Selena Royle

Selena Royle

Born: November 6, 1904
Died: April 23, 1983
in New York City, New York, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Selena Royle (November 6, 1904 – April 23, 1983) was an American actress (of stage, radio, television and film), and later, an author. Royle was born in New York City to playwright Edwin Milton Royle and actress Selena Fetter (April 12, 1860 - May 10, 1955). She had an older sister, Josephine Fetter Royle (1901–1992).

Her mother recounted in a newspaper article that she used to take Selena along with her to her rehearsals and performances. One night, then seven-year-old Selena went missing. While the mother frantically searched for her, holding up act two, the audience became restless. The youngster finally turned up - she had gone on stage dressed in her mother's second-act costume; she made a bow, much to the audience's amusement. She later remarked, "And that is the first time I was ever on stage, and I liked it so well I stayed."

Her father wrote the 1921 Broadway play Lancelot and Elaine to provide both her and sister Josephine with their first professional roles, as Guinevere and Elaine respectively. Eventually, she landed a part on her own in the 1923 Theatre Guild production of Peer Gynt, with Joseph Schildkraut, and became a respected Broadway actress. She made one film in the 1930s, Misleading Lady, but otherwise worked on the stage and on radio.

Royle began her radio career in 1926 or 1927 and performed "almost continuously since", according to a 1939 newspaper item.

Her body of work includes playing the title role in Hilda Hope, M.D. She also played Martha Jackson in Woman of Courage, Mrs. Allen in Against the Storm, Joan in The O'Neills, and Mrs. Gardner in Betty and Bob, and appeared in Kate Hopkins.

In the 1940s, she returned to film and had a successful run, mainly playing maternal characters such as the bereaved mother of The Fighting Sullivans (1944), mother to Jane Powell in the big screen adaptation of A Date with Judy (1948) and the title character's mother opposite Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc (1948).

She made several appearances on early television. However, in 1951, when she refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. She sued the American Legion, which had published Red Channels, in which her name was listed, and won but her acting career ended. She made only three more roles, the last being Murder Is My Beat (1955).

She also wrote several books, including Guadalajara: as I Know It, Live It, Love It (which went through several editions) and a couple of cookbooks, and some magazine articles. She was the "radio editor" of the short-lived New York periodical Swank.

Movies for Selena Royle...

