Kay Kendall

Kay Kendall

Born: May 21, 1927
Died: September 6, 1959
From Wikipedia

Kay Kendall (21 May 1927 – 6 September 1959) was an English actress.

Kendall began her film career in the musical film London Town (1946). Though the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy film Genevieve (1953) brought her widespread recognition. Most prolific in British films, Kendall also achieved some popularity with American audiences, and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in the musical-comedy film Les Girls (1957). She began a romantic relationship with actor Rex Harrison after they appeared together in the comedy film The Constant Husband (1955), and they were married in 1957. Harrison learned from Kendall's doctor that she had been diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, a fact that was kept from Kendall, who believed she was suffering from an iron deficiency. The actor cared for Kendall until her death at age 32.

Movies for Kay Kendall...

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour
Title: Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour
Character: Scenes: Les Girls (Archive Footage)
Released: April 22, 2003
Type: Movie
This documentary short subject for DVD gives a look at the making of Cole Porter's MGM classic, "Les Girls". Hosted by Finnish film legend and star of "Les Girls", Taina Elg tells of working with Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall and George Cukor on one of the last great MGM musicals.
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Once More, with Feeling!
Title: Once More, with Feeling!
Character: Dolly Fabian
Released: February 11, 1960
Type: Movie
The wife of brilliant, but boisterous and ill-tempered conductor of the London Symphony puts up with his childishness, but the last straw is drawn when he begins an affair with a young pianist.
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The Reluctant Debutante
Title: The Reluctant Debutante
Character: Sheila Broadbent
Released: August 14, 1958
Type: Movie
While visiting her father, an American teenage girl is thrown into London society during its final "Debutante Season."
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Les Girls
Title: Les Girls
Character: Lady Sybil Wren
Released: October 3, 1957
Type: Movie
After writing a tell-all book about her days in the dance troupe "Barry Nichols and Les Girls", Sybil Wren is sued for libeling her fellow dancer Angele. A Rashômon style narrative presents the story from three points of view where Sybil accuses Angele of having an affair with Barry, while Angele insists that it was actually Sybil who was having the affair. Finally, Barry gives his side of the story.
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Simon and Laura
Title: Simon and Laura
Character: Laura Foster
Released: November 2, 1955
Type: Movie
Bickering married performers agree to star in a "Mr. and Mrs." TV show.
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Title: The Phil Silvers Show
Released: September 20, 1955
Type: TV
The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko of the United States Army. The series was created and largely written by Nat Hiken, and won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. The show is sometimes titled Sergeant Bilko or simply Bilko in reruns, and is very often referred to by these names, both on-screen and by viewers. The show's success transformed Silvers from a journeyman comedian into a star, and writer-producer Hiken from a highly-regarded behind-the-scenes comedy writer into a publicly recognized creator.
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Quentin Durward
Title: Quentin Durward
Character: Isabelle, Countess of Marcroy
Released: September 9, 1955
Type: Movie
During the 15th century reign of France's King Louis XI, a young Scottish man is sent by his English Lord to woo a French lady on his behalf. The plan goes awry when the young man falls in love with her. Based on the classic novel by Sir Walter Scott.
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The Constant Husband
Title: The Constant Husband
Character: Monica Hathaway
Released: April 21, 1955
Type: Movie
Charles Hathaway wakes up in West Wales with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. With the help of a Cardiff specialist he traces his life back to his gorgeous wife and their large London house, so all seems well with the world. But more detective work starts to uncover an alarming chain of further stunning wives and a way of going on that the new Charles finds pretty unacceptable.
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Abdullah's Harem
Title: Abdullah's Harem
Character: Ronnie
Released: February 1, 1955
Type: Movie
Abdullah, absolute monarch of a wealthy Middle Eastern country, has everything a man could want. Everything, that is, until he falls for a beautiful model. She rejects his advances, however, along with his offers of riches and luxury, chosing instead an officer in the king's army as her lover. As all of this is going on, the ruler is oblivious to the growing discontent among his subjects, and the threat of revolt that is increasing with each passing day.
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Doctor in the House
Title: Doctor in the House
Character: Isobel Minster
Released: March 23, 1954
Type: Movie
The first of the seven "Doctor" films, based on Richard Gordon's novels and released between 1954 and 1970. Simon Sparrow is a newly arrived medical student at St Swithin's hospital in London. Falling in with three longer-serving hopefuls he is soon immersed in the wooing, imbibing and fast sports-car driving that constitute 1950s medical training. There is, however, always the looming and formidable figure of chief surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt to remind them of their real purpose.
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Fast and Loose
Title: Fast and Loose
