| Lili
Darvas
Foto: Edith Barakovich (1896-1940)
1906
- 1974 |
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The actress Lili Darvas, born in Budapest (depending on the source
in 1906 or 1902) began her career at the theater, first in Budapest where
she made debut als Julia in "Romeo and Juliet" (26), later in Germany as
well where she played for Max Reinhardt.
She soon became a successful stage actress and she toured through Europe
in the 20s performing classics by Shakespeare, Goethe and others.
When she came to the USA she not only was successful on Broadway with
the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" but also took part in her first movie
"Camille" (26) at Paul Robeson's, Pauline Starke's and Anita Loos's side.
She and her husband, the famour writer Ferenc Molnar, were celebrated in
the USA and even a visit with the than US president Calvin Cooldige was
organised.
When she returned to Austria she continued her stage career, beside
it she appeared in one more movie - "Tagebuch der Geliebten" (35). The
movie war directed by Heinrich Kosterlitz who later became famous in the
USA as Henry Koster, the actors in the movie were Attila Hörbiger,
S.Z. Szakall and Frida Richard.
When Austria became integrated into the German Reich, Lili Darvas fled
to Switzerland because she had a Jewish background.
From there she went to the USA where she had good contacts thanks to
her engagements in the 20s and in 1944 she got the American citizenship.
There she was able to continue her work on stage and got offered thankful
roles. To her late heights at the theater belongs the nomination for the
Tony Award in 1971 for the play "Les Blancs".
From the 50s she also appeared regular in front of the camera, mostly
for TV productions of popular serials.
To these productions belong an episode of the serial "Studio One: The
Great Lady" (52), an episode of the serial "Danger: The Innocent and the
Guilty" (53), an episode of the serial "Justice: The Baker's Son" (54),
an episode of the serial "Appointment with Adventure: Dark Memory" (55),
an episode of the serial "Climax!: Flight 951" (55), "Meet Me in Las EVegas"
(56) with Cyd Charisse and Agnes Moorehead, an episode of the serial "The
United States Steel Hour: The Littlest Enemy" (58) and an episode of the
serial "The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen: Shadow of the Past" (59).
She continued her activity for television and few feature movies, among
them "Cimarron" (60) with Glenn Ford, Maria Schell and Anne Baxter, "Twenty-Four
Hours in a Woman's Life" (61), an episode of the serial "The Twilight Zone:
Long Distance Call" (61) and an episode of the serial "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.:
The Secret Sceptre Affair" (65).
Her last movie was "Szerelem" (71), for which she got a special award
at the film festivals of Cannes.
Her husband Ferenc Molnar wrote some plays especially for her, among
them "Olympia", "Riviera" and "The Girl from Trieste".
Other movies with Lili Darvas:
Serie Cosmopolitan Theatre: The
Beautiful Time" (51) Serie "Kraft Television Theatre: A Seacoast in Bohemia"
(51) Serie "Lux Video Theatre: Garneau '83" (52) Serie "Studio One: The
Deep Dark" (52) Serie "Studio One: A Candle for St. Jude" (52) Serie "Hallmark
Hall of Fame: The Lady of Liberty" (53) Serie "Armstrong Circle Theatre:
Black Wedding" (53) Serie "Armstrong Circle Theatre: Julie's Castgle" (53)
Serie "The Motorola Television Hour: Brandenburg Gate" (53) Serie "Center
Stage: Heart of a Clown" (54) Serie "Goodyear Television Playhouse: Star
in the Summer Night" (54) Serie "Goodyear Television Playhouse: My Lost
Saints" (55) Serie "Goodyear Television Playhouse: End of the Mission"
(55) Serie "Producers' Showcase: Reunion in Vienna" (55) Serie "Kraft Television
Theatre: The Beautiful Time" (55) Serie "The Philco Television Playhouse:
The Trees" (55) Serie "Climax!: Pale Horse, Pale Rider" (56) Serie "General
Electric Theater: Portrait of a Ballerina" (56) Serie "Studio One: A Man's
World" (56) Serie "Studio One: Portrait of a Citizen" (56) Serie "Matinee
Theatre: The American" (56) Serie "Goodyear Television Playhosue: First
Love" (57) Serie "The Kaiser Aluminum Hour: The Deady Silence" (57) Serie
"Studio One: Image of Fear" (58) Serie "Playhouse 90: Dark December" (59)
Serie "The DuPont Show with June Allyson: End of a Mission" (61) Serie
"Route 66: Shouler the Sky, My Lad" (62) Serie "Saints and Sinners: A Shame
for the Diamond Wedding" (62) Serie "The Nurses; Circle of Choice" (63)
Serie "The Good Guys: The Biggest Madre of Them All" (68) |
