Vilma Banky

Vilma Banky

Born: January 9, 1901
Died: March 18, 1991
in Nagydorog, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]
From Wikipedia

Vilma Bánky (January 9, 1901 – March 18, 1991) was a Hungarian-born American silent film actress, although the early part of her acting career began in Budapest, spreading to France, Austria, and Germany. Banky was best known for her roles in The Eagle and The Son of the Sheik with Rudolph Valentino and several romantic teamings with Ronald Colman.

She was hailed as "The Hungarian Rhapsody" and was an immediate hit with American audiences. The New York Times remarked in its review of her first American film, The Dark Angel, that she "is a young person of rare beauty ... so exquisite that one is not in the least surprised that she is never forgotten by Hillary Trent" (the movie's leading male character).

It is commonly believed that Banky's thick Hungarian accent cut her career short with the advent of sound. However, she began losing interest in films and wanted to settle down with her husband actor Rod La Rocque. By 1928 she had begun announcing her intention to retire in a few years.

She married Rod La Rocque in 1927. The couple had no children and remained together until his death in 1969.

Vilma Bánky died on March 18, 1991, aged 90.

Movies for Vilma Banky...

Title: The Beverly Hillbillies
Character: Actress in Silent Film (archive footage)
Released: September 26, 1962
Type: TV
Jed Clampett's swamp is loaded with oil. When a wildcatter discovers the huge pool, Jed sells his land to the O.K. Oil Company and at the urging of cousin Pearl, moves his family to a 35-room mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
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The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Title: The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: May 24, 1961
Type: Movie
A documentary of Hollywood's first great Latin Lover, the contradictions in his personal life, and his premature death.
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The Golden Twenties
Title: The Golden Twenties
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: April 8, 1950
Type: Movie
Feature-length compilation of 1920s newsreel footage, with commentary about news, sports, lifestyles, and historical figures.
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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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Every woman's longing
Title: Every woman's longing
Character: Mizzi
Released: May 17, 1930
Type: Movie
Tony, a prosperous Italian vineyardist in California, advertises for a young wife, passing off a photograph of his handsome hired man, Buck, as himself.
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A Lady to Love
Title: A Lady to Love
Character: Lena Shultz
Released: February 28, 1930
Type: Movie
Middle-aged Napa Valley grape-grower Tony posts a marriage proposal to San Francisco waitress Lena enclosing a photo of his handsome younger brother Buck. When she gets there she overlooks his duplicity and marries him. Then she falls in love with Buck.
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This Is Heaven
Title: This Is Heaven
Character: Eva Petrie
Released: June 22, 1929
Type: Movie
This film was released in both silent and sound versions.
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The Awakening
Title: The Awakening
Character: Marie Ducrot
Released: November 17, 1928
Type: Movie
A French country lass Marie Ducrot, name is "mud" after she is compromised by a German soldier . Turning to religion, Banky becomes one of the "sisters in white" in the field hospitals of World War 1. THE AWAKENING was nominated by the Academy for its Art Direction in the first transitional year of the talkies. A vast number of films from this year are lost and this is no exception. No print or negative materials are known to exist at this time. William Cameron Menzies received his third nomination for this film, having received two the prior year and winning for both.
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Two Lovers
Title: Two Lovers
Character: Donna Leonora de Vargas
Released: March 23, 1928
Type: Movie
Set during the 16th-century Spanish occupation of Flanders, the story concentrates on the fiercely patriotic Mark Van Ryke (Colman). Donning the guise of "Leatherface," a swashbuckling masked avenger, Van Ryke performs his derring-do on behalf of the Prince of Orange (Nigel de Brulier). Naturally, Van Ruke considers beautiful Spanish aristocrat Donna Leonora de Vargas (Vilma Banky) to be a bitter enemy, and the feeling is mutual. To no one's surprise, however, Van Ryke and Donna Leonara eventually fall in love (hence the title). The pulse-pounding climax finds Van Ryke riding hell-for-leather through a rainstorm to warn the Flemish troops about the Spaniards' plans to burn the city of Ghent to the ground. Two Lovers was based on Madame Orczy's novel Leatherface, and adapted for the screen by Alice Duer Miller.
