golden days of Hollywood, the black acting community was much smaller than today, stuck together and supported each other.

It's A Wonderful Life: Anne should be thought of fondly

Lillian Randolph and others like her paved the way for future generations of black entertainers. Yes, it’s a cringe-worthy moment and somewhat offensive when Anne bursts through the crowd of people on Its a Wonderful Life with that goofy smile on her face. Her eyes are wide and her voice is loud as she says she’s giving her “ wedding” money to help George Bailey and everyone laughs. They were laughing with her as well as at her and that’s just the way it was in 1946. The highlight of the movie is when everyone who is gathered in the Bailey home, including Annie, begins singing Hark the Herald and then Old Lang Syne and for a moment all re on one accord. It's a memorable holiday moment.

African Americans back in the day who aspired to be a part of Hollywood only had one choice. They could accept the roles that were given to them, or not. I feel certain that most of them were not selling out but taking a chance. They were probably hoping that their talent would be revealed and that later they would receive better scripts. Unfortunately for many that day never came, but their remarkable strength and fortitude will live on. Perhaps Lillian Randolph's role in It's a Wonderful Life was small as well as being a caricature, but she was able to get herself on the silver screen and for more than 7 decades been a part of a most beloved holiday classic.