One of the early sound era's most attractive young leading ladies, doll-faced Marian Marsh enjoyed a short yet significant film career as the star of several memorable 1930s melodramas opposite some of the cinema's best, most charismatic lead actors. Her youthful, wide-eyed innocence combined with an innate delicacy to make a storybook heroine who was the perfect counterbalance to the licentious characters who often menaced her on film.
Violet Ethelred Krauth was born on October 17, 1913 in Trinidad, West Indies. By the time Violet was ten, the family had relocated to California, and Violet attended school in Los Angeles. In 1928, Violet was approached by silent screen actress Nance O'Neil, who offered her speech and movement lessons. She soon entered the movies and Violet, now known as Marilyn Morgan, secured a contract with Pathé where she was featured in many short subjects under the name Marilyn Morgan. She was seen in a small roles in Howard Hughes' classic Hell's Angels (1930) and Eddie Cantor's lavish Technicolor musical Whoopee! (1930). Not long afterwards, she was signed by Warner Bros. and her name was changed to Marian Marsh.
In 1931, Marsh landed one of her most important roles in Svengali opposite John Barrymore. Marsh was chosen by Barrymore, himself, for the role of "Trilby". Barrymore coached her performance throughout the picture's filming.
Miss Marsh was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1931. And, with the critical praise and the audience's approval of Svengali, she continued in a string of successful films for Warner Bros. including Five Star Final (1931) with Edward G. Robinson, The Mad Genius (1931) with Barrymore, The Road to Singapore (1931) with William Powell, the charming Beauty and the Boss (1932) with Warren William, and Under 18 (again with William).
In 1935, Marsh signed a two-year pact with Columbia Pictures. During this time, she starred in such films as Josef von Sternberg's classic Crime and Punishment (1935) with Peter Lorre, The Black Room (1935) regarded as one of Boris Karloff's best horror films of the decade, and "The Man Who Lived Twice" (1936) with Ralph Bellamy. When her contract expired in 1936, Marsh once again freelanced; appearing steadily in movies for RKO Radio Pictures. In her last screen appearance, Marsh portrayed the daughter in House of Errors (1942) which starred veteran silent film actor, Harry Langdon.
On 29 March 1938, Marsh married a stock broker named Albert Scott and had two children with him. After Scott's death, Marsh married Cliff Henderson, an aviation pioneer and entrepreneur and moved to Palm Desert, California, a town Henderson founded in the 1940s. In the 1960s Marian founded Desert Beautiful, a non-profit, all volunteer conservation organization to promote environmental and beautification programs. She remained in Palm Desert and continued her work in conservation until her death at age 93.
This Tumblr was launched on her birthday, October 17th, in her honor, with love.
Marian Marsh and John Barrymore - “Svengali” (1931)
Despite appearances in 30 short films starring James Gleason and a small part in Hell’s Angels (1930), Marian’s career seemed headed to oblivion when she won the role of her life in Svengali(1931), Warners’ film remake of George Du Maurier’s 1894 novel “Trilby”; the tragic tale of an artists’ model who becomes a great singing diva under the hypnotic tutelage of the malevolent Svengali (charismatically portrayed by John Barrymore). According to Miss Marsh, she was tested for the plum role several times before being selected by Barrymore, apparently because she resembled his wife, Dolores Costello.
The immense critical and financial success of the film combined with young Miss Marsh’s rave reviews to raise her Hollywood stock. Selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1931, she became one of filmdom’s top up-and-coming actresses.
Happy Birthday, Marian Marsh (October 17th, 1913 - November 9th, 2006)
“She (Jean, Marian’s Sister) was determined that I should crash the studio gates, and with that end in view, spent weeks haunting casting offices, telling them all about ‘little sister,’ even forgetting her own career. I finally did get a chance to make a test at Pathe. We waited for six hours before I received any attention. My makeup had to be done over and my hair dressed. When the big moment arrived, I was so tired, I really didn’t care whether I stepped before the camera or not. The director, supervising the test, told me to cry-it was exactly what I wanted to do. I cried all over the place, and he thought it was great acting. I got the contract.”
Much love to you - I hope to update this Tumblr more regularly - I ran out of new images for the lovely Miss Marsh awhile ago, and haven't been able to post much of late - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can sleuth out some new things and share them with you. xoxo
Excerpt from a love letter written to Marian Marsh by actor Edmund Lowe in the mid 1930's
(Ordinarily I think these things are far too personal to share on the internet, but the words are so lovely and fitting for her, I had to make an exception).
vaporwave
origamiaround
pixelskylines
tangentwithtanner
prguitarman
