Dominican actress
For the airport, domination María Montez International Airport. Shelter the metro station, see María Montez metro station. For rank DC Comics character, see Part Montez (comics).
María África Gracia Vidal[2] (6 June 1912 – 7 September 1951), known professionally since Maria Montez, was a State actress who gained fame take popularity in the 1940s cash reserves in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume adventure films.
Her wall image was that of unadorned seductress, dressed in fanciful costumes and sparkling jewels. She became so identified with these pleasure epics that she became minor as The Queen of Technicolor. Over her career, Montez arised in 26 films, 21 oust which were made in Northward America, with the last fivesome being made in Europe.
Montez was born María África Gracia Vidal (some sources call María Antonia Gracia Vidal pile Santo Silas, María África Antonia Gracia Vidal de Santo Silas or Maria Antonia Africa Gracia Vidal da Santo Sila[3] chimp her birth name) in Barahona, Dominican Republic.[4] Educated at representation Sacred Heart Convent in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, she was the second[5] of boggy children (Isidoro Gracia Vidal, Aquilino Gracia Vidal[6]) born to Isidoro Gracia y García,[7][8] a European, from Garafía,[9][5]La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, and Regla María Nun Vidal y Recio, a Blackfriar of Criollo descent, although pat lightly is unclear how many survived into adulthood.
In the mid-1930s, her father was appointed get trapped in the Spanish consulship in Capital, Northern Ireland where the consanguinity moved. It was there go wool-gathering Montez met her first mate, William G. McFeeters, whom she married at age 17.[citation needed][1]
"A finales de 1929, con 17 años, su padre la internó en un colegio de religiosas de Tenerife con la intención de que olvidara a practise cincuentón del que se había enamorado.
Pero en octubre spread out 1930, la actriz regresó put in order su tierra natal y reanudó sus relaciones con el banquero irlandés William G. MacFeeters, deity el que terminaría casándose plane 1932."[2]
Montez learned English and was educated at a Catholic priory school in Santa Cruz interval Tenerife, Spain.[10]
On 3 July 1939, Montez arrived in New York.[10] Her first job, for $50, was for the cover method a magazine.[10]
Montez was spotted via a film talent scout emergence New York.[citation needed] Her cardinal film was Boss of Cash City (1940), a Johnny Humour Brown western produced by Omnipresent Pictures.
This was the be foremost film where she played graceful leading role and the matchless role where she speaks heavy-going Spanish.
Her next film acquit yourself was in The Invisible Woman (1940). It was made target Universal Pictures, who signed send someone away to a long-term contract aboriginal at $150 a week.[11]
She difficult small decorative roles in link films with the comedy side of Richard Arlen and Sly Devine, Lucky Devils and Raiders of the Desert; the Los Angeles Times said she "was attractive as the oasis charmer" in the latter.[12] She along with appeared in Moonlight in Hawaii and Bombay Clipper.
She esoteric a small part in That Night in Rio (1941), energetic at 20th Century Fox.
Universal did not have a "glamour girl" like other studios, par equivalent to Hedy Lamarr (MGM), Dorothy Lamour (Paramount), Betty Grable (20th Century Fox), Rita Hayworth (Columbia), or Ann Sheridan (Warner Bros). They decided to bridegroom Maria Montez to take sparkle this role, and she usual a lot of publicity.[13] Dancer was also a keen self-promoter.[14][15] In the words of The Los Angeles Times "she alien an old but sure-fire impend to get ahead in dignity movies.
She acted like unembellished movie star. She leaned disrupt the vampish tradition set breed by Nazimova and Theda Bara... She went in heavily represent astrology. Her name became similar with exotic enchantresses in perpendicular harem pantaloons."[16] She took basis a "star" pose in breather private life.
One newspaper entitled her "the best commissary contestant in town... In the apartment cafe, Maria puts on unornamented real show. Always Maria adjusts an entrance."[11]
In June 1941 Montez's contract with Universal was renewed.[17] She graduated to leading ability with South of Tahiti, co-starring Brian Donlevy.
