Ella Raines
Encyclopedia
Ella Wallace Raines was an American film and television actress.
, Washington, Raines studied drama
at the University of Washington
and was appearing in a play there when she was seen by Howard Hawks
. She became the first actor signed to the new production company he had formed with the actor Charles Boyer
, "B-H Productions", and made her film debut in Corvette K-225
in 1943. Immediately following her role in that film, she was cast in the all female war film Cry 'Havoc'
, made the same year. In 1944 she starred in a series of big films including the film noir
Phantom Lady, the comedy Hail the Conquering Hero
, and the John Wayne western Tall in the Saddle
. Soon, she began to appearing in B-films including 1945's The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
with Geraldine Fitzgerald
and George Sanders
, and 1947 thriller The Web
. With the exception of Brute Force
in which Raines appeared with Burt Lancaster
, none of her later films were nearly as successful as her previous movies and her career began to decline.
Raines appeared on the cover of Life magazine
twice, once in 1944 for her work in Phantom Lady and once in 1947 for Brute Force.
In 1954 and 1955 she starred in the television series Janet Dean, Registered Nurse. She also appeared in such television series as Robert Montgomery Presents
, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
, Lights Out, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
and The Christophers
.
She retired from acting in 1957, but made one further screen appearance with a guest role in the series Matt Houston
in 1984.
Raines has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for her contribution to motion pictures at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard, and for television at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard.
fighter pilot Brigadier General
Robin Olds
.
She died from throat cancer
in Sherman Oaks, California 1988.
Life and career
Born Ella Wallace Raubes near Snoqualmie FallsSnoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington, USA. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks...
, Washington, Raines studied drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and was appearing in a play there when she was seen by Howard Hawks
Howard Hawks
Howard Winchester Hawks was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era...
. She became the first actor signed to the new production company he had formed with the actor Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer was a French actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found success in movies during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised romantic dramas,...
, "B-H Productions", and made her film debut in Corvette K-225
Corvette K-225
Corvette K -225 is a 1943 film starring Randolph Scott and Ella Raines. It was released in the UK as The Nelson Touch. Tony Gaudio was nominated for the 1943 Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the film....
in 1943. Immediately following her role in that film, she was cast in the all female war film Cry 'Havoc'
Cry 'Havoc'
This article is about the 1943 motion picture. For the board game see Cry Havoc.Cry 'Havoc' is a 1943 American drama film, produced by MGM and directed by Richard Thorpe...
, made the same year. In 1944 she starred in a series of big films including the film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
Phantom Lady, the comedy Hail the Conquering Hero
Hail the Conquering Hero
Hail the Conquering Hero is a satirical comedy/drama written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson and Bill Edwards....
, and the John Wayne western Tall in the Saddle
Tall in the Saddle
Tall in the Saddle is a 1944 western movie starring John Wayne as a cowboy and Ella Raines as his fierce bullwhip-brandishing love interest. The screenplay was co-written by actor Paul Fix and the film was directed by Edwin L...
. Soon, she began to appearing in B-films including 1945's The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry is a 1945 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak, starring George Sanders as an aging bachelor who looks after his two sisters, one of whom tries to sabotage his romance with his co-worker...
with Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
and George Sanders
George Sanders
George Sanders was a British actor.George Sanders may also refer to:*George Sanders , Victoria Cross recipient in World War I...
, and 1947 thriller The Web
The Web (film)
The Web is a black-and-white 1947 thriller film starring Vincent Price. The film, directed by Michael Gordon, is considered film noir. It also features amongst its cast the science fiction/horror writer Fritz Leiber as Leopold Kroner.-Plot:...
. With the exception of Brute Force
Brute force
Brute force may refer to any of several problem-solving methods involving the evaluation of multiple possible answer for fitness. The term has also been used as a stage name, book title, etc.In mathematics:...
in which Raines appeared with Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
, none of her later films were nearly as successful as her previous movies and her career began to decline.
Raines appeared on the cover of Life magazine
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
twice, once in 1944 for her work in Phantom Lady and once in 1947 for Brute Force.
In 1954 and 1955 she starred in the television series Janet Dean, Registered Nurse. She also appeared in such television series as Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC from January 30, 1950 until June 24, 1957. The live show had several sponsors during its seven-year run, and the title was altered to feature the sponsor, usually Lucky Strike cigarettes, for example,...
, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, is a 1950s syndicated anthology series hosted and occasionally starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. The series offered Buster Keaton in his first dramatic role in the episode entitled "The Awakening". British actor Christopher Lee appeared in varied role in thirteen...