That's Entertainment!
Title: That's Entertainment!
Character: (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: June 21, 1974
Type: Movie
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
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Murder Is My Beat
Title: Murder Is My Beat
Character: Beatrice Abbott
Released: February 27, 1955
Type: Movie
Mr. Dean's body is found face down in the fireplace, burned beyond recognition. Nightclub-singer Eden Lane is convicted of the crime. She is escorted to prison by one of the arresting detectives when she convinces him that she just spotted the murderer outside their train.
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Robot Monster
Title: Robot Monster
Character: Mother
Released: June 25, 1953
Type: Movie
Ro-Man, an alien robot who greatly resembles a gorilla in a diving helmet, is sent to earth to destroy all human life. Ro-Man falls in love with one of the last six remaining humans, and struggles to understand how his programming can instruct him to kill her while his heart demands that he can't.
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Come Fill the Cup
Title: Come Fill the Cup
Character: Mrs. Dolly Copeland
Released: October 24, 1951
Type: Movie
Alcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley Dolan. After six years on the wagon he gets his job back and devotes himself to other recovering alcoholics.
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He Ran All the Way
Title: He Ran All the Way
Character: Mrs. Dobbs
Released: June 20, 1951
Type: Movie
A crook on the run hides out in an innocent girl's apartment.
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Branded
Title: Branded
Character: Mrs. Lavery
Released: November 3, 1950
Type: Movie
A gunfighter takes part in a scheme to bilk a wealthy cattle family out of half a million dollars by pretending to be their son, who was kidnapped as child.
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The Big Hangover
Title: The Big Hangover
Character: Kate Mahoney
Released: May 26, 1950
Type: Movie
A young law school graduate is hired by a prestigious firm, but he neglects to inform them he is allergic to even a single whiff of alcohol.
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The Damned Don't Cry
Title: The Damned Don't Cry
Character: Patricia Longworth
Released: May 13, 1950
Type: Movie
Fed up with her small-town marriage, a woman goes after the big time and gets mixed up with the mob.
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The Heiress
Title: The Heiress
Character: Elizabeth Almond
Released: October 6, 1949
Type: Movie
Dull and plain Catherine lives with her emotionally distant father, Dr. Sloper, in 1840s New York. Her days are empty — filled with little more than needlepoint. Enter handsome Morris Townsend, a dashing social climber with his eye on the spinster's heart and substantial inheritance.
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You're My Everything
Title: You're My Everything
Character: Mrs. Adams
Released: July 22, 1949
Type: Movie
In 1924, stage-struck Boston blueblood Hannah Adams picks up musical star Tim O'Connor and takes him home for dinner. One thing leads to another, and when Tim's show rolls on to Chicago a new Mrs. O'Connor comes along as incompetent chorus girl. Hollywood beckons, and we follow the star careers of the O'Connor family in silents and talkies.
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My Dream Is Yours
Title: My Dream Is Yours
Character: Freda Hofer
Released: April 15, 1949
Type: Movie
Conceited singer Garry Mitchell refuses to renew his radio contract, so agent Doug Blake decides to find a new personality to replace him. In New York, he finds Martha Gibson, a single mother with a great voice. He arranges for her to move to Hollywood, but then has a problem trying to sell her to the show's sponsor. Doug tries every trick he can think of to make Martha a star, and as the two work more closely, he falls in love with her. Complicating matters further, Martha meets and becomes attracted to Garry.
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Bad Boy
Title: Bad Boy
Character: Judge Florence Prentiss
Released: February 22, 1949
Type: Movie
A lawman tries to find the source of a juvenile delinquent's bad behavior.
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Joan of Arc
Title: Joan of Arc
Character: Isabelle d'Arc, Joan's Mother
Released: December 22, 1948
Type: Movie
In the 15th Century, France is a defeated and ruined nation after the One Hundred Years War against England. The fourteen-year-old farm girl Joan of Arc claims to hear voices from Heaven asking her to lead God's Army against Orleans and crowning the weak Dauphin Charles VII as King of France. Joan gathers the people with her faith, forms an army, and conquers Orleans.
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Moonrise
Title: Moonrise
Character: Aunt Jessie
Released: October 1, 1948
Type: Movie
Stigmatized from infancy by the fate of his criminal father, a man is bruised and bullied until one night, in a fit of rage, he kills his most persistent tormentor. As the police close in around him, he makes a desperate bid for the love of the dead man’s fiancée, a schoolteacher who sees the wounded soul behind his aggression.
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A Date with Judy
Title: A Date with Judy
Character: Mrs. Foster
Released: July 29, 1948
Type: Movie
Best friends Judy and Carol compete for the affection of an older man during their high school dance. As Carol tries to rekindle Judy's relationship with Carol's bumbling brother, Oogie, Judy suspects that her father is having an affair with a beautiful dance instructor. The two girls team up to expose Judy's father -- who is only taking innocent dance lessons.
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Smart Woman
Title: Smart Woman
Character: Mrs. Wayne
Released: April 30, 1948
Type: Movie
A crusading DA falls for a defense attorney with a criminal past.
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Summer Holiday
Title: Summer Holiday
Character: Mrs. Essie Miller
Released: April 15, 1948
Type: Movie
Danville, Connecticut at the turn of the century. Young Richard Miller lives in a middle-class neighborhood with his family. He is in love with the girl next-door, Muriel, but her father isn't too happy with their puppy-love, since Richard always share his revolutionary ideas with her.
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You Were Meant for Me
Title: You Were Meant for Me
Character: Cora Mayhew
Released: January 28, 1948
Type: Movie
A bandleader falls in love and marries a small town girl.
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Cass Timberlane
Title: Cass Timberlane
Character: Louise Wargate
Released: November 6, 1947
Type: Movie
Judge Cass Timberlane marries a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Virginia Marshland. A baby is stillborn and she turns more and more to attorney friend of of Cass' Brad Criley. While quarreling the Judge tells Virginia to stay with Brad, but when she becomes sick he brings her home.
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The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Title: The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Character: Sairy MacBean
