Betty Balfour
Encyclopedia
Betty Balfour was an English screen actress, popular during the silent era, and known as the "British Mary Pickford
" and "Britain's Queen of Happiness". She was best known to audiences for her Squibs series of films.
Her talent was most evident in the Squibs comedy series produced by George Pearson, while in his 1923's Love, Life and Laughter
and 1924's Reveille, she demonstrated a serious side to her character. Her 1925 role as a wealthy heriess in Somebody's Darling
was an attempt to break out of her previous role as Squibs, to avoid typecasting
.
She made her stage debut in 1913, and was appearing in Medora at the Alhambra Theatre
when T. A. Welsh and Pearson saw and signed her for Nothing Else Matters
in 1920. After replacing Gertrude Lawrence
on stage in The Midnight Follies, Balfour was back with Pearson with her first starring role in Mary Find the Gold.
Balfour made no attempt to break into Hollywood but like Ivor Novello
she was able to export her talents to mainland Europe. She starred in the German
films, Die sieben Töchter der Frau Gyurkovics and Die Regimentstochter she worked for Marcel L'Herbier
in Le Diable au Coeur for Louis Mercanton
in Monkeynuts and for Géza von Bolváry
in Bright Eyes.
Back in Britain, she also starred in Alfred Hitchcock
's
Champagne
. Balfour's sound debut, The Brat, based on the Squibs character, was only moderately successful, and her popularity diminished in the 1930s, though she played a supporting role to Jessie Matthews
in Evergreen in 1934, appeared with John Mills
in Forever England in 1935 and played the matriarch in 29 Acacia Avenue
(1945
).
Balfour had less fortune in her private life. Her marriage with composer Jimmy Campbell went on the rocks in 1941 after ten years, a try of a comeback at the theatre failed in 1952 and she experienced the low with an attempted suicide. She died aged 74 and is interred at Weybridge Cemetery
, Surrey
, England.
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
" and "Britain's Queen of Happiness". She was best known to audiences for her Squibs series of films.
Life and career
Balfour was the most popular actress in Britain in the 1920s, and in 1927 she was named by the Daily Mirror as the country's favourite world star . She was a consummate screen actress, whose sympathetic portrayals were often tinged with pathos.Her talent was most evident in the Squibs comedy series produced by George Pearson, while in his 1923's Love, Life and Laughter
Love, Life and Laughter
Love, Life and Laughter is a 1923 British film, written and directed by George Pearson. As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's "75 Most Wanted" lost films.-Plot:...
and 1924's Reveille, she demonstrated a serious side to her character. Her 1925 role as a wealthy heriess in Somebody's Darling
Somebody's Darling
Somebody's Darling is a 1925 British silent comedy film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Betty Balfour, Rex O'Malley and Fred Raynham. A young woman who believes herself to be an orphan rediscovers her family when she is left a large inheritance but a sinister uncle tries to cheat her out...
was an attempt to break out of her previous role as Squibs, to avoid typecasting
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
.
She made her stage debut in 1913, and was appearing in Medora at the Alhambra Theatre
Alhambra Theatre
The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as The Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two years and reopened as the Alhambra. The building was...
when T. A. Welsh and Pearson saw and signed her for Nothing Else Matters
Nothing Else Matters (film)
Nothing Else Matters is a 1920 British film, written by Hugh E. Wright, and directed by George Pearson. This was the screen debut of Mabel Poulton and Betty Balfour who went on to become leading British stars of the 1920s.-Cast:*Hugh E. Wright...
in 1920. After replacing Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence was an English actress, singer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End theatre district of London and on Broadway.-Early life:...
on stage in The Midnight Follies, Balfour was back with Pearson with her first starring role in Mary Find the Gold.
Balfour made no attempt to break into Hollywood but like Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
she was able to export her talents to mainland Europe. She starred in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
films, Die sieben Töchter der Frau Gyurkovics and Die Regimentstochter she worked for Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier
Marcel L'Herbier, Légion d'honneur, was a French film-maker, who achieved prominence as an avant-garde theorist and imaginative practitioner with a series of silent films in the 1920s. His career as a director continued until the 1950s and he made more than 40 feature films in total...
in Le Diable au Coeur for Louis Mercanton
Louis Mercanton
Louis Mercanton was a Swiss film director, Screenwriter and actor.-Selected filmography:Director* Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth co-director* Le mystère de la villa rose * The Nipper * Octave...
in Monkeynuts and for Géza von Bolváry
Géza von Bolváry
Géza von Bolváry was a Hungarian actor, screenwriter and film director, who worked principally in Germany and Austria.- Biography :...
in Bright Eyes.
Back in Britain, she also starred in Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's
Champagne
Champagne (film)
Champagne is a silent comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on an original story by English writer and critic Walter C. Mycroft...
. Balfour's sound debut, The Brat, based on the Squibs character, was only moderately successful, and her popularity diminished in the 1930s, though she played a supporting role to Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
in Evergreen in 1934, appeared with John Mills
John Mills
Sir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
in Forever England in 1935 and played the matriarch in 29 Acacia Avenue
29 Acacia Avenue
29 Acacia Avenue is a play by Denis and Mabel Constanduros, and its 1945 film adaptation, directed by Henry Cass and released in the U.S. as The Facts of Love.-Plot:...
