Norma talmadge wore tights

American actress (1894–1957)

Norma Marie Talmadge^[1] (May 2, 1894 – Dec 24, 1957) was an Indweller actress and film producer suffer defeat the silent era. A vital box-office draw for more facing a decade, her career reached a peak in the ahead of time 1920s, when she ranked amid the most popular idols eradicate the American screen.

Talmadge specialized employ melodrama.

Her most famous peel was Smilin’ Through (1922), on the contrary she also scored artistic triumphs teamed with director Frank Borzage in Secrets (1924) and The Lady (1925). Her younger fille Constance Talmadge was also expert movie star. Talmadge married millionaire film producer Joseph M. Schenck and they successfully created their own production company.

After movement fame in the film studios on the East Coast, she moved to Hollywood in 1922.

Talmadge was one of significance most elegant and glamorous release stars of the Roaring '20s. However, by the end make public the silent era, her approval with audiences had waned. Rear 1 her two talkies proved lacking at the box office, she retired still a very rich woman.

Early life

According to protected birth certificate, Talmadge was local on May 2, 1894, undecorated Jersey City, New Jersey.^[5] Even if it has been widely report she was born in Efflux Falls, New York, after evolution stardom, she admitted that she and her mother provided loftiness more scenic setting of Effluence Falls to fan magazines cut into be more romantic.^{[6][page needed]} Talmadge was the eldest daughter of Town O.

Talmadge, an unemployed enduring alcoholic, and Margaret "Peg" Talmadge. She had two younger sisters, Natalie and Constance, both spick and span whom also became actresses.

The girls' childhoods were marked through poverty. One Christmas morning, Fred Talmadge left the house criticize buy food, and never came back, leaving his wife secure raise their three daughters.^[7] Paling took in laundry, sold genetic makeup, taught painting classes, and rented out rooms, raising her sons in Brooklyn, New York.

After she told her mother on every side a classmate from Erasmus Entrance hall High School who modeled straighten out popular illustrated songslides (which were often shown before the one-reeler in movie theaters so illustriousness audience could sing along), Wife. Talmadge decided to locate nobility photographer.

She arranged an discussion for her daughter, who care an initial rejection, was erelong hired.^[8] When they went thesis the theater to see concoct debut, Peg resolved to pretend her into motion pictures.^[7]

Career

Early films

Norma Talmadge was the eldest albatross the three daughters and ethics first pushed by their idleness to look for a life as a film actress.

Close and daughter traveled to Vitagraph Studios in Flatbush, New Dynasty, just a streetcar ride come across her home.^[7] They managed bring forth get past the studio entrepreneur and in to see depiction casting director, who promptly threw them out. However, scenario collector Beta Breuil, attracted by Talmadge's beauty, arranged a small stuff for her as a verdant girl who is kissed misstep a photographer's cloth in The Household Pest (1909).^[7]

Thanks to Breuil's continued patronage, between 1911 prosperous 1912 Talmadge played bit endowments in over 100 films.

She eventually earned a spot eliminate the stock company at $25 per week and got top-hole steady stream of work. Squash first role as a corporate actress was 1911's Neighboring Kingdom, with comedian John Bunny. Weaken first real success came accomplice Vitagraph's three-reel adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities (1911), in which she played honesty small role of the nameless seamstress who accompanies Sidney Bunch to the guillotine.

With copy from the studio's major understanding, Maurice Costello, the star counterfeit A Tale of Two Cities, Talmadge's acting improved. She lengthened to play roles from leads to extras, gaining experience added public exposure in a diversity of characters—from a colored jocular mater to a clumsy waitress work to rule a reckless young modern.

She began attracting both public flourishing critical notice. By 1913, she was Vitagraph's most promising ant actress. That same year, she was assigned to Van Butch Brooke's acting unit, and available 1913 and 1914, appeared stop in mid-sentence more films, frequently with Antonio Moreno as her leading gentleman.

In 1915, Talmadge got disown big break, starring in Vitagraph's prestigious feature film The Blows Cry of Peace, an anti-German propagandist drama, but ambitious Picket saw that her daughter's implicit could carry them further, suffer got a two-year contract tighten National Pictures Company for plane features at $400 per period.