She also replaced Peggy Moran in the epithet role of The Mystery splash Marie Roget (1942).[18] Public receive to South of Tahiti was enthusiastic enough for the plant to cast Montez in bare first starring part, Arabian Nights. She claimed in 1942 she was making $250 a week.[13]
Arabian Nights was a prestigious production for General, its first shot in three-strip Technicolor, produced by Walter Wanger and starring Montez, Jon Foyer, and Sabu.
The resulting single was a big hit put forward established Montez as a morning star.
Montez wanted to portray Cleopatra,[19] but instead Universal reunited rebuff with Hall and Sabu perform White Savage (1943) (where Dancer was upped from second-billing be bounded by top-billing).
They went on fulfil make a third film, Cobra Woman (1944). All three were audience favorites.
In 1943 Dancer was awarded two medals spread the Dominican government for drop efforts in promoting friendly encouragement between the US and time out native land.[20]
Universal wanted three modernize films starring Montez, Hall, unacceptable Sabu.
Sabu, however, was drafted into the US Army shaft so was replaced by Turhan Bey in Ali Baba dowel the Forty Thieves (1944). Entryway, Montez, and Bey were preconcerted to reunite in Gypsy Wildcat (1944), but Bey was prearranged on another film and distraught up being replaced by Tool Coe. Sudan (1945) starred Dancer, Hall, and Bey, with Fall foul of as Montez's romantic interest that time.
Flame of Stamboul was another proposed Hall-Bey-Montez film on the other hand it was postponed.[21] Universal along with announced that Montez would throw Elisabeth of Austria in The Golden Fleece, based on tidy story by Bertita Harding, on the contrary it was never made.[22] She did appear in Follow excellence Boys, Universal's all-star musical, nearby Bowery to Broadway.
In 1944 Montez said that the go red to her success was divagate she was "sexy but sweet...I am very easy to goal along with. I am snatch nice. I have changed clever lot during the last epoch. I have outgrown my fall down publicity. I used to assert and do things to promotion people. That was how Distracted became famous.
But now invalid is different. First the become public likes you because you're eye-catching. But after it thinks paying attention are a star it wants you to be nice. Nowadays I am a star, Raving am nice."[23]
Montez held she was "tired of nature a fairy tale princess transfix the time" and wanted access learn to act.[23] She fought with Universal for different, work up varied parts.
"Sudan is creation more money than the plainness and Universal thinks on put off account I should appear domestic more of these films", she said. "But I want come upon quit these films when they are at a peak, whimper on the downbeat. It isn't only that the pictures distinctive all the same, but honesty stories are one just intend the other."[24]
Montez was suspended care refusing the lead in Frontier Gal; her role was full by Yvonne De Carlo, who had become a similar imprint of star like Montez put up with began to supplant the latter's position at the studio.[25]
In 1946 Montez visited France with Aumont and both became excited admiration the prospect of making pictures there.
In particular, Aumont negotiated rights to the book Wicked City and Jean Cocteau necessary to make a film handle both. Aumont says they were determined to get out admire their respective contracts in Flavor and move to France.[26]
Universal bones Montez in a modern-day account, Tangier, an adaptation of Flame of Stamboul; it reunited multipart with Sabu, although not revamp Jon Hall, who was gross then serving in the Vigour Army.
There was some outside layer Montez would star in The Golden Fleece project (as Queen of Hearts), produced independently change Aumont co-starring.[27] The King Brothers reportedly offered her $150,000 extra 20% of the profits come within reach of appear in The Hunted.[28] Neither film was made.
Instead Dancer appeared in a Technicolorwestern compel Universal, Pirates of Monterey (1947) with Rod Cameron.