Released: August 4, 1947
Type: Movie
A mysterious Civil War veteran courts a Missouri farmer's daughter amid postwar unrest.
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Courage of Lassie
Title: Courage of Lassie
Character: Mrs. Merrick
Released: November 8, 1946
Type: Movie
Bill's separated from his litter, making friends with the wild creatures until he's found and adopted by young Kathie. An accident separates him from her, and he's drafted into K-9 duty in the trenches until battle fatigue takes its toll and he turns vicious. And even though he finds his way back home, he may be condemned as a killer.
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Gallant Journey
Title: Gallant Journey
Character: Mrs. Zachary Montgomery
Released: September 24, 1946
Type: Movie
Director William A. Wellman adds another to his long line of salutes-to-aviation films in this bio of an aviation pioneer, John Montgomery (Glenn Ford.) In 1883 he built a practical glider despite the opposition of his friends, who thought he was crazy, and of his family, who were afraid that his dreams of flying would hurt his father's political ambitions. He pursues his education at Santa Clara University where the Jesuits lend a helping and understanding hand. An earthquake destroys what appears to be a working model for an airplane, but a gold-sorting machine Montgomery invented, and then neglected, promises to provide for his financial needs to keep working on his aircraft until he gets involved in costly lawsuits defending his invention.
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Till the End of Time
Title: Till the End of Time
Character: Mrs. Kincheloe
Released: July 23, 1946
Type: Movie
Three former marines have a hard time readjusting to civilian life. Perry can't deal with the loss of the use of his legs. William is in trouble with bad debts. And Cliff can't decide what he wants to do with his life, although he gets encouragement from war widow Pat Ruscomb.
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The Green Years
Title: The Green Years
Character: Mama Leckie
Released: July 4, 1946
Type: Movie
An orphaned young boy is guided by his great-grandfather and strives to go to university to become a doctor. However, the boy's harsh grandfather stands in his way.
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Night and Day
Title: Night and Day
Character: Kate Porter
Released: July 2, 1946
Type: Movie
Swellegant and elegant. Delux and delovely. Cole Porter was the most sophisticated name in 20th-century songwriting. And to play him on screen, Hollywood chose debonair icon Cary Grant. Grant stars for the first time in color in this fanciful biopic. Alexis Smith plays Linda, whose serendipitous meetings with Porter lead to a meeting at the alter. More than 20 of his songs grace this tail of triumph and tragedy, with Grant lending is amiable voice to "You're the Top", "Night and Day" and more. Monty Woolley, a Yale contemporary of Porter, portrays himself. And Jane Wyman, Mary Martin, Eve Arden and others provide vocals and verve. Lights down. Curtain up. Showtune standards embraced by generations are yours to enjoy in "Night and Day."
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No Leave, No Love
Title: No Leave, No Love
Character: Mrs. Hanlon
Released: March 10, 1946
Type: Movie
A soldier returns with his pal from fighting in the Pacific during World War II only to discover his fiancee has married someone else. However, he falls in love with a woman at the hotel at which he is staying.
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The Harvey Girls
Title: The Harvey Girls
Character: Miss Bliss
Released: January 18, 1946
Type: Movie
On a train trip out west to become a mail-order bride, Susan Bradley meets a cheery crew of young women traveling out to open a "Harvey House" restaurant at a remote whistle-stop.
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Main Street After Dark
Title: Main Street After Dark
Character: 'Ma' Abby Dibson
Released: January 12, 1945
Type: Movie
A police detective (Edward Arnold) uses fluorescent powder to catch a pickpocket (Selena Royle) and her gang.
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This Man's Navy
Title: This Man's Navy
Character: Maude Weaver
Released: January 4, 1945
Type: Movie
During World War II, Chief Aviation Pilot Ned Trumpet is in charge of an airship at Lakehurst, New Jersey naval base. Trumpet orders an unauthorized and premature attack on a German submarine but the bomb misses and the submarine fires back, hitting the airship. Trumpet takes over the controls and sinks the submarine, The pilot faces a court-martial for disobeying orders but the older man takes the blame for his actions. Weaver transfers to the Ferry Command, and while on assignment in Burma, his aircraft crashes in Japanese territory. Trumpet rushes to the scene with a rescue team. Both are successfully brought out and are decorated for their heroism. Afterward, Weaver indicates that he will be returning to the lighter-than-air service in Lakehurst, to reunite with his "father".
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Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Title: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Character: Mrs. Reynolds
Released: November 15, 1944
Type: Movie
In the wake of Pearl Harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a secret bombing mission which will take the war to the Japanese homeland.
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Mrs. Parkington
Title: Mrs. Parkington
Character: Mattie Trounson
Released: October 12, 1944
Type: Movie
In this family saga, Mrs. Parkington recounts the story of her life, beginning as a hotel maid in frontier Nevada where she is swept off her feet by mine owner and financier Augustus Parkington. He moves them to New York, tries to remake her into a society woman, and establishes their home among the wealthiest of New York's high society. Family and social life is not always peaceful, however, and she guides us, in flashbacks, through the rises and falls of the Parkington family fortunes.
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The Fighting Sullivans
Title: The Fighting Sullivans
Character: Mrs. Alleta Sullivan
Released: February 3, 1944
Type: Movie
The lives of a close-knit group of brothers growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression and of World War II and their eventual deaths in action in the Pacific theater are chronicled in this film based on a true story.
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Stage Door Canteen
Title: Stage Door Canteen
Character: Selena Royle
Released: June 24, 1943
Type: Movie
A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theater and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. The soldier meets a pretty young hostess and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance
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The Misleading Lady
Title: The Misleading Lady
Character: Alice Connell
Released: April 15, 1932
Type: Movie
A scheming socialite meets her match in the out-of-touch wildlife explorer she ventures to ensnare.