Knowra Norma Shearer Norma Shearer Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress and producer who became one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s leading stars during the 1920s and 1930s. Her roles in films such as The Divorcee helped define the modern, independent screen heroine.
The Divorcee : A 1930 MGM film starring Norma Shearer as a woman who responds to her husband’s infidelity by seeking sexual independence. Shearer won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this performance.
Irving Thalberg : An American film producer who oversaw production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and shaped its prestige-film strategy. Thalberg, Shearer’s husband, championed many of her roles and productions.
Montreal : The largest city in Quebec, Canada, and Norma Shearer’s birthplace. Shearer was born and raised in Montreal before pursuing a film career.
Pre-Code Hollywood : The period of American filmmaking before enforcement of the Production Code tightened in 1934. Shearer’s bold roles in this era tested what Hollywood films could depict.
The Women : A 1939 comedy-drama directed by George Cukor, featuring an all-female cast and Norma Shearer as Mary Haines. Shearer headlined this ensemble satire of marriage, friendship, and social rivalry.
George Cukor : An American film director known for character-driven performances and sophisticated comedies. Cukor directed Shearer in The Women and several other MGM films.
Florence Shearer : The mother of Norma Shearer, who supported her daughters’ pursuit of work in entertainment. Florence moved with Norma and her sister to New York to seek stage opportunities.
Production Code : A set of Hollywood content rules adopted in 1930 and rigorously enforced from 1934 to 1968. Its enforcement curtailed the sexual frankness that had made several Shearer roles distinctive.
Marie Antoinette : A 1938 historical drama directed by W. S. Van Dyke, starring Norma Shearer as the French queen. Shearer’s lavish star vehicle made her one of MGM’s defining period heroines.
Robert Z. Leonard : An American film director who worked extensively at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Leonard directed Shearer in The Divorcee , her Academy Award-winning film.
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