Vilma Banky

Vilma Banky was born Vilma Konsics Bánky January 9 1898, in Nagydorog, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary). She began appearing in films in 1919, her first being shot in Germany under the direction of Carl Boese. On a trip to Budapest in 1925, producer Samuel Goldwyn discovered Vilma and signed her to a contract. She left for America shortly after that. Upon her arrival in Hollywood she was immediately promoted as "The Hungarian Rhapsody", and was an immediate hit with American audiences.

Vilma appeared opposite silent greats Rudolph Valentino in The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926) and Ronald Colman in a series of love stories, including The Dark Angel and The Winning of Barbara Worth. It is commonly believed that her thick Hungarian accent cut her career short with the advent of sound. However, as early as 1928 she had begun announcing her intention to retire from the screen. Her marriage to Rod La Rocque in 1927 (til his death in 1969) satisfied her desire to have a quiet home life and by 1930, after 26 films she was virtually retired. Vilma died at age 93.

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