We tend to forget stars from the early days of talkies.
Not deliberately, mind you. It’s just that our grasp of the silent era, which predates our decades of cinematic concentration, is not as comprehensive as we would like.
But, of course, that doesn’t stop us from writing about one of the most remarkable, unsung actresses to emerge from the silent era. There she is above, Nancy Carroll. That come-hither look and her musical and dramatic abilities turned her into a vivacious star by the 1930’s — an actress who drew more fan mail than any other major star.
Her following was immense — reportedly including Britain’s future King George VI.
Born in New York City in 1903, Carroll (nee Ann Veronica LaHiff) began her career early, performing on the musical stage at 16 and developing into a Broadway chorine two years later. After a couple of flirtations with “the silents” Carroll landed in 1927 in four features including the big screen version of the long-running Broadway favorite, Abie’s Irish Rose.
In 1928, she made another five films, and by the end of the decade she cemented her rising star status in 15 features. Her costars included Richard Dix and Buddy Rogers. (In all, Carroll racked up 47 movie and tv credits over some 35 years, extending to the early Sixties.)
Interestingly Carroll is NOT included among the roster of silent movie stars who could NOT make the transition to talkies in the late Twenties. She flourished in the exciting new medium. She made six movies in 1929 including Close Harmony, Paramount’s first full talkie, and propelled the picture in super hit status. Soon after, it finally dawned on the studio that it had a genuine superstar on its hands.
Carroll appeared in some 25 features during the decade of the Thirties, winding up with 1938’s That Certain Age. A Hollywood highlight, of course, was her Oscar nomination for 1930’s The Devil’s Holiday. Carroll didn’t win (Norma Shearer did for The Divorcee) but the event put Nancy in head to head competition with such titans as Shearer, Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson. Impressive company.
From the early 1950s through the early 60’s Carroll concentrated on tv and the stage. She was appearing in a performance of Never Too Late at the Mineola Playhouse in Long Island, N.Y. in 1965, when she failed to show up for a performance. She was found dead of a heart attack in her hotel room. Carroll was 60.
A good informative article from Joe & Frank and the early days of talkies…
But again I keep asking them, what about the DAYS OF TALKIES that your readers grew up with, influenced and loved?
What about the days of THE GREAT ESCAPE, THE ITALIAN JOB, IT’S A MAD,MAD,MAD,MAD WORLD, THE GRADUATE, LOVE STORY, THE FRENCH CONNECTION, BULLITT, SWEET CHARITY, THE GREAT RACE, BONNIE & CLYDE, COOL HAND LUKE, THE EXORCIST, JAWS, WINTER KILLS, MONTE WALSH, MIDNIGHT COWBOY, BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID, THE STING, DAY OF THE LOCUST, ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE, BILLY JACK, OLIVER, CHARLY, KINGS OF THE SUN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC… and on and on with 1960’s and 1970’s movies and their stars and numerous topics???
Surely they have a place here, as they do with Turner CLASSIC Movies and any other HOLLYWOOD site that knows what being CLASSIC is all about?
For fans of THE GREAT ESCAPE, there is a great DVD documentary just out, that takes you on a fabulous tour of the German locations, talking with people that were there at the time, and presenting many insights and never before seen production photos. If you’re interested, there is a movie trailer for that documentary called THE COOLEST GUY MOVIE EVER, that you can see on YouTube.
And speaking of movie documentaries on YouTube, the ones posted by dedicated movie fans… There’s another great one called Directed By Gene Kelly, about the making of HELLO DOLLY, and like the movie itself, it’s fully restored in stunning digital color.
I don’t know why I have to keep going on about this, maybe some of YOU might like to tell the ‘guys’ that you’d like to chat about those very movies that you actually saw for the very first time at a stand-alone movie palace or bijou movie theater?
Anyway, at least I COMMENT…
As a younger classic film fan, I’m thankful that there are still a few theaters that air the classics on the big screen from time to time. I’ve been able to see several of my favorites that way, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Ten Commandments, Gone With the Wind, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, An Affair to Remember and more. Even though I’ve seen them before there is nothing like seeing them in a darkened theater with a very small audience of true fans. I wish I had the opportunity to see less popular classic films this way, but am still grateful that they receive attention and promotion on TCM, and from bloggers, writers and others who value them.
I always enjoy reading the articles posted here and learning more about both the famous and more obscure stars I watch on television. I appreciate the work you guys do here. Though I don’t always comment, I always read. As for Nancy Carroll I’ve only had the chance to see her in Hot Saturday and There Goes My Heart. I would love to see her earlier work in silents.
That’s a good comment you made Patricia or is it Caftan Woman…
I used to give very special custom HOLLYWOOD tours…
Culver City for the GONE WITH THE WIND tour, as 90% of the movie was shot there…
Mr. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, I took my groups to the old Columbia lot on Gower, after they moved out and decided to share the Warner lot, renamed as the Burbank Studios. On several tours, we were honored to have director Frank Capra himself, talk about the production.
IT’S A MAD,MAD,MAD, MAD WORLD was the most popular, and took three days from the Universal lot, to Santa Monica and out to Palm Springs and beyond
Gave lectures and seminars, all things HOLLYWOOD.
You have a fascinating site yourself, as good story writing is the crux of any movie, but unfortunately the deal is all they think about.
In the WGA for nineteen years, I wrote storylines for numerous episodic TV shows, and the scripts would be based on what I wrote. From the !990’s on they eliminated that idea which worked so well for fifty years, and instead just hired college kid writers on staff, who had very little life experience let alone good ideas for stories.
I’m sure you would like to see more focus on 60’s and 70’s movies, or at least I hope so.
You’re one of the very few who comments on here, and for that well done!