Christened Ann Veronica Lahiff in New York City on November 19, 1903, Nancy Carroll began her acting career in Broadway musicals.
Her first film was the silent
Ladies Must Dress (1927). Between 1928 and 1929 she made thirteen films including her first talkie,
Shopworn Angel, where she says only two words and is heard singing the film's theme song, and
Easy Come, Easy Go (1928), co-starring Richard Dix, the film that helped make her a star. In 1930 she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for
The Devil's Holiday. Among her other well liked films are
Hot Saturday (1932) with Cary Grant and Randolph Scott,
Broken Lullaby (1932) directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and
The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933), directed by James Whale.
Nancy was reported to have received more fan mail than any of her Hollywood peers of the same era. However, while under contract to Paramount, Nancy earned a reputation as difficult and temperamental, usually not agreeing with the roles being offered. Consequently, in spite of her ability to successfully handle comedy, melodrama and musicals, as well as garnering considerable praise by the critics and public, she was released by the studio. She joined Columbia in the mid-thirties, but was unable to regain the momentum she had earlier in the decade.
Though I'm certainly not sure her private live shaped her aforementioned attitude, this news item that appeared in the New York Times for September 5 1935, would indicate things were far from stable on the home front.
NANCY CARROLL SUES.Asks Own Divorce in Nevada From Mallory, Already Re-wed.CARSON CITY, Nev., Sept. 5 Nancy Carroll, motion-picture star, filed suit for a Nevada divorce here today, charging the already re-married Bolton Mallory with non-support and cruelty. Apparently not completely satisfied as to the legality of the Mexican divorce obtained by Mr. Mallory prior to his recent marriage to 14-year-old Carlota Lobato
in Mexico, the actress has resided on a guest ranch south of Reno for the last six weeks, determined to obtain her own divorce decree. Miss Carroll and Mr. Mallory, to whom she was married in January, 1931, have been separated for about a year and a half. Mr. Mallory, former editor of Life, started his divorce proceedings against Miss Carroll in Ometepec
, State of Guerrero, Mexico. He alleged incompatibility. He met the present Mrs. Mallory about three months ago in a restaurant owned by her father.What a charmer he was.
Nancy retired from Hollywood in 1938 after 37 films, returned to the stage, and starred in the early television series The Aldrich Family in 1950. While performing on Broadway in 1965, she was found dead of a heart attack after failing to arrive at the theater for a performance.
She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1719 Vine Street.
Photoplay - September, 1929
Motion Picture Classic - April, 1930
Among the elephants.
They appeared together in five films.
Publicity still from 1928's
Manhattan Cocktail.
Nancy Carroll - What do you think - Allure?
Motion Picture Classic, January 1931 - Artist: Marland Stone
Motion Picture Classic, April 1931 - Artist: Marland Stone
Motion Picture Classic, July 1931 - Artist: Marland Stone
Movie Classic, March 1933
Movie Classic, April 1933 - just because it involves a zoo, this is not one for the kiddies.
Photoplay, July 1933 - though late in her career, Marion is still receiving star treatment with a color ad, quite a rarity for movie ads in the film publications of the day. Strangely, the illustration looks more twenties than thirties.
I am guessing this is a publicity still image from The Divorcee, but I don't recall a scene exactly like this in the film. However, given the title of the picture and them both wielding weapons...
Beautiful example of a hand tinted J. Beagles & Co. embossed card from Great Britain.
Una Merkel
Motion Picture Classic, December 1930