(1945
1945 in film
The year 1945 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Paramount Studios releases theatrical short cartoon titled The Friendly Ghost, featuring a ghost named Casper.* With Rossellini's Roma Città aperta, Italian neorealist cinema begins....
).
Balfour had less fortune in her private life. Her marriage with composer Jimmy Campbell went on the rocks in 1941 after ten years, a try of a comeback at the theatre failed in 1952 and she experienced the low with an attempted suicide. She died aged 74 and is interred at Weybridge Cemetery
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England.
Filmography
- Nothing Else MattersNothing Else Matters (film)Nothing Else Matters is a 1920 British film, written by Hugh E. Wright, and directed by George Pearson. This was the screen debut of Mabel Poulton and Betty Balfour who went on to become leading British stars of the 1920s.-Cast:*Hugh E. Wright...
(1920) - Mary-Find-the-Gold (1921)
- SquibsSquibs (1921 film)Squibs is a 1921 British silent comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Betty Balfour, Hugh E. Wright and Fred Groves. It was followed by three sequels starting with Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep and a 1935 remake.-Cast:...
(1921) - Squibs Wins the Calcutta SweepSquibs Wins the Calcutta SweepSquibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep is a 1922 British silent comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Betty Balfour, Fred Groves and Hugh E. Wright. Squibs wins a large sum of money on a horse race. It was the sequel to the 1921 film Squibs....
(1922) - Mord Em'ly (1922)
- Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart (1922)
- Squibs M.P. (1923)
- Squibs' Honeymoon (1923)
- Love, Life and LaughterLove, Life and LaughterLove, Life and Laughter is a 1923 British film, written and directed by George Pearson. As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's "75 Most Wanted" lost films.-Plot:...
(1923) - ReveilleReveille (film)Reveille is a 1924 British silent drama film directed by George Pearson. As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's "75 Most Wanted" lost films.-Cast:* Betty Balfour - Mick...
(1924) - Satan's Sister (1925)
- Somebody's DarlingSomebody's DarlingSomebody's Darling is a 1925 British silent comedy film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Betty Balfour, Rex O'Malley and Fred Raynham. A young woman who believes herself to be an orphan rediscovers her family when she is left a large inheritance but a sinister uncle tries to cheat her out...
(1925) - Pearl of Love (1925)
- CindersCinders (1926 film)Cinders is a 1926 British silent comedy film directed by Louis Mercanton and starring Betty Balfour, Fred Wright and André Roanne. A servant in a London boarding house loses her job and accompanies one of the lodgers to his newly acquired casino on the French Riviera.-Cast:* Betty Balfour -...
(1926) - Blinkeyes (1926)
- The Sea Urchins (1926)
- Monte CarloMonte Carlo (1926 film)-Plot:An American adventurer hides from pursuing detectives in the hotel room of a young schoolteacher.-Cast:* Lew Cody - Tony Townsend* Gertrude Olmstead - Sally Roxford* Roy D'Arcy - Prince Boris* Karl Dane - The Doorman* Zasu Pitts - Hope Durant...
(1926) - Die sieben Töchter der Frau Gyurkovics (1926)
- La petite bonne du palace (1927)
- Croquette (1928)
- Little Devil May Care (1928)
- ChampagneChampagne (film)Champagne is a silent comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on an original story by English writer and critic Walter C. Mycroft...
(1928) - A Little Bit of FluffA Little Bit of FluffA Little Bit of Fluff or Skirts is a comedy genre silent film made in England, starring Syd Chaplin and Betty Balfour, and directed by Wheeler Dryden and Jess Robbins.-Production background:...
(1928) - Paradise (1928)
- Daughter of the Regiment (1929)
- Bright EyesBright Eyes (1929 film)Bright Eyes is a 1929 British-Austrian romance film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Betty Balfour, Jack Trevor and Fritz Greiner. It is also known under the alternative title of Champagner....
(1929) - The Vagabond QueenThe Vagabond Queen (film)The Vagabond Queen is a 1929 British comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Betty Balfour, Glen Byam Shaw and Ernest Thesiger. It was the final film directed in Britain by Bolváry before he returned to Germany. It was made by British International Pictures...
(1929) - Raise the Roof (1930)
- The NipperThe NipperThe Nipper is a 1930 British musical film directed by Louis Mercanton and starring Betty Balfour, John Stuart and Anne Grey. It is also known by the alternative title The Brat.-Cast:* Betty Balfour - The Nipper* John Stuart - Max Nicholson...
(1930) - My Old Dutch (1934)
- EvergreenEvergreen (film)Evergreen is a 1934 Gaumont British musical film, starring Jessie Matthews as a music hall singer, based on the 1930 musical Ever Green, also starring Matthews. Matthews had a dual role as both mother and daughter....
(1934) - Squibs (1935)
- Forever England (1935)
- Eliza Comes to Stay (1936)
- 29 Acacia Avenue29 Acacia Avenue29 Acacia Avenue is a play by Denis and Mabel Constanduros, and its 1945 film adaptation, directed by Henry Cass and released in the U.S. as The Facts of Love.-Plot:...
(1945)