Character: Carol Hankin
Released: February 12, 1954
Type: Movie
An unmarried couple are forced to adopt a series of pretexts when they stay at a country inn together with only one spare room.
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Meet Mr. Lucifer
Title: Meet Mr. Lucifer
Character: Lonely Hearts Singer
Released: November 30, 1953
Type: Movie
A TV set given as a retirement present is sold on to different households causing misery each time.
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Street of Shadows
Title: Street of Shadows
Character: Barbara Gale
Released: October 16, 1953
Type: Movie
A saloon owner falls in love with the abused wife of a heavy gambler. He is snared into a web of intrigue when an ex-girlfriend is found murdered in his apartment.
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The Square Ring
Title: The Square Ring
Character: Eve
Released: July 13, 1953
Type: Movie
Boxing drama following the lives of 5 different fighters and their reasons for becoming boxers.
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Genevieve
Title: Genevieve
Character: Rosalind Peters
Released: May 28, 1953
Type: Movie
Two friends driving in the London to Brighton vintage car rally bet on which of them will be the first to arrive back home.
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Mantrap
Title: Mantrap
Character: Vera Corridge
Released: March 10, 1953
Type: Movie
Branded as criminally insane and incarcerated for a murder he did not commit, Speight escapes from the asylum, determined to clear his name. He befriends private detective Hugo Bishop who, convinced that the wrong man has been convicted, agrees to help find the real killer. They begin their search for the murderer closest to home where both Thelma Speight and her employer Maurice Jerrard were visibly distressed by the news of her husband's jailbreak. More than Speight's 'insanity' fuels their worries.
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It Started in Paradise
Title: It Started in Paradise
Character: Lady Caroline Frencham
Released: October 28, 1952
Type: Movie
A talented dress designer, who lets nothing get in the way of her success, rises in the fashion world then loses contact with her own humanity. She also forgets that you meet the same people on the way up as on the way down.
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Wings of Danger
Title: Wings of Danger
Character: Alexia LaRoche
Released: April 1, 1952
Type: Movie
A former pilot suffering from blackouts discovers that a fellow flyer is suspected of being mixed up with a web of smugglers. While searching for his missing buddy, he unwittingly becomes entangled in a morass of suspicion.
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Curtain Up
Title: Curtain Up
Character: Sandra Beverley
Released: March 12, 1952
Type: Movie
In a small town in the 1950s a repertory company meets on Monday morning to start rehearsing the following week's play. This is a ghastly thing written by the aunt of one of the theatre's directors. The producer doesn't try to hide his annoyance about it, and is further exercised when the authoress herself arrives to help. The cast have to try and sort out real-life problems that keep intruding as they wrestle with the play's dire dialogue.
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Lady Godiva Rides Again
Title: Lady Godiva Rides Again
Character: Sylvia Clark
Released: October 25, 1951
Type: Movie
Marjory Clark wins a competition in her Midland town and finds herself in a Festival of Britain procession as Lady Godiva - though not in the buff. This leads by way of a suspect beauty competition to the show-business world of London. But it could be a slippery slope for simple home-town Marge.
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Night and the City
Title: Night and the City
Character: Helen's Girl (uncredited)
Released: June 15, 1950
Type: Movie
Londoner Harry Fabian is a second-rate con man looking for an angle. After years of putting up with Harry's schemes, his girlfriend, Mary, becomes fed up when he taps her for yet another loan.
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Dance Hall
Title: Dance Hall
Character: Doreen
Released: June 8, 1950
Type: Movie
Episodic tale of four factory girls and their various romances at the local dance hall in Chiswick, London. Unusual at the time, the film tells its story from a feminine perspective. Today, it is mainly recognised for its post-war London atmosphere, with bomb sites, trolleybuses and rationing.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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London Town
Title: London Town
Character: Patsy
Released: September 30, 1946
Type: Movie
Veteran music-hall entertainer Jerry Stanford a washed-up comedian hopes to stage a comeback in a glittering new revue. Alas, Stanford is hired as merely an understudy and bit player. His faithful daughter pulls a few fast ones in order to get her dad back on stage in a starring role....
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Caesar and Cleopatra
Title: Caesar and Cleopatra
Character: Slave Girl (uncredited)
Released: December 11, 1945
Type: Movie
The aging Caesar finds himself intrigued by the young Egyptian queen. Adapted by George Bernard Shaw from his own play.
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Fiddlers Three
Title: Fiddlers Three
Character: Girl (uncredited)
Released: October 1, 1944
Type: Movie
Two British soldiers and a WREN take refuge at Stonehenge during a thunderstorm, they are struck by lightning and transported back to ancient Rome.
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Champagne Charlie
Title: Champagne Charlie
Character: Bit Part (uncredited)
Released: August 25, 1944
Type: Movie
A man from the countryside becomes London’s newest music hall sensation, and competes with a rival music hall performer for the audience’s attention.