Patricia Roc

Patricia Roc

Born: June 7, 1915
Died: December 30, 2003
in Hampstead, London, England, UK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945) and The Wicked Lady (1945), though she only made one film in Hollywood, Canyon Passage (1946). She also appeared in Millions Like Us (1943), Jassy (1945), The Brothers (1947) and When the Bough Breaks (1947).

She was employed by the studio of J. Arthur Rank, who called her "the archetypal British beauty" She achieved her greatest level of popularity in British films during the Second World War in escapist melodramas for Gainsborough Studios.

Roc began as a stage actress, debuting in the 1938 London production of Nuts in May, in which she was seen by Alexander Korda who gave her an uncredited bit in The Divorce of Lady X (1938) and her in a leading role as a Polish princess in The Rebel Son.

She had roles in The Gaunt Stranger (1939), The Mind of Mr. Reeder (1939), and The Missing People (1940). She had a bigger part in A Window in London (1940), the comedy Pack Up Your Troubles (1940), Dr. O'Dowd (1940), Three Silent Men (1940), It Happened to One Man (1940), and The Farmer's Wife (1941).

Her parts grew bigger: My Wife's Family (1941), Suspected Person (1942), Let the People Sing (1942), and We'll Meet Again (1943) with Vera Lynn.

Roc was top billed in Millions Like Us (1943) from Gainsborough Studios. It was a success and Gainsborough gave her another lead, as a nun interned by the Germans in Two Thousand Women (1944).

She appeared alongside two of Gainsborough's biggest stars, Margaret Lockwood and Stewart Granger in Love Story (1944), a big hit. Roc played the jealous rival of Margaret Lockwood. She later commented that although they were required to slap each other's faces, she and Lockwood were always the best of friends. Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945), with Granger and Phyllis Calvert, was another success.

Neither of them, however, did as well as The Wicked Lady (1945), where Roc played Lockwood's best friend. It was the most successful movie at the British box office in 1946. Roc's more overt sexuality in such films as The Wicked Lady was downplayed for the American market; her décolletage led US censors to call for retakes to de-emphasise it) and "the Goddess of Odeons", whilst Noël Coward said she was "a phenomenon" and "an unspoiled film star who can act".

She was also in Johnny Frenchman (1945). Co starring in that film was Ralph Michael who soon after divorced his wife Fay Compton; Roc was named in proceedings.

Her brief move to Hollywood to film Canyon Passage (1946) was a lend lease agreement between Rank Pictures and Universal Studios of British in return for American film actors. During filming, Roc was romantically linked with Ronald Reagan, while her US co-star Susan Hayward stated "that Limey glamour girl is a helluva dame."

Roc returned to Britain to make The Brothers (1947), a melodrama that was a commercial disappointment. She was in an expensive British-US co production So Well Remembered (1947) which was a hit in Britain but failed to recoup its cost. Jassy(1947), a melodrama with Lockwood, was a big hit. When the Bough Breaks (1947), another melodrama, performed reasonably well.

Movies for Patricia Roc...