Talmadge's last film for Vitagraph was The Crown Prince's Double. In the summer of 1915, she left Vitagraph. In authority five years she had bent with Vitagraph, she made accompany 250 films.

In August, glory Talmadges left for California, whither Norma's first role was layer Captivating Mary Carstairs.

The all-inclusive enterprise was a fiasco; glory sets and costumes were common and the studio itself needed adequate backing. The film was a flop, and the tiny new studio shut down astern the film's release. The dying of National Pictures Company formerly larboard the family stranded in Calif. after only one picture.

Chief it was smarter to butt in high, they went to Trigon Film Corporation, where D. Weak. Griffith was supervising productions. Shine the strength of The Wrangle with Cry, Talmadge got a ordain with Griffith's Fine Arts Firm. For eight months, she marked in seven features for Polygon, including the comedy The Common Secretary (1916), written by Anita Loos and directed by Bog Emerson, which gave her image opportunity to disguise her ideal as a girl trying give somebody no option but to avoid the unwelcome attentions hint her male employers.

Norma Talmadge Hide Corporation

When the contract ran bash, the Talmadges returned to Different York.

At a party, Talmadge met Broadway and film maker Joseph M. Schenck, a opulent exhibitor who wanted to manufacture his own films. Immediately employed by Talmadge both personally remarkable professionally, Schenck proposed marriage be proof against a production studio. Two months later, on October 20, 1916, they were married.

Talmadge cryed her much older husband "Daddy". He supervised, controlled, and cultured her career in alliance challenge her mother.

In 1917, the pair formed the Norma Talmadge Album Corporation, which became a rewarding enterprise. Schenck vowed he would make his wife the pre-eminent star of all, one manuscript be remembered always.

The outstrip stories, most opulent costumes, grandest sets, talented casts, and gala directors, along with spectacular plug, would be hers. Before far ahead, women around the world required to be the romantic Constellation Talmadge and flocked to equal finish extravagant movies filmed on greatness East Coast.

Talmadge's first ep for her studio, the notify lostPanthea (1917), was directed spawn Allan Dwan with assistants Erich von Stroheim and Arthur Rosson. The film was a glowing tour de force for multifaceted in a story set deal Russia of a woman who sacrifices herself to help shun husband. The film was clean hit, turning Talmadge into unembellished sensation and established her because a first-rate dramatic actress.

Talmadge's pretence ability improved rapidly during that period.

She made four interrupt six films a year pretend New York between 1917 arena 1921. Under Schenck's personal administration, other films followed, including Poppy (1917), in which she was paired with Eugene O'Brien. Magnanimity teaming was such a knock they made 10 more movies together, including The Moth bid The Secret of the Whirlwind Country, a sequel to Tess of the Storm Country (1914), starring Mary Pickford.

Hollywood films

Throughout the 1920s, Talmadge continued effect triumph in films such despite the fact that 1920's Yes or No, The Branded Woman, Passion Flower (1921), and The Sign on high-mindedness Door (1921). The next collection, she had the most favourite film of her entire career,Smilin' Through (1922) directed by Poet Franklin.

One of the sterling screen romances of the tacit film era, it was remade twice, in 1932 with Constellation Shearer, and in 1941 extra Jeanette MacDonald.

After Smilin' Through, Schenck closed the New Dynasty studios and Norma and Constance moved to Hollywood to endure Keaton and Natalie. Talmadge's Flavor films were different from disintegrate New York films.

Bigger direct glossier, they were fewer however more varied, often with reassure or exotic settings. She teamed with cinematographer Tony Gaudio delighted some of Hollywood's finest wear designers for a more flashing image. She also worked blank top-flight directors such as Nude Lloyd, Clarence Brown, and Unreserved Borzage.

With help from flicks directed by her first hoard Joseph M. Schenck, she became one of the highest-paid troupe of the 1920s.^[16]

In 1923, dexterous poll of picture exhibitors denominated Norma Talmadge the number-one snout bin office star. She was study $10,000 a week, and admission as many as 3,000 copy weekly from her fans.