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The Circus: Premiere
Title: The Circus: Premiere
Character: Self
Released: January 13, 1928
Type: Movie
Footage from the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's 1928 film 'The Circus'.
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The Magic Flame
Title: The Magic Flame
Character: Bianca, the Aerial Artist
Released: September 17, 1927
Type: Movie
The Magic Flame (1927) is a feature film directed by Henry King, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and based on the play Konig Harlekin by Rudolph Lothar. George Barnes was nominated at the 1st Academy Awards for Best Cinematography. The film promoted itself as the Romeo and Juliet of the circus upon its release.
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The Night of Love
Title: The Night of Love
Character: Princess Marie
Released: January 22, 1927
Type: Movie
Montero, son of a Gypsy leader, is about to take a bride according to primitive ritual, when the Duke de la Garda demands his right as feudal lord--to take the bride to his castle for a night. Rather than accede to the duke's advances, the girl chooses death by her own hand. Montero swears vengeance.....
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The Winning of Barbara Worth
Title: The Winning of Barbara Worth
Character: Barbara Worth
Released: October 14, 1926
Type: Movie
While building an irrigation system for a Southwestern desert community, an engineer vies with a local cowboy for the affections of a rancher's daughter.
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The Son of the Sheik
Title: The Son of the Sheik
Character: Yasmin, André's Daughter
Released: September 5, 1926
Type: Movie
Ahmed, son of Diana and Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl who fronts her father's gang of mountebanks. She and Ahmed meet secretly until one night when her father and the gang capture the son of the sheik, torture him, and hold him for ransom.
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The Eagle
Title: The Eagle
Character: Mascha Troekouroff
Released: November 8, 1925
Type: Movie
Vladimir Dubrouvsky, a lieutenant in the Russian army, catches the eye of Czarina Catherine II. He spurns her advances and flees, and she puts out a warrant for his arrest, dead or alive. Vladimir learns that his father's lands have been taken by the evil Kyrilla Troekouroff, and his father dies. He dons a black mask, and becomes the outlaw The Black Eagle. He enters the Troekouroff household disguised as a French instructor for Kyrilla's daughter Mascha. He is after vengeance, but instead falls in love with Mascha.
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The Dark Angel
Title: The Dark Angel
Character: Kitty Vane
Released: September 27, 1925
Type: Movie
Alan Trent (Ronald Colman), his cousin Gerald Shannon (Wyndham Standing) and neighbor Kitty Vane (Vilma Bánky) have grown up together, as close playmates When World War I starts, both Alan and Gerald enlist in the British Army as officiers, and Kitty sees them off to war. Many months later, Alan and Gerald come back to Kitty, on a short furlow. Alan and Kitty reveal their love for each other. Gerald (who's in love with Kitty, too) congratulates his friends. But before Kitty and Alan can arrange to be married the next day, the furlow is cut short and both men head back to the front lines. Weeks later, Gerald will not give Alan leave to marry Kitty. Still arguing, both men volunteer for a reconiscience raid into enemy lines, where a grenade goes off near Alan and appears to kill him. Gerald and Kitty mourn Alan's death. After the war ends, Gerald and Kitty become engaged to be married.
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King of the Circus
Title: King of the Circus
Released: May 23, 1924
Type: Movie
Directed by Édouard-Émile Violet.
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The Portrait
Title: The Portrait
Released: October 2, 1923
Type: Movie
Three men fall in love with a woman from a window photograph. When they find her living as a recluse in an isolated Hungarian mansion, they decide against a visit because she wouldn't live up to their idealized images of her.
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Galathea
Title: Galathea
Released: October 22, 1922
Type: Movie