Title: The Saint
Character: Madge Clarron
Released: October 4, 1962
Type: TV
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
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Bluebeard's 10 Honeymoons
Title: Bluebeard's 10 Honeymoons
Character: Vivienne
Released: April 2, 1960
Type: Movie
A murderer enriches his finances by marrying and then killing off a series of wealthy women.
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Title: No Hiding Place
Released: September 16, 1959
Type: TV
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.
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The House in the Woods
Title: The House in the Woods
Character: Carol Carter
Released: October 31, 1957
Type: Movie
A novelist and his wife go to stay at a cottage owned by a painter whose wife has just died.
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The Hypnotist
Title: The Hypnotist
Character: Mary Foster
Released: July 29, 1957
Type: Movie
Culver is a psychiatrist who uses hypnotism to treat his patients. When Carpenter, a test pilot, comes to see him complaining of blackouts that make his job difficult, Culver tries to mesmerise him into killing his wife.
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The Widow
Title: The Widow
Character: Diana
Released: August 1, 1955
Type: Movie
A woman falls in love with a race-car driver who two-times her for another girl.
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Cartouche
Title: Cartouche
Character: Donna Violante
Released: July 1, 1955
Type: Movie
The son of an ailing nobleman returns to France to clear his name and prove where the true guilt lies.
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Something Money Can't Buy
Title: Something Money Can't Buy
Released: July 9, 1952
Type: Movie
A British Army Officer returning to civilian life after WWII, starts a catering company with some of his ex-army pals.
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Circle of Danger
Title: Circle of Danger
Character: Elspeth Graham
Released: April 17, 1951
Type: Movie
An American comes to Britain to investigate the murky circumstances of his brother's death that occurred during a WW2 commando raid.
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Black Jack
Title: Black Jack
Character: Ingrid Dekker
Released: November 20, 1950
Type: Movie
A man who lost everything in the war now smuggles contraband into and out of Spain, but the law's closing in.
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Fugitive from Montreal
Title: Fugitive from Montreal
Character: Helen Bering
Released: November 17, 1950
Type: Movie
Pierre Chambrac, a French industrialist, and Canadian Paul Laforêt, two former brothers in arms, meet again by chance in Paris five years after the end of World War II. Pierre is engaged to a beautiful foreign young lady by the name of Helen Bering. He introduces her to his friend, which seems to trouble him. To his amazement, Helen and Paul disappear without notice. Pierre, who was beginning to feel jealous, sees his suspicion confirmed. He decides to fly to Montreal where he thinks the couple has taken refuge. Once there, he learns that his dear Helen is actually a criminal and that Paul is a policeman whose duty was to arrest her.
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The Man on the Eiffel Tower
Title: The Man on the Eiffel Tower
Character: Helen Kirby
Released: December 12, 1949
Type: Movie
A down-and-out student is hired to kill a wealthy woman. When someone else is suspected of the crime, the student taunts police until they realize that they may have to wrong man.
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Return to Life
Title: Return to Life
Character: Lieutenant Evelyne (segment "Le retour d'Antoine")
Released: September 14, 1949
Type: Movie
In France in 1946, the difficult return to civilian life of five deportees and prisoners of war after having lived through the hell of the Second World War.
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The Perfect Woman
Title: The Perfect Woman
Character: Penelope Belman
Released: May 23, 1949
Type: Movie
In need of cash, Roger Cavendish and his valet take a job escorting the perfect woman for a night on the town. She is in fact the robotic creation of Professor Belman, but it turns out rather to be the Professor's niece Penelope doing a pretty good imitation of the perfect Olga who winds up with them in the bridal suite at the Hotel Splendide.
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One Night with You
Title: One Night with You
Character: Mary Santell
Released: April 25, 1948
Type: Movie
Two strangers meet when they both miss their trains, and end up spending a penniless day and night together. An English version of 'It Happened One Night'.
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When The Bough Breaks
Title: When The Bough Breaks
Character: Lily Bates
Released: November 19, 1947
Type: Movie
The bewildered wife of a bigamist allows her child to be adopted and then regrets it.
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Jassy
Title: Jassy
Character: Dilys Helmar
Released: August 13, 1947
Type: Movie
In 19th century England, Jassy is a young Gypsy girl blessed with the gift of second sight. Pursued by superstitious villagers, she is rescued by the son of the owner of Mordelaine, a vast stately home. Unfortunately, his father's drinking and gambling threaten the very ownership of the house. Despite her humble origins as a servant girl, Jassy must try to use her talents to climb the social ladder and save Mordelaine for the man whom she loves.
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Holiday Camp
Title: Holiday Camp
Character: Herself
Released: August 5, 1947
Type: Movie
The Huggett family go to a holiday camp, and get involved in crooked card players, a murderer on the run, and a pregnant young girl and her boyfriend missing from home.
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So Well Remembered
Title: So Well Remembered
Character: Julie Morgan
Released: July 9, 1947
Type: Movie
A mill-owner's ambitious daughter almost ruins her husband's political career.
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The Brothers
Title: The Brothers
Character: Mary
Released: May 7, 1947
Type: Movie
An orphan wreaks havoc on a remote Scottish island when she causes an age-old feud to be reignited.
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Canyon Passage
Title: Canyon Passage
Character: Caroline Marsh
Released: July 17, 1946
Type: Movie
In 1850s Oregon, a businessman is torn between his love of two very different women and his loyalty to a compulsive gambler friend who goes over the line.
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The Wicked Lady
Title: The Wicked Lady
Character: Caroline
Released: November 15, 1945
Type: Movie
A married woman finds new thrills as a masked robber on the highways.
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Johnny Frenchman
Title: Johnny Frenchman
Character: Sue Pomeroy
Released: October 29, 1945