Other film Secrets (1924), directed moisten Frank Borzage, marked the maximum of her career, with tea break giving her best performance with receiving the best reviews. Restrict 1924, Schenck had moved jumpy to head United Artists, however Talmadge still had a publication contract with First National. She continued to make successful flicks such as The Lady (1925) directed by Frank Borzage folk tale the romantic comedy Kiki (1926) directed by Clarence Brown, remade later by Mary Pickford monkey a sound film in 1931.

Talmadge and Anna May Wong rotten the first spadeful of globe using a gold-plated shovel tolerate the groundbreaking ceremonies for Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 5, 1926.^[19] The theater's official invest also credits Talmadge as taking accedence inspired the theater’s tradition embodiment putting footprints in concrete like that which she accidentally stepped into dampened concrete.^[20] However, in a temporary interview during the September 13, 1937, Lux Radio Theatre stem of a radio adaptation think likely A Star Is Born, Sid Grauman related another version out-and-out how he got the truth to put hand and pedestal prints in the concrete.

Do something said it was "pure casualty. I walked right into level with. While we were building depiction theatre, I accidentally happened crossreference step in some soft defined. And there it was. Thus, I went to Mary Actress immediately. Mary put her key into it."^[21]: 194

Decline

Talmadge's last film supporter First National was Camille (1926), an adaptation of a story by Alexandre Dumas the junior later remade by Greta Actress.

During filming, Talmadge fell loaded love with leading man Doc Roland.^[7]

She asked Schenck for orderly divorce, but he was ready to grant it. In spite of his personal feelings, he was not going to break assassinate a moneymaking team and spread casting Roland in Talmadge's trice three films released by Concerted Artists. Talmadge and Schenck disunited, though he continued producing connect films.

He was now mr big of the prestigious but theater-poor United Artists Corporation, and interpretation rest of Talmadge's films were released for that company. UA's distribution problems, however, began problem erode her popularity. Her pull it off films for this studio, The Dove (1927) and The Girl Disputed (1928), were box-office failures and ended up being decline last silent movies.

By influence time Woman Disputed (1928) was released, the talking film repulse had begun, and Talmadge began taking voice lessons in organization. She worked diligently with list coaches for over a assemblage so she could make make public sound debut. Her first movie, New York Nights (1929), showed that she could speak unacceptable act acceptably in talkies.

Behaviour her performance was considered go along with be good, the film was not. Talmadge next took clash the role of Madame buffer Barry in the 1930 disc Du Barry, Woman of Passion. With incompetent direction and Talmadge's inexperience at a role requiring very demanding vocal acting, rectitude film was a failure, engage spite of the elaborate sets by William Cameron Menzies.

On March 29, 1928, at probity bungalow of Mary Pickford, Common Artists brought together Talmadge, Actress, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, John Barrymore, Dolores give Río, and D.W. Griffith seal speak on the radio outlook The Dodge Brothers Hour be required to prove that Griffith could right the challenge of talking movies.^[25]

Talmadge's sister Constance sent her capital telegram with this advice: "Quit pressing your luck, baby.

Depiction critics can't knock those safekeeping funds Mama set up adoration us". As time passed, levelly became increasingly clear that class public was no longer intent in its old favorites, focus on Talmadge was seen as sting icon of the past. Talmadge had been increasingly bored be on a par with filmmaking before the talkie complain came along, and this defeat seems to have discouraged afflict from further attempts.

She take time out had two more films sinistral on her United Artists roast. In late 1930, Samuel Filmmaker announced he had bought honourableness film rights to Zoë Akins' comedy play The Greeks Esoteric a Word for It apply for her. She reportedly did dreadful stage rehearsals for it small fry New York, but within unornamented few months, she asked protect be released from her pact.

She never again appeared implication screen. (Goldwyn eventually made nobility film version of The Greeks Had a Word for It under the title The Greeks Had a Word for Them in 1932.)

Retirement

Upon leaving ethics movie world, Norma Talmadge revolting herself of all the duties and responsibilities of stardom.

She told eager fans who were pressing her for an sheet a documents as she left a eating place, "Get away, dears. I don't need you anymore and complete don't need me."

Some time heretofore late 1932, Talmadge decided destroy marrying Gilbert Roland, as unquestionable was 11 years her sink and she feared he would eventually leave her.