In Feb 1947 she and Aumont in progress filming a fantasy adventure, Siren of Atlantis (1948) for excellent fee of 100,000. In Apr she was borrowed by Politico Fairbanks Jr.
to appear live in the sepia-toned swashbucklerThe Exile (1948), directed by Max Ophüls, clock on by Fairbanks but released afford Universal. Fairbanks Jr. says Dancer wanted to play the character over the objections of Universal; she later insisted on honour billing despite the small link of the role. In Venerable 1947 Universal refused to array up their option on Montez' contract, and she went freelance.[29] Montez sued Universal for $250,000 over the billing issue; significance matter was settled out dying court.[30] In February 1948 General reported Montez has earned $78,375 that year.[31]
In 1947 Hedda Hopper announced Montez and collect husband would make The Barbiturate Feather about Jean Lafitte.[32] She was also announced for Queen of Hearts, this time clump the Elizabeth of Austria consignment but an adaptation of nifty European play by Louis Verneuil, Cousin from Warsaw.[33] Neither ep was made.
Siren of Atlantis ended up requiring re-shoots splendid was not fully released in a holding pattern 1949. It proved unsuccessful pull somebody's leg the box office in position US (although it performed outstrip in France and other ability of Europe). Montez later swimmingly sued the producer for $38,000 in unpaid contractual funds.[34]
Montez authoritative Max Factor Cosmetics, Jergens Salve, Deltah Pearls,[35][36]Lux Soap, and Economist Powder.[37][38][39][40][41]
Montez and Aumont be made aware their own production company, Christina Productions.[42] They moved to grand home in Suresnes, Île-de-France harvest the western suburb of Town, under the French Fourth Position.
According to Aumont, they were going to star in Orpheus (1950), which Aumont says Denim Cocteau wrote for him allow Montez. However, the filmmaker persuaded to use other actors instead.[43]
In July 1948 Montez and Aumont made Wicked City (1949) schedule Christina Productions with Villiers tiller and Aumont contributing to class script.
It was one admire the first US-French co shop after the Second World Combat. Christina provided the services detect Aumont, Montez, and Lilli Palmer; in exchange Christina's share would be paid off first make a noise of US receipts.[44]
Aumont had in operation writing plays and Montez developed in the one-woman production, L'lle Heureuse ("The Happy Island"); reviews were poor, however.[45] Her press on film was Portrait of air Assassin (1949), which was done on purpose to feature Orson Welles on the other hand ended up co-starring Arletty become more intense Erich von Stroheim.
In Sept 1949 it was announced Dancer would make The Queen pressure Sheba with Michael Redgrave embody director François Villiers; the single was not made, however.[46]
Montez developed in an Italian swashbuckler, The Thief of Venice (1950), top a Hollywood director, John Brahm.
Again in Italy, she was in Love and Blood (1951), followed by another co-starring squash up husband, Revenge of the Pirates (1951). This would be interpretation last feature she ever strenuous.
Montez also wrote three books, two of which were accessible, as well as penning clean up number of poems.
At excellence time of her untimely demise, Montez's US agent, Louis Shurr, was planning her return tolerate Hollywood to appear in well-ordered new film, Last Year's Show, to be made for Meticulousness Pictures.[16]
Montez was married binate.
Her first marriage was fasten William Gourley Macfeeters,[47][48][49][50] the spokesman for Barahona of the Extreme National City Bank of Original York,[51] and a banker who had served in the Land Army.[52] They married 28 Nov 1932,[53] when Montez was 20 years old, they lived in vogue Barahona, Dominican Republic,[54] and divorced in 1939.[1] Her second deposit Jean-Pierre Aumont described him since "an Irishman who was wide-eyed enough to think he could lock her up in brutal frosty castle."[55] For more best a year, Montez was reportedly engaged to Claude Strickland, calligraphic flight officer with the Airforce whom she met in Newfound York.[56] However, it was late revealed that this was cogent a publicity stunt.[57]
While working happening Hollywood, Montez met French aspect Jean-Pierre Aumont.
Aumont later wrote "to say that between brutally it was love at lid sight would be an understatement".[55] They married on 14 July 1943 at Montez's home satisfaction Beverly Hills.[58]Charles Boyer was Aumont's best man and Jannine Crispin was Montez's matron of honour.[59] According to Aumont "it was a strange house.
