Marilyn Thorpe: Self - Daughter of Mary Astor
Quotes
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : People say, "Well, have you ever forgiven your Mom" for doing this and that? What's to forgive? There's nothing there. She was just living out her life and we all are doing that. This is a crazy, mortal experience we're going through.
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke was her maiden name. Mary Astor, being my mother, I should know a lot about her. Right?
[laughs]
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : The first thing that comes to mind is that she was very complicated.
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : It was a fight for my custody. And I say fight, meaning just that; because, my parents fought - emotionally, physically. They each wanted power and they used that in the court. Sometimes for good. Sometimes not for good. What can I tell you? That's basically it. It was a custody battle; but, it was nasty. It was so nasty.
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : First thing you say: Diary - takes me to a little girl, her little self, in an orchard where there are birds. Even then, she was writing. She had a little notebook and she kept track of the birds and their comings and goings. She knew every bird. She wrote everything down. When who and who came, you know. She started there. And she had that drive, like we discussed, that incredible drive to always be doing something. So, that's what she did. That's all she could! She doesn't have any money for toys. So, that's what she did for amusement. She was a lonely little girl.
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : [Reading a diary entry and commenting about it] "February 6, 1935. Why the hell do I keep writing things down in this book? I don't know. It seems to help me for some reason. I'm a muddled-headed person." - That's a nice way to talk about yourself. For somebody so brilliant. See, that goes back to Daddy. - "Muddled-headed person. That I have to tie my thoughts down so they won't go skittering off in all directions." - Now, isn't that writing for ya. - "Then, too, maybe Marylyn someday would like to know what sort of person her mother was." - Goodness sakes, I've never seen this. - "And maybe she'll be consoled when she makes mistakes." - Now, she tells me.!
[laughs]
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : - "And gets into jams to know that her mother was such a champion at making mistakes." - Oh, my. - "I blush a little." - Very little. - "At the idea of her reading some of the stuff in this book. I've been and am such a fool." - Poor thing! - "February 8, 1935. Note to Marylyn: Never admit to anything to anybody. Honesty is not the best policy."
[laughs]
-
Marylyn Roh, Herself - Daughter of Mary Astor : That's why I say: who's Mary Astor? Well, she was all the roles that she ever played. A little piece of her went into every role. But, inside she was always the little farm girl from Quincy, Illinois. She always carried the loneliness with her and I think that's what she relied on or was part of her programming for being the person she was. And, on the other hand, she was a beautiful, wonderful lady.
