Louise Lovely
Encyclopedia
Louise Lovely was the first Australian motion picture actress to find success in America
. As such, she can be considered a forerunner to successful contemporary Australian actresses such as Nicole Kidman
, Toni Collette
, Naomi Watts
, and Cate Blanchett
.
Louise Lovely was born in Paddington
, Sydney to an Italian musician father, Ferruccio Carlo Alberti, and a Swiss mother, Elise Louise Jeanne de Gruningen Lehmann. She made her professional debut at age nine as Eva in the classic Uncle Tom's Cabin
, using the stage name of Louise Carbasse. She soon became a successful child actress, appearing in many roles made popular by the woman with whom she would later become a competitor in Hollywood - Mary Pickford
- as well as appearing in a series of popular local movies.
head Carl Laemmle
who both gave her a contract with his studio and re-christened her Louise Lovely, much to her horror. She made her American debut alongside the legendary Lon Chaney
and another successful expatriate Australian actor, Arthur Shirley
, in Stronger Than Death
in 1915, receiving strong reviews. She starred with Chaney again in several other films including The Gilded Spider
and Tangled Hearts
(both 1916). It is likely that Lovely played a part in bringing her co-star in the latter film, Agnes `Brownie' Vernon, to Australia, where she became a major star of the local silent film industry.
Lovely became one of Universal's major early stars and a challenger to Mary Pickford
's status as the golden girl of early silent cinema, but was dropped by the studio in 1918 following a contract dispute. Though she was subsequently picked up by Fox
, where she starred in a series of Westerns with William Farnum
, her career never reached its earlier heights.
. Twenty were selected to appear in Lovely's next film venutre Jewelled Nights
(1925), which was written and directed by herself and her husband.
Based on the novel by Marie Bjelke Petersen
, Jewelled Nights
told the story of a young woman who escaped from an unhappy marriage, instead posing as a young man and finding refuge in a tough mining community, where she finds love with a fellow miner (played by Gordon Collingridge). Though it was an outstanding success, it did not recoup its high costs. The Australian film industry, once one of the most productive into the world, was about to fall into a slump that was to last for fifty years. Lovely was offered no more roles and could not afford any further independent productions, and thus, Jewelled Nights
was her last film. Today, very little of the film survives other than out-takes and stills.
The couple moved to Hobart, Tasmania
in 1946, where Cowan became the manager of the Prince of Wales Theatre. Lovely managed the theatre's sweet shop, where she worked until her death in 1980.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As such, she can be considered a forerunner to successful contemporary Australian actresses such as Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
, Toni Collette
Toni Collette
Antonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
, Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
, and Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
.
Louise Lovely was born in Paddington
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
, Sydney to an Italian musician father, Ferruccio Carlo Alberti, and a Swiss mother, Elise Louise Jeanne de Gruningen Lehmann. She made her professional debut at age nine as Eva in the classic Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
, using the stage name of Louise Carbasse. She soon became a successful child actress, appearing in many roles made popular by the woman with whom she would later become a competitor in Hollywood - Mary Pickford
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...
- as well as appearing in a series of popular local movies.
Marriage and Hollywood
Louise was married to fellow actor Wilton Welch in February 1912, when she was only sixteen years old. In 1914, she moved to America, hoping to replicate her Australian success. As legend has it, it was Universal StudiosUniversal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
head Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle , born in Laupheim, Württemberg, Germany, was a pioneer in American film making and a founder of one of the original major Hollywood movie studios - Universal...
who both gave her a contract with his studio and re-christened her Louise Lovely, much to her horror. She made her American debut alongside the legendary Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
and another successful expatriate Australian actor, Arthur Shirley
Arthur Shirley
Arthur Shirley was an Australian actor and film producer.Born Henry Raymond Shirley in Hobart to civil servant Henry Shirley and Sarah Ann, née Morton, he was baptised Arthur and attended Catholic schools. He then worked for Tattersall's Lottery and as a junior solicitor's clerk before moving to...
, in Stronger Than Death
Stronger Than Death (1915 film)
Stronger Than Death is a 1915 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Sr. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - June Lathrop * Lon Chaney, Sr. - Attorney...
in 1915, receiving strong reviews. She starred with Chaney again in several other films including The Gilded Spider
The Gilded Spider
The Gilded Spider is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, Sr.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - Leonita & Elisa* Lon Chaney, Sr. - Giovanni* Lule Warrenton - Rosa* Gilmore Hammond - Cyrus Kirkham...
and Tangled Hearts
Tangled Hearts
Tangled Hearts is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, Sr.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - Vera Lane* Agnes Vernon - Lucille Seaton* Lon Chaney, Sr. - John Hammond* Marjorie Ellison - Enid Hammond...
(both 1916). It is likely that Lovely played a part in bringing her co-star in the latter film, Agnes `Brownie' Vernon, to Australia, where she became a major star of the local silent film industry.
Lovely became one of Universal's major early stars and a challenger to Mary Pickford
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...
