Helene Chadwick
Encyclopedia
Helene Chadwick was an American actress in silent motion pictures
and in early sound film
s.
, which was named for her grandfather. Her mother was a singer who performed on the stage and her father was a business man.
She began making films for Pathe Pictures in Manhattan, New York. A director was impressed by Chadwicks's talent as an equestrian
, thus she began acting as a western star but this did not continue with the exodus of film production from the east to the west coast. Signed by Samuel Goldwyn
, Chadwick went to California
in 1913 and entered silent movies in 1916. She was a star from 1920 through 1925. At the pinnacle of her acting career, she earned a salary estimated to have been $2,000 per week. From 1929 until 1935, she found success as a character actress
when sound was being introduced to films.
In the final five years of her life she was reduced to taking roles as an extra
, playing "atmospheric parts". She was always optimistic that her fortunes would turn for the better. Helene made movies with Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures
, 20th Century Fox
, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
, Paramount Pictures
, and other studios.
Her most noteworthy performances came in The Long Arm of the Manister (1919), The Cup of Fury (1920), Heartsease (1919), The Sin Flood (1922), Dangerous Curve Ahead (1921), From The Ground Up (1921), The Glorious Fool (1922), Yellow Men and Gold (1922), Dust Flower (1922), Godless Men (1920), and Quicksands (1923).
, an American pilot with the Lafayette Flying Corps
. He had just returned from France
and was cited for bravery for his valor in World War I
. The couple had met at a party at the house of a friend. Wellman was signed to play a prominent role in an upcoming movie with Douglas Fairbanks Sr.. The couple wed in July 1921, but in the summer of 1923, Chadwick sued Wellman for divorce on grounds of desertion and nonsupport. At the time of their separation William was directing movies for Fox Film. Wellman directed Wings
, the first film to win an Academy Award
for Best Picture
, as well as many other notable films.
Helene Chadwick died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Los Angeles, California
, aged 42, in 1940. Her death was indirectly the result of an accident she suffered in June 1939. She stumbled over a chair and sustained injuries to her left side and eye. Doctors said her illness was exacerbated by "her highly nervous state."
Her funeral was conducted by Pierce Brothers Mortuary and attended by stage and screen friends.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
and in early sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
s.
Early life and career
Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which was named for her grandfather. Her mother was a singer who performed on the stage and her father was a business man.
She began making films for Pathe Pictures in Manhattan, New York. A director was impressed by Chadwicks's talent as an equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, thus she began acting as a western star but this did not continue with the exodus of film production from the east to the west coast. Signed by Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn was an American film producer, and founding contributor executive of several motion picture studios.-Biography:...
, Chadwick went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1913 and entered silent movies in 1916. She was a star from 1920 through 1925. At the pinnacle of her acting career, she earned a salary estimated to have been $2,000 per week. From 1929 until 1935, she found success as a character actress
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
when sound was being introduced to films.
In the final five years of her life she was reduced to taking roles as an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
, playing "atmospheric parts". She was always optimistic that her fortunes would turn for the better. Helene made movies with Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, and other studios.
Her most noteworthy performances came in The Long Arm of the Manister (1919), The Cup of Fury (1920), Heartsease (1919), The Sin Flood (1922), Dangerous Curve Ahead (1921), From The Ground Up (1921), The Glorious Fool (1922), Yellow Men and Gold (1922), Dust Flower (1922), Godless Men (1920), and Quicksands (1923).
Personal life and death
In January 1919, Chadwick became engaged to Lieutenant William A. WellmanWilliam A. Wellman
William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation...
, an American pilot with the Lafayette Flying Corps
Lafayette Flying Corps
The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name used to describe the American volunteer pilots who flew for the French during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron. The estimations of number of pilots range from 180 to over 300. The generally accepted...
. He had just returned from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was cited for bravery for his valor in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The couple had met at a party at the house of a friend. Wellman was signed to play a prominent role in an upcoming movie with Douglas Fairbanks Sr.. The couple wed in July 1921, but in the summer of 1923, Chadwick sued Wellman for divorce on grounds of desertion and nonsupport. At the time of their separation William was directing movies for Fox Film. Wellman directed Wings
Wings (film)
Wings is a silent film about World War I fighter pilots, produced by Lucien Hubbard, directed by William A. Wellman and released by Paramount Pictures. Wings was the first film, and the only silent film, to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Wings stars Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and...
, the first film to win an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
, as well as many other notable films.
Helene Chadwick died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, aged 42, in 1940. Her death was indirectly the result of an accident she suffered in June 1939. She stumbled over a chair and sustained injuries to her left side and eye. Doctors said her illness was exacerbated by "her highly nervous state."
Her funeral was conducted by Pierce Brothers Mortuary and attended by stage and screen friends.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | The Challenge | Alberta Bradley | |
| 1917 | Vengeance Is Mine | Marion De Long | |
| 1918 | The Naulahka | Kate Sheriff | |
| 1919 | Caleb Piper's Girl | Mary Piper | |
| 1920 | Godless Men | Ruth Lytton | |
| 1921 | From the Ground Up | Philena Mortimer | |
| 1922 | Brothers Under the Skin Brothers Under the Skin Brothers Under the Skin is a 1922 silent comedy film directed by E. Mason Hopper. It is unknown whether any recording of the film survives; it may be a lost film.-Cast:* Pat O'Malley - Newton Craddock* Helene Chadwick - Millie Craddock... |
Millie Craddock | |
| 1923 | Gimme | Fanny Daniels | |
| 1924 | The Masked Dancer | Betty Powell | |
| 1925 | The Golden Cocoon | Molly Shannon | |
| 1926 | Wise Guys Prefer Brunettes | Helene | |
| 1927 | Stage Kisses | Fay Leslie | |
| 1928 | Modern Mothers | Adele Dayton | |
| 1929 | Father and Son | Miss White | |
| 1930 | Men Are Like That | Clara Fisher Hyland | |
| 1931 | Hell Bound | Sanford's Sister | |
| 1932 | Night World Night World (1932 film) Night World is a pre-Code drama film featuring Lew Ayres, Mae Clarke, and Boris Karloff.-Production background:The movie was directed by Hobart Henley and features an early Busby Berkeley music number, "Who's Your Little Who-Zis".-Plot:... |
Night Club Customer | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Merrily Yours | Mrs. Rogers | |
| 1934 | School for Girls | Larson | |
| 1935 | Another Face | Nurse Daniels | Uncredited Alternative title: It Happened in Hollywood |
| 1936 | San Francisco San Francisco (film) San Francisco is a 1936 musical-drama directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The film, which was the top grossing movie of that year, stars Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The then very popular singing of MacDonald helped make this film... |
Uncredited | |
| 1937 | A Star Is Born A Star Is Born (1937 film) A Star Is Born is a 1937 Technicolor romantic drama film produced by David O. Selznick and directed by William A. Wellman, with a script by Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. It stars Janet Gaynor as an aspiring Hollywood actress, and Fredric March as an aging movie star who... |
Woman at preview | Uncredited |