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Myrna Loy (actress): ”Goldwyn and his director, William Wyler, wanted me for Milly . . . . With the intention 0t 1
l persuading me, the Goldwyns arranged a dinner party. Sam launched his ottensive, enumerating the advantages l
of accepting a small roleethat not only required me to play Teresa Wright's mother—but wouldn't even have a 1
‘designed' wardrobe, because he wanted me to shop with Irene Sharatt for clothes that a banker's wife would
wear. l-le needn't have bothered; those things didn't trouble me. The story had won me in synopsis form—even l

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before he had Bob Sherwood expand my part into a beautifully realized character."

Irene Sharaff: “Teresa Wright, Myrna Loy, Virginia Mayo, and Cathy O'Donnell represented widely divergent
types. They had to be dressed accurately so that the audience could get a key to the characters through the ‘
clothes they wore. Virginia Mayo's dresses were tlashy and in poor taste with all their trills and troutrou. They illus- i
trated a lot of fashion Don'ts. One white evening gown was a clue to the type she portrayed—a cheap little siren. l

“Teresa Wright's role in the same picture was exactly the opposite. She was young and gay, and did not try
to look sophisticated. She was practical and sensible. This was a girl from a nice background and she would nat-
urally reveal good taste in her wardrobe. So I gave her smart little cotton frocks, and gay woolen dresses. Her
clothes showed that she was sweet, Feminine, and wholesome. Ott screen, l tound Teresa Wright exactly what
her face indicates: a wondertul, wholesome American girl. In pictures, of course, she has to take on a sophisti—

cated quality, but her own tresh charm is even more attractive."

THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) - IRENE SHARAFF, COSTUME DESIGNER

 

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