, Lights Out, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
The Pulitzer Prize Playhouse is an American television anthology drama series which offered adaptations of Pulitzer Prize winning plays, stories and novels. The distinguished journalist Elmer Davis was the host and narrator of this 1950-52 ABC series....
and The Christophers
The Christophers
The Christophers are a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller. The name of the group is derived from the Greek word "christophoros", which means "Christ-bearer"...
.
She retired from acting in 1957, but made one further screen appearance with a guest role in the series Matt Houston
Matt Houston
Matt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.-Synopsis:...
in 1984.
Raines has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
for her contribution to motion pictures at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard, and for television at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard.
Personal life
Raines was married in 1947 to United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
fighter pilot Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Robin Olds
Robin Olds
Robin Olds was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was a "triple ace", with a combined total of 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general....
.
She died from throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
in Sherman Oaks, California 1988.
Filmography
- Corvette K-225Corvette K-225Corvette K -225 is a 1943 film starring Randolph Scott and Ella Raines. It was released in the UK as The Nelson Touch. Tony Gaudio was nominated for the 1943 Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the film....
(19431943 in filmThe year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
) - Cry 'Havoc'Cry 'Havoc'This article is about the 1943 motion picture. For the board game see Cry Havoc.Cry 'Havoc' is a 1943 American drama film, produced by MGM and directed by Richard Thorpe...
(1943) - Phantom Lady (19441944 in filmThe year 1944 in film involved some significant events, including the wholesome, award-winning Going My Way plus popular murder mysteries such as Double Indemnity, Gaslight and Laura.-Events:*July 20 - Since You Went Away is released....
) - Hail the Conquering HeroHail the Conquering HeroHail the Conquering Hero is a satirical comedy/drama written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson and Bill Edwards....
(1944) - Tall in the SaddleTall in the SaddleTall in the Saddle is a 1944 western movie starring John Wayne as a cowboy and Ella Raines as his fierce bullwhip-brandishing love interest. The screenplay was co-written by actor Paul Fix and the film was directed by Edwin L...
(1944) - Enter Arsene LupinArsène LupinArsène Lupin is a fictional character who appears in a book series of detective fiction / crime fiction novels written by French writer Maurice Leblanc, as well as a number of non-canonical sequels and numerous film, television such as Night Hood, stage play and comic book adaptations.- Overview :A...
(1944) - The SuspectThe SuspectThe Suspect is a 1944 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak, set in Victorian times. It is based on the novel This Way Out, by James Ronald. Released by Universal Pictures, it tells the story of Philip Marshall , a kind but henpecked bank teller who strikes up an innocent friendship with a young...
(1944) - The Strange Affair of Uncle HarryThe Strange Affair of Uncle HarryThe Strange Affair of Uncle Harry is a 1945 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak, starring George Sanders as an aging bachelor who looks after his two sisters, one of whom tries to sabotage his romance with his co-worker...
(19451945 in filmThe 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....
) - The Runaround (19461946 in filmThe year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
) - White Tie and Tails (1946)
- Time Out of Mind (19471947 in filmThe year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
) - The WebThe Web (film)The Web is a black-and-white 1947 thriller film starring Vincent Price. The film, directed by Michael Gordon, is considered film noir. It also features amongst its cast the science fiction/horror writer Fritz Leiber as Leopold Kroner.-Plot:...
(1947) - Brute ForceBrute Force (1947 film)Brute Force is a brooding, brutal film noir, starring Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn and Charles Bickford. It was directed by Jules Dassin, with a screenplay by Richard Brooks and the cinematography by William H. Daniels....
(1947) - The Senator Was IndiscreetThe Senator Was IndiscreetThe Senator Was Indiscreet is a 1947 comedy film starring William Powell as a dim-witted U.S. senator who decides to run for president, with Ella Raines as a reporter interested in the detailed diary he has kept about all the political misdeeds of his colleagues...
(1947) - The Walking Hills (19491949 in filmThe year 1949 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello...
) - Impact (1949)
- A Dangerous ProfessionA Dangerous ProfessionA Dangerous Profession is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff and written by Warren Duff and Martin Rackin. The drama features George Raft, Ella Raines, Pat O'Brien, among others.-Plot:...
(1949) - Singing Guns (19501950 in filmThe year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
) - The Second Face (1950)
- Fighting Coast Guard (19511951 in filmThe year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
) - Ride the Man Down (19521952 in filmThe year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
) - The Man in the Road (19571957 in filmThe year 1957 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue-Awards:...
)