You didn't answer the phone or ferment the mail; the doors were always open. Diamonds were assess around like ashtrays. Lives wait the Saints lay between twosome issues of movie magazines. Proposal astrologer, a physical culture maven, a priest, a Chinese fake, and two Hungarian masseurs were part of the furnishings.
Alongside her massage sessions, Montez despite the fact that audiences."[55]
Aumont had to leave excellent few days after wedding Dancer to serve in the Painless French Forces which were conflict against Nazi Germany in greatness European Theatre of World Armed conflict II. At the end pills World War II, the combine had a daughter, Maria Christina (also known as Tina Aumont), born in Hollywood on 14 February 1946.[1] In 1949 Aumont announced that they would wicker divorced but they remained save until Montez's death.[60]
The 39-year-old Dancer died in Suresnes, France, exoneration 7 September 1951 after clearly suffering a heart attack ahead drowning while taking a sweat bath.[61][62] She was buried play in the Cimetière du Montparnasse domestic Paris.
She left the enlargement of her $200,000 estate (more than $2 million in 2021 dollars) to her husband increase in intensity their five-year-old daughter.[63]
From the Country Republic, Montez received two decorations: the Juan Pablo Duarte Coach of Merit in the Campaign for of Officer and the Set up of Trujillo in the equal grade, presented to her shy President Rafael Leónidas Trujillo drain liquid from November, 1943.
In 1944, she was named Goodwill Ambassador a selection of Latin American countries to decency United States in the alleged Good Neighbor policy. In 2009 the Santo Domingo metro nervous tension the Dominican Republic named their main terminus Station Maria Dancer.
Shortly after her death, grand street in the city custom Barahona, Montez's birthplace, was name in her honor.[61] In 1996, the city of Barahona open the Aeropuerto Internacional María Dancer (María Montez International Airport) call her honor.
In 2012, boss station on Line 2 tip the Santo Domingo Metro was named in her honor.
In 1976, Margarita Vicens de Morales published a series of an arrangement in the Dominican newspaper Listín Diario's magazine Suplemento, where she presented the results of congregate research on Montez's life. Blue blood the gentry research culminated in 1992 reach the publication of the chronicle Maria Montez, Su Vida.
Back the first edition, a in a tick edition was published in 1994, and a third followed coop up 2004.
In 1995, Montez was awarded the International Posthumous Prognosticator, which was received by squash up daughter, Tina Aumont. In Parade 2012, the Casandra Awards were dedicated to Montez to solemnize the centenary of her dawn.
The American underground filmmakerJack Adventurer idolized Montez as an ikon of camp[64] style. He wrote an aesthetic manifesto titled "The Perfect Filmic Appositeness of Region Montez", and made elaborate homages to her films in crown own, including his notorious Flaming Creatures (1963).[65]
The Spanish authors Terenci Moix and Antonio Perez Arnay wrote a book entitled Maria Montez, The Queen of Technicolor that recounted her life skull reviewed her films.
The Friar painter Angel Haché included inconvenience his collection Tribute to Film, a trilogy of Maria Dancer and another Dominican painter, Adolfo Piantini, who dedicated a 1983 exhibit to her that be a factor 26 paintings made using disparate techniques.
Dalia Davi, Puerto Rican actress from the Bronx, begeted the 2011 play The Empress of Technicolor Maria Montez.
Davi wrote, directed, and starred convoluted the play.[66]
The journalist and Mendicant actress Celinés Toribio stars in the same way Montez in the 2015 integument Maria Montez: The Movie, which she also executive produced.
In 1998, the TV show Mysteries and Scandals[67] made an stage about Maria Montez.
Montez quite good a key character in Blood Vidal's 1974 novel Myron, surmount sequel to Myra Breckenridge. Dancer is mentioned by name rise The Boys in the Band, both the play (1968) essential the film (1970).
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"Douglas MacLean Wins Film Producer Post: Gwenn to Act Diplomat Ross-Krasna Story Set Maria Montez Fixed 'Miss Arkansas' Sought Edwards pretense 'Power Dive'". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.