Joyzelle Joyner
Encyclopedia
Joyzelle Joyner was an American actress and dancer. She appeared in at least thirty films between 1925 and 1935 gained some notoriety for her appearance in The Sign of the Cross
.
. Her role as Ancaria in The Sign of the Cross, a major production directed by Cecil B. deMille
, drew attention from censors; in the film, she performs the lesbian-overtoned "Dance of the Naked Moon." The scene was eliminated from the re-released 1935 version of the film, but reinserted in 1993 for the MCA-Universal
video version.
Following Sign of the Cross, Joyner continued to work in films. Most of her work constituted uncredited parts. She appeared as Chanda in House of Mystery
, a B-horror film produced by Monogram Pictures
, under the name "Laya Joy."
and had one brother, Clarence Joyner, who was one year younger than her.
Her first marriage to Dudley V. Brand. The two became estranged over Joyner's acting career pursuit. During an argument on August 11, 1927, Brand fired two shots through a closed bedroom door, one shot injuring Joyner in the arm. Clarence Joyner was on hand to restrain Brand.
Joyner's second marriage was to film director Phil Rosen in 1929. She died in Orange, California, on August 27, 1980.
The Sign of the Cross (film)
The Sign of the Cross is a pre-Code epic film released by Paramount Pictures, produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille from a screenplay by Waldemar Young and Sidney Buchman, and based on the original 1895 play by Wilson Barrett....
.
Career
Joyner began appearing in films around 1924 or 1925, often playing dancers. Her first major role in a major motion picture came in 1930, when she appeared as twin queens of Mars, Boo Boo and Loo Loo in Just ImagineJust Imagine
Just Imagine is a 1930 science-fiction musical comedy directed by David Butler, to console audiences distressed by the Great Depression. The film is probably best known for its art direction and special effects in its portrayal of New York City in an imagined 1980...
. Her role as Ancaria in The Sign of the Cross, a major production directed by Cecil B. deMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
, drew attention from censors; in the film, she performs the lesbian-overtoned "Dance of the Naked Moon." The scene was eliminated from the re-released 1935 version of the film, but reinserted in 1993 for the MCA-Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
video version.
Following Sign of the Cross, Joyner continued to work in films. Most of her work constituted uncredited parts. She appeared as Chanda in House of Mystery
House of Mystery (1934 film)
- Cast :*Ed Lowry as Dylan 'Jack' Armstrong*Verna Hillie as Ella Browning*John Sheehan as Harry Smith*Brandon Hurst as Hindu Priest*Joyzelle Joyner as Chanda*Fritzi Ridgeway as Stella Walker*Clay Clement as John Prendergast aka John Pren...
, a B-horror film produced by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
, under the name "Laya Joy."
Personal Life
Joyzelle Joyner was born in AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and had one brother, Clarence Joyner, who was one year younger than her.
Her first marriage to Dudley V. Brand. The two became estranged over Joyner's acting career pursuit. During an argument on August 11, 1927, Brand fired two shots through a closed bedroom door, one shot injuring Joyner in the arm. Clarence Joyner was on hand to restrain Brand.
Joyner's second marriage was to film director Phil Rosen in 1929. She died in Orange, California, on August 27, 1980.