There just aren't actresses around like these, anymore, nor with names like these. The one on top is Rafaella Ottiano, best known for the 1936 MGM horror film, "The Devil Doll," which also featured Lionel Barrymore and Maureen O'Sullivan. The one underneath her is Frieda Inescourt, whom I recently saw give her all, along with Beverly Garland, in "The Alligator People" (1959), and who was in Metro's 1940 version of "Pride And Prejudice" (which I think Maureen was also in, playing the beautiful Jane Bennett.) Frieda's signature film, with her stern, clipped tones, and imperial walk and manner, were highlighted in 1943's "The Return Of The Vampire," with Bela Lugoisi, and, in her screen debut, Nina Foch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She played--another great name--Lady Jane Ainsley. Again, you cannot make these names up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But such names! They just roll off the tongue. And they are just as exotic on screen as suggested. Pity there are none such performers around today as these, but then elegance, darlings, has gone a bit of the wayside, hasn't it???????????????????????????????
I just LOVE Rafaella and Frieda. They could be sisters. Too bad they weren't cast as such.
They have to be seen, to be believed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my favorites has to be “Hermione Gingold”
ReplyDeleteOh and “Tallulah Bankhead”!!
Bonita Granville! That’s who I was trying to think of!
ReplyDeleteFrom Now, Voyager
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
I loved her in "Now, Voyager."
But you have to see her, at 12,
in 1936's "These Three." Truyly
chilling!