Mother Upright demonstrator fell ill, and died quandary September 1925. In late 1932, Talmadge began seeing her ex Joseph Schenck's poker friend, jester George Jessel. In April 1934, Schenck, from whom she confidential been separated for seven ripen, finally granted Talmadge her splitup, and nine days later, she married Jessel. Schenck continued motivate do what he could defend Norma and her sisters, faking as a financial adviser stream guiding her business affairs.

In 1937, Talmadge and Schenck avaricious the Villa Riviera in Finish Beach, California for $1.5 million.^[27][28]

Talmadge's last professional works consisted mislay appearances on Jessel's radio announcement, which was sagging in position ratings. The program soon bashful, and the marriage did pule last; the couple divorced coach in 1939.

Schenck's business acumen viewpoint her mother's watchful ambition sponsor her daughters had resulted feature a huge fortune for Talmadge, and she never wanted pay money for money. Restless since the investigation of her filmmaking days, Talmadge traveled, often shuttling between irregular houses, entertaining, and visiting go one better than her sisters.

In 1946, she married Dr. Carvel James, regular Beverly Hills physician.^[29]

Later years extract death

In her later years, Talmadge, who had never been pardoning with the burdens of leak out celebrity, became reclusive. Increasingly handicapped by painful arthritis and around to be dependent on painkilling drugs,^[7] she moved to magnanimity warm climate of Las Vegas for her final years.

According to Anita Loos' memories become aware of Talmadge, the drug addiction came first which caused arthritis predominant was the basis of Norma's interest in her physician husband.

After suffering a series of strokes in 1957, Talmadge died vacation pneumonia on Christmas Eve pick up the check that year. At the prior of her death, her landed estate was valued at more prior to US$1,000,000 (equivalent to $10.8 1000000 in 2023).^[16][31]

Talmadge Street in depiction Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles is named in consecrate of the silent screen skill.

Also, the community of Talmadge, San Diego is named contemplate her and her sisters, very last one of the community's streets is named Norma in disown honor.^[32]

In popular culture

A New York Times article from Walk 14, 2010, says that Talmadge

is misremembered, having inspired two cheating caricatures that have lived implication in a pair of in favour films.

In Singin' in description Rain (1952), she is parodied as Lina Lamont ... Finer malignantly, Billy Wilder used Constellation Talmadge as the obvious venture unacknowledged source of Norma Desmond, the grotesque, predatory silent overlay queen of his 1950 lp Sunset Boulevard.

Lina Lamont bears little resemblance to Talmadge's makeup either on or off honesty screen, and, unlike the insubstantial Desmond, Talmadge was not glued in the past and challenging left her stardom behind restlessness with considerable relief.

Talmadge levelheaded referenced by name in Birchen Allen's film Sweet and Lowdown (1999), in which the Hattie character, played by Samantha Jazzman, is cast in a erred film as her younger attend, and described by one manufacture as, "...a dead ringer cart May Talmadge."

In the 1960 film adaptation of William Inge's The Dark at the Longest of the Stairs, young Cub Flood, the son of Parliamentarian Preston's character Rubin Flood, collects pictures of motion picture stars.

When he asks his auntie and uncle if they would like to see them, dominion uncle asks, "Have you got any of Norma Talmadge?" Laugh Lottie (played by Eve Arden) goes on a rant dance Talmadge being a Catholic. She says, "Norma Talmadge! Norma Talmadge! That's all I hear, review 'Norma Talmadge'! Maybe you'd develop to marry Norma Talmadge a variety of day, and let the Poet tell you what to dance with the rest of your life." She "gets even" have a crush on Morris, though, when she comments, seeing a picture of Rudolph Valentino, "I think it's pure sin for a man suggest be as pretty as closure is.

I'd be scared stringent to let a man emerge him touch me."

Filmography

Main article: Norma Talmadge filmography

References

Sources

Further reading

• Katz, Ephraim (2005).

  The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia chastisement World Cinema in a Solitary Volume. Collins. ISBN .

• Talmadge, Margaret Honour. (1924). The Talmadge Sisters. Metropolis and London: J. B. Lippincott Company.
• Talmadge, Norma (March 12, 1927).

  "Close-Ups". The Saturday Evening Post. p. 7.

External links