Mabel Poulton
Encyclopedia
Mabel Poulton was an English film actress, popular in Britain during the era of silent films.
Born in London
, England, Poulton was working as a stenographer and entered films by chance. Her first role in George Pearson's Nothing Else Matters
(1920) was opposite Betty Balfour
, who was also making her debut, and the film was a success. Over the next several years, Poulton was cast in a succession of roles, and usually played feisty or mischievous characters. A petite blonde, she also became well regarded for her fashion
style, and was a highly recognisable celebrity. In 1928, she starred in The Constant Nymph
by Adrian Brunel
and received excellent reviews for her performance. By the end of the decade she was considered to be one of Britain's leading screen actresses along with Balfour, and was described by critics as Balfour's only serious rival.
The advent of sound film
brought a premature end to Poulton's movie career. The addition of the microphone
revealed Poulton's broad Cockney
accent, which was at odds with the characters she had become identified with. Like Clara Bow
who faced the same problem as a result of her Brooklyn accent, Poulton struggled to maintain her status. Also like Bow, she attempted to mount a comeback in the mid 1930s, which was well publicized but unsuccessful. She made her final film appearance in 1936.
She died in London.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, Poulton was working as a stenographer and entered films by chance. Her first role in George Pearson's 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...
(1920) was opposite Betty Balfour
Betty Balfour
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"...
, who was also making her debut, and the film was a success. Over the next several years, Poulton was cast in a succession of roles, and usually played feisty or mischievous characters. A petite blonde, she also became well regarded for her fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
style, and was a highly recognisable celebrity. In 1928, she starred in The Constant Nymph
The Constant Nymph (1928 film)
The Constant Nymph is a 1928 British silent film drama, directed by Adrian Brunel and starring Ivor Novello and Mabel Poulton. This was the first film adaptation of the 1924 best-selling and controversial novel of the same name by Margaret Kennedy...
by Adrian Brunel
Adrian Brunel
Adrian Brunel was an English film director and screenwriter. Brunel's directorial career started in the silent era, and reached its peak in the latter half of the 1920s...
and received excellent reviews for her performance. By the end of the decade she was considered to be one of Britain's leading screen actresses along with Balfour, and was described by critics as Balfour's only serious rival.
The advent of 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...
brought a premature end to Poulton's movie career. The addition of the microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
revealed Poulton's broad Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
accent, which was at odds with the characters she had become identified with. Like Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
who faced the same problem as a result of her Brooklyn accent, Poulton struggled to maintain her status. Also like Bow, she attempted to mount a comeback in the mid 1930s, which was well publicized but unsuccessful. She made her final film appearance in 1936.
She died in London.
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) - The God in the Garden (1921)
- Mary-Find-the-Gold (1921)
- The Old Curiosity ShopThe Old Curiosity Shop (1921 film)The Old Curiosity Shop is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Mabel Poulton, William Lugg and Hugh E. Wright. It is based on the novel The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens.-Cast:...
(1921) - Moonbeam Magic (1924)
- Heart of an Actress (1924)
- The Ball of FortuneThe Ball of FortuneThe Ball of Fortune is a 1926 British silent sports film directed by Hugh Croise and starring Billy Meredith, James Knight and Mabel Poulton. It was based on the 1925 novel The Ball of Fortune by Sydney Horler...
(1926) - Virginia's HusbandVirginia's Husband (1928 film)Virginia's Husband is a 1928 British silent comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Mabel Poulton, Lilian Oldland and Patrick Aherne. It was based on the play Virginia's Husband by Florence Kilpatrick...
(1928) - The Hellcat (1928)
- The Constant NymphThe Constant Nymph (1928 film)The Constant Nymph is a 1928 British silent film drama, directed by Adrian Brunel and starring Ivor Novello and Mabel Poulton. This was the first film adaptation of the 1924 best-selling and controversial novel of the same name by Margaret Kennedy...
(1928) - Not Quite a LadyNot Quite a LadyNot Quite a Lady is a 1928 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Mabel Poulton, Janet Alexander and Barbara Gott. Unhappy with her son's choice of fiancee a wealthy woman holds a boring house party to try to put her off marrying into the family.-Cast:* Mabel Poulton - Ethel...
(1928) - Palais de danse (1928)
- Troublesome WivesTroublesome WivesTroublesome Wives is a 1928 British silent comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Eric Bransby Williams, Mabel Poulton and Lilian Oldland. It was based on the play Summer Lightning by Ernest Denny...
(1928) - A Daughter in Revolt (1928)
- The Silent House (1929)
- The Return of the RatThe Return of the RatThe Return of the Rat is a 1929 British silent film drama, directed by Graham Cutts for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Ivor Novello, Isabel Jeans and Mabel Poulton.-Background:...
(1929) - Taxi for TwoTaxi for TwoTaxi for Two is a 1929 British romantic comedy film drama, directed by Denison Clift for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Mabel Poulton and John Stuart. It was the first full sound film made by Gainsborough, and also marked Poulton's first speaking role...
(1929) - The Glad EyeThe Glad Eye (1929 film)The Glad Eye is a 1929 British silent comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Estelle Brody, Mabel Poulton and Jeanne De Casalis...
(1929) - The Alley Cat (1929)
- EscapeEscape (1930 film)Escape is a 1930 British crime film directed by Basil Dean and starring Gerald du Maurier, Edna Best, Gordon Harker and Austin Trevor. A man escapes from Dartmoor Prison and is hunted across the moors by policemen to whom it is an unpleasant reminder of their experiences during the First World War....
(1930) - Children of ChanceChildren of Chance (1930 film)Children of Chance is a 1930 British crime film directed by Alexander Esway and starring Elissa Landi, Mabel Poulton, John Stuart and John Longden.-Cast:* Elissa Landi - Binniel Lia Monta* Mabel Poulton - Molly* John Stuart - Gordon...
(1930) - Crown v. Stevens (1936)
- Terror on Tiptoe (1936)
- Bed and BreakfastBed and Breakfast (1938 film)Bed and Breakfast is a 1938 British drama film directed by Walter West and starring Daphne Courtney, Barry Lupino and Frank Miller. It depicts the lives of the inhabitants in a boarding house...
(1938)