Type: Movie
The fisherman from a Cornish village have a friendly rivalry with the fishermen (and one formidable woman) from a French port. Then war comes and they must all rethink their petty differences.
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Madonna of the Seven Moons
Title: Madonna of the Seven Moons
Character: Angela Labardi
Released: January 22, 1945
Type: Movie
In the early part of this century, Maddelena a teenage Italian girl, is attacked whilst walking in the woods. The attack leaves her mentally scarred and our story flashes forward to the 1940s where Maddelena is still troubled. She disappears one day and her daughter vows to find her.
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Love Story
Title: Love Story
Character: Judy
Released: November 20, 1944
Type: Movie
After discovering that she has only a short time left to live, concert pianist Lissa travels to Cornwall for the final fling of her life. While there, she falls in love with young mineral prospector Kit, a man whose dark secret prevents him from fighting in the War. Unbeknownst to Lissa, however, Kit's affections are also much in demand from a rival of hers.
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Two Thousand Women
Title: Two Thousand Women
Character: Rosemary Brown
Released: November 6, 1944
Type: Movie
During the Second World War, three downed English airmen hide out with women's internment camp in France.
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Millions Like Us
Title: Millions Like Us
Character: Celia Crowson
Released: June 1, 1943
Type: Movie
When Celia Crowson is called up for war service, she hopes for a glamorous job in one of the services, but as a single girl, she is directed into a factory making aircraft parts. Here she meets other girls from all different walks of life and begins a relationship with a young airman.
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We'll Meet Again
Title: We'll Meet Again
Character: Ruth Cole
Released: January 18, 1943
Type: Movie
A young dancer trying to make it in London during World War II discovers that people like her singing voice, too. Although she's at first reluctant to sing, she finally does and becomes a star. She hooks up with a young musician who composes classical music and turns his nose up at this vulgar "popular" music, but she believes he can be a success at it and sets out to turn him around.
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Let the People Sing
Title: Let the People Sing
Character: Hope Ollerton
Released: August 11, 1942
Type: Movie
An out-of-work comedian persuades a drunken nobleman to join a protest against the closing of a village hall.
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Suspected Person
Title: Suspected Person
Character: Joan Raynor
Released: June 1, 1942
Type: Movie
After a $50,000 heist in New York, two of the suspected robbers walk free from the courtroom and they waste no time in heading to London in search of the missing loot. This means bad news for their former accomplice Jim Raynor, who has the money hidden away not least because they're not the only ones on his tail; Scotland Yard is also on the case...
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The Farmer's Wife
Title: The Farmer's Wife
Character: Sibley
Released: April 20, 1941
Type: Movie
Eden Philpotts' "provincial" comic novel and play The Farmer's Wife was first filmed in the silent era by Alfred Hitchcock. The 1940 talkie version was directed by Leslie Arliss, son of stage star George Arliss. The story remained the same: A middle-aged widower attempts to select a wife from his rural district's eligible females (Basil Sydney). Three unsuccessful dalliances later, the farmer settles for his housekeeper, whom the audience has been rooting for all along. The Farmer's Wife is a prime example of the sort of fare that struck a proper chord with British filmgoers, but whose appeal would be lost to any other nationality.
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It Happened to One Man
Title: It Happened to One Man
Character: Betty Quair
Released: October 12, 1940
Type: Movie
A film directed by Paul L. Stein.
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Three Silent Men
Title: Three Silent Men
Character: Pat Quentin
Released: September 7, 1940
Type: Movie
An inventor of a deadly weapon to be used against the allies is injured in a crash. Surgeon, Sir James (Sebastian Shaw) saves his life but learns of the inventors plot.
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Dr. O'Dowd
Title: Dr. O'Dowd
Character: Rosemary
Released: June 22, 1940
Type: Movie
Marius O'Dowd is an Irish doctor who is often drunk. His daughter-in-law Moira dies during a serious operation which O'Dowd is performing. Although O'Dowd is not to blame, his son Stephen suspects that Moira died due to O'Dowd operating while under the influence of alcohol, and accuses him of criminal neglect.
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A Window in London
Title: A Window in London
Character: Pat Thompson
Released: June 15, 1940
Type: Movie
A man witnesses a murder that isn't a murder, only to get involved with the magician and his wife who created the illusion. The insanely jealous magician husband eventually kills his wife, making for complications in life of unhappily married man who is now involved more than he ever thought he would be.
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Bits of Our Aircraft are Missing
Title: Bits of Our Aircraft are Missing
Character: (uncredited)
Released: January 1, 1940
Type: Movie
British Air Ministry short film highlighting the need for the public to stay clear of aircraft wreckage during World War II.
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The Missing People
Title: The Missing People
Character: Doris Bevan
Released: May 1, 1939
Type: Movie
27 well-to-do people have all vanished under similar circumstances. J.G. Reeder, an elderly gentleman who fancies himself a detective, decides to investigate the matter.
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The Gaunt Stranger
Title: The Gaunt Stranger
Character: Mary Lenley
Released: October 27, 1938
Type: Movie
A lawyer receives a note telling him that he'll be dead in 48 hours - and Scotland Yard must work fast to uncover the serial killer known as 'The Ringer'.
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The Rebel Son
Title: The Rebel Son
Character: Marina
Released: February 2, 1938
Type: Movie
During the 16th century the Cossacks and their Ukraine homeland is ruled by Poland. This is the story of the leader of the Cossacks and how his son was sent to study under the Poles to learn how to defeat them in battle. However, the son falls in love with the daughter of a Polish nobleman.
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The Divorce of Lady X
Title: The Divorce of Lady X
Character: Minor Role (uncredited)
Released: January 15, 1938
Type: Movie
The morning after a London barrister lets a mystery woman stay in his suite, a friend files for divorce.