- published: 04 Apr 2016
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. Lamac 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). Their marriage was a happy one, although childless. (Ondra reportedly had a miscarriage after a car accident.) They were married until her death in 1987.
Sara Allgood (October 15, 1879 – September 13, 1950; also known as Sally Allgood) was an Irish actress.
Allgood was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her sister was actress Maire O'Neill.
Allgood began her acting career at the Abbey Theatre and was in the opening of the Irish National Theatre Society, appearing in many of their plays all over Britain. She was frequently featured in early Hitchcock films, such as Blackmail (1929), Juno and the Paycock (1930) and Sabotage (1936).
Allgood was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 1941 for her role as Beth Morgan in the 1941 film How Green Was My Valley, but lost to Mary Astor. She also had memorable roles in the 1941 retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, It Happened in Flatbush (1942), Jane Eyre (1943), The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), The Spiral Staircase (1946), The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) and the original Cheaper by the Dozen (1950).
She was married for a short time to British stage actor Gerald Henson. Both Henson and their newborn daughter died of influenza in the outbreak of 1917.
Charles Paton (31 July 1874 – 10 April 1970) was an English film actor. He appeared in 105 films between 1927 and 1951, including Freedom of the Seas. In 1927, he appeared in a short film, made in the DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, singing "If Your Face Wants to Smile, We'll Let It In" from the revue John Citizen's Lament.
He was born in London and died from a heart attack.