's status as the golden girl of early silent cinema, but was dropped by the studio in 1918 following a contract dispute. Though she was subsequently picked up by 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...
, where she starred in a series of Westerns with William Farnum
William Farnum
William Farnum was a major movie actor. One of three brothers, Farnum grew up in a family of actors. He made his acting debut at the age of ten in Richmond, Virginia in a production of Julius Caesar, with Edwin Booth playing the title character...
, her career never reached its earlier heights.
Return to Australia
In 1924, Louise and her husband returned to Australia in pursuit of a new interest - film production. Lovely had maintained a longtime interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of film, and had collaborated with Welch on a successful short documentary feature, A Day At The Studio, but her plans for her return to Australia were far more ambitious. Lovely and Welch undertook a nationwide talent search to encourage budding new movie actresses. Over 23,000 actors and actresses attended Lovely's auditions, which included demonstrations of movie equipment and acting technique, and which took place at prestigious locations such as Melbourne's Princess TheatrePrincess Theatre, Melbourne
The Princess Theatre is a 1488-seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia.It is listed by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.-History:...
. Twenty were selected to appear in Lovely's next film venutre Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by the film star Louise Lovely in collaboration with her husband Wilton Welch.-Production:...
(1925), which was written and directed by herself and her husband.
Based on the novel by Marie Bjelke Petersen
Marie Bjelke Petersen
Marie Caroline Bjelke Petersen was a Danish-born Australian novelist and physical culture teacher. She wrote nine popular romance novels between 1917 and 1937...
, Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by the film star Louise Lovely in collaboration with her husband Wilton Welch.-Production:...
told the story of a young woman who escaped from an unhappy marriage, instead posing as a young man and finding refuge in a tough mining community, where she finds love with a fellow miner (played by Gordon Collingridge). Though it was an outstanding success, it did not recoup its high costs. The Australian film industry, once one of the most productive into the world, was about to fall into a slump that was to last for fifty years. Lovely was offered no more roles and could not afford any further independent productions, and thus, Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights
Jewelled Nights is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by the film star Louise Lovely in collaboration with her husband Wilton Welch.-Production:...
was her last film. Today, very little of the film survives other than out-takes and stills.
Later life
Lovely testified at the 1927 Royal Commission on the Motion Picture Industry, suggesting a number of measures that might stimulate the struggling local film industry. Soon afterwards, she made a return to the stage. It was at around this time that Lovely's marriage to Wilton Welch disintegrated. He was bisexual and their marriage remained unconsummated for the first four years. She was re-married in 1930 to theatre manager Bert Cowan, a marriage that lasted for the rest of her life.The couple moved to Hobart, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1946, where Cowan became the manager of the Prince of Wales Theatre. Lovely managed the theatre's sweet shop, where she worked until her death in 1980.
Filmography
- One Hundred Years AgoOne Hundred Years AgoOne Hundred Years Ago is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale. It features an early screen performance from Louise Lovely.-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1911) - The Colleen BawnThe Colleen Bawn (1911 film)The Colleen Bawn is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely. It is adapted from a popular melodrama by Dion Boucicault....
(1911) - A Tale of the Australian BushA Tale of the Australian BushA Tale of the Australian Bush is a 1911 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale. Louise Lovely appears in the cast....
(1911) - Hands Across the SeaHands Across the Sea (1912 film)Hands Across the Sea is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely....
(1912) - A Daughter of AustraliaA Daughter of Australia (1912 film)A Daughter of Australia is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely....
(1912) - Conn, the Shaughraun (1912)
- The Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's WeddingThe Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's WeddingThe Wreck of the Dunbar or The Yeoman's Wedding is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely. The plot concerns the shipwreck of the Dunbar, one of Australia's worst maritime disasters.-External links:...
(1912) - The Ticket of Leave ManThe Ticket of Leave Man (1912 film)The Ticket of Leave Man is a 1912 Australian silent film directed by Gaston Mervale starring Louise Lovely....
(1912) - Stronger Than DeathStronger Than Death (1915 film)Stronger Than Death is a 1915 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Sr. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - June Lathrop * Lon Chaney, Sr. - Attorney...
(1915) - The Gilded SpiderThe Gilded SpiderThe Gilded Spider is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, Sr.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - Leonita & Elisa* Lon Chaney, Sr. - Giovanni* Lule Warrenton - Rosa* Gilmore Hammond - Cyrus Kirkham...
(1916) - Tangled HeartsTangled HeartsTangled Hearts is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and starring Lon Chaney, Sr.-Cast:* Louise Lovely - Vera Lane* Agnes Vernon - Lucille Seaton* Lon Chaney, Sr. - John Hammond* Marjorie Ellison - Enid Hammond...
(1916) - Jewelled NightsJewelled NightsJewelled Nights is a 1925 Australian silent film directed by the film star Louise Lovely in collaboration with her husband Wilton Welch.-Production:...
(1925)
External links
- Louise Lovely at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Louise Lovely, Significant Women Project (Tasmanian Government)
- Australian Dictionary of Biography