Anita Page

Infobox actor
name = Anita Page


caption =
birthname = Anita Pomares
birthdate = birth date|1910|08|04
location = Flushing, New York, United States
deathdate = death date and age|2008|09|06|1910|08|04
deathplace = Los Angeles, California, United States
yearsactive = 1925 - 1936, 1963, 1996, 2000-2008
occupation = Actress, singer
spouse = Nacio Herb Brown (1934-1935)
Hershel A. House (1937-1991)
homepage = http://www.anitapage.com/
awards = Walk of Fame - Motion Picture
6104 Hollywood Blvd

Anita Pomares, better known as Anita Page (August 4 1910 – September 6 2008), was an American film actress and, at the time of her death, was one of a few people surviving to have acted as an adult (albeit young) in silent films (Barbara Kent, Dorothy Janis, and Miriam Seegar are among the handful of others) to live into the 21st century. She was also the last living attendee of the very first Academy Awards in 1929.

Rise to stardom

Page entered films via "A Kiss For Cinderella" in 1925. She and her family were very close to Betty Bronson's family, and she got the part through Betty. After a few small but well received parts, was offered a contract with MGM Studios. MGM moulded her into one of their biggest female stars of the silent era, pairing her with such popular actors as Ramon Novarro and William Haines. Her performances in "Our Dancing Daughters" (1928) opposite Joan Crawford (with whom she appeared in three films), and "The Broadway Melody" (1929) opposite Bessie Love were her greatest successes of the period, and her popularity allowed her to make a smooth transition into talking pictures.

She was the leading lady to Lon Chaney, Buster Keaton, Robert Montgomery, and Clark Gable (among others) and during the early 1930s, she was one of Hollywood's busiest actresses. She was involved briefly with Gable romantically during that time. At the height of her popularity, she was receiving more fan mail than any other female star, with the exception of Greta Garbo, and received multiple marriage proposals from Benito Mussolini in the mail.

One of her finest roles was as the prostitute, Jenny LeGrand, in the 1932 pre-Code movie, "Skyscraper Souls", which starred Warren William and a young Maureen O'Sullivan.

Her body was featured in a poster labeling her "The Ideal Movie Star", which discussed her body parts and measurements, and another actress who possessed one comparable for each.

Retirement

When her contract expired in 1933, she surprised Hollywood by announcing her retirement at the age of 23. She made one more movie in 1936 'Hitch Hike to Heaven', and then left the screen, virtually disappearing from Hollywood circles for 60 years.

In a 2004 interview with author Scott Feinberg, she claimed that her refusal to meet demands for sexual favors by MGM head of production Irving Thalberg, supported by studio chief Louis B. Mayer, is what truly ended her career. She said that Mayer colluded with the other studio bosses to ban her and other uncooperative actresses from finding work.

She married composer Nacio Herb Brown that same year but their marriage was dissolved a year later; it was annulled because Brown's previous divorce had not been finalized at the time of Page and Brown's marriage. [ [http://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/anita-page-allan-ellenberger-part-ii/ Alternate Film Guide: Anita Page: Anita Page: Q&A with Author Allan Ellenberger ] ] She married Lieutenant Hershel A. House, a Navy pilot, in 1937 and they moved to Coronado, California and lived there until his death in 1991. House later became an admiral. They had two daughters, Linda [ [http://www.kansascity.com/402/story/785348.html KansasCity.com: Silent screen siren Anita Page dies at 98] ] (now Linda Sterne) [ [http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-09-07-page-obit_N.htm?csp=34 usatoday.com: Silent screen siren Anita Page dies at 98] ] and Sandra (who predeceased her mother).

She returned to the screen in 1996 after sixty years retirement and has since appeared in several low budget horror films, several of which appeared to have been uncompleted or not released. Film veteran Margaret O'Brien appeared in two of them. During this period, she moved in with her co-star and occasional director, Randal Malone at his Van Nuys, California home.

Page relished her status as "last star of the silents" and frequently gave interviews and appeared in documentaries about the era. Although ill health prevented her from making public appearances in her final years, her reputation for answering letters from fans never diminished.

Anita Page has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to Motion Pictures, at 6116 Hollywood Boulevard.

Death

Page died in her sleep on Saturday, September 6, 2008 in Los Angeles, California of natural causes.

Filmography

References

External links

* [http://www.anitapage.com/ Official Web Site]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/anitapage In depth Anita Page website]
*imdb name|id=0656105|name=Anita Page
* [http://silent-movies.com/Ladies/PPage.html Anita Page Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.goldensilents.com/stars/anitapage.html Anita Page at Golden Silents]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,3605,391621,00.html Guardian Interview with Anita Page]
* [http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=1169 Photographs of Anita Page]
* [http://www.altfg.com/blog/actors/anita-page-last-silent-film-star/ Anita Page Interview with Author A. Ellenberger]
* [http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/page/2898036 Anita Page - Obituary]

Persondata
NAME= Page, Anita
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Pomares, Anita
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1910-08-04
PLACE OF BIRTH= Flushing, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH= 2008-09-06
PLACE OF DEATH= Los Angeles, California, United States