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| Anny Ondra in Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail (1929). Two years later, she appeared in the film Die Grosse Sehnsucht with Louise Brooks' one time co-stars Fritz Kortner, Francis Lederer, and Fritz Rasp. |
From Wikipedia: Anny Ondra (May 15, 1903 – February 28, 1987) was a Czech film actress. She was born Anna Sophie Ondráková in Tarnów, Galicia, Austria–Hungary, now Poland, and died in Hollenstedt near Harburg, Germany.
The daughter of an Austro-Hungarian officer, she spent her childhood in Prague. She acted in Czech, Austrian and German comedies in the 1920s, and in some British dramas, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock's The Manxman and Blackmail (both 1929).
However, when Blackmail was remade with sound, Ondra's thick accent was considered unacceptable, so her dialogue was recorded by actress Joan Barry. Ondra made some forty more films in the sound era before retiring in the late-1930s.
She formed a production company, Ondra-Lamac-Films, with her first husband, director Karel Lamač. Lamač directed her in several silent films, acted with her in films directed by other filmmakers, and continued to work together after their divorce.
The daughter of an Austro-Hungarian officer, she spent her childhood in Prague. She acted in Czech, Austrian and German comedies in the 1920s, and in some British dramas, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock's The Manxman and Blackmail (both 1929).
However, when Blackmail was remade with sound, Ondra's thick accent was considered unacceptable, so her dialogue was recorded by actress Joan Barry. Ondra made some forty more films in the sound era before retiring in the late-1930s.
She formed a production company, Ondra-Lamac-Films, with her first husband, director Karel Lamač. Lamač directed her in several silent films, acted with her in films directed by other filmmakers, and continued to work together after their divorce.
On July 6, 1933, she married the boxer Max Schmeling, with whom she appeared in the film Knock-out (1935). They were married until her death in 1987.
She was great Blackmail, a multiplicity and range of emotions rendered convincingly.
ReplyDeleteAlso, any idea why do so many Hitchcock silents are so well preserved? Better film, cameras, or archival storage?
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