Raquel Torres
Encyclopedia
Raquel Torres was a Mexican-born American
film actress. Her sister was actress Renee Torres
.
A half-German
half-Mexican woman born in Hermosillo, Mexico, she grew up in Hollywood. She starred in late silent and early sound films like White Shadows in the South Seas
(1928) and Duck Soup (1933). The former was a silent film shot in Tahiti
but was MGM's first feature fully synchronized with pre-recorded music and effects. The latter was a famous 1933 Marx Brothers
comedy, in which she played a would-be Mata Hari
type.
, featured Torres with Charles Bickford
. The story begins with the death of her lover in the huge wings of a bat, underwater. The movie was filmed in the tropics of southern Mexico. She received favorable reviews as the Spanish girl whose character exemplifies the voodoo superstitions of the natives. Other films Torres appeared in were Under A Texas Moon, The Bridge of San Luis Rey
, So This Is Africa, and Red Wagon. In 1931 she performed at the Loew's State Theater in New York with a vaudeville act. The following year she appeared briefly on Broadway in John McDermott's play, Adam Had Two Sons. She also appeared in the Marx Brothers classic, Duck Soup (1933).
and Torres was escorted to the party by film agent Charles K. Feldman
. Torres was suffering from a cold and found a quiet corner for solitude. Ames came over and asked her "Why so quiet?" She told him about "the terrible cold in my head". Ames described some of his favorite remedies and the actress appreciated how considerate Ames was.
A year later they met again in New York. Ames was by now divorced and Torres had not gone through with an anticipated wedding. They met a number of times in New York and Hollywood before Stephen asked her to marry him at the Colony Club while they were dancing. After deliberating for the night Torres decided to marry him when he called her the following day.
Ames presented her with a Rolls-Royce
present and two weeks later they were married. Following their wedding they spent several months in New York and Florida prior to purchasing an option on two and a half acres of land in the exclusive Los Angeles
enclave of Bel Air where they wanted to build a home. Ames died in 1955. In 1959 Torres married actor Jon Hall
, a hero of 1930s and 1940s South Sea epics. They divorced several years later.
. She was 78 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actress. Her sister was actress Renee Torres
Renee Torres
Renee Torres born Renee Osterman, was a Mexican-American actress and the sister of Hollywood star Raquel Torres...
.
A half-German
German Mexican
A German Mexican is a Mexican citizen of German descent or origin....
half-Mexican woman born in Hermosillo, Mexico, she grew up in Hollywood. She starred in late silent and early sound films like White Shadows in the South Seas
White Shadows in the South Seas
White Shadows in the South Seas is a silent film adventure romance produced by Cosmopolitan Productions in association with MGM and distributed by MGM. The movie was directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starred Monte Blue and Raquel Torres...
(1928) and Duck Soup (1933). The former was a silent film shot in Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
but was MGM's first feature fully synchronized with pre-recorded music and effects. The latter was a famous 1933 Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
comedy, in which she played a would-be Mata Hari
Mata Hari
Mata Hari was the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida "M'greet" Zelle , a Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and accused spy who was executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I.-Early life:Margaretha Geertruida Zelle was born in Leeuwarden, Friesland,...
type.
Film career
Torres began her acting career in 1928, playing the lead in White Shadows of the South Seas, MGM's first feature fully synchronized for dialogue, music, and sound effects. A 1930 movie, The Sea BatThe Sea Bat
The Sea Bat is a 1930 thriller film directed by Lionel Barrymore and Wesley Ruggles, starring Raquel Torres and featuring Boris Karloff. Part of the movie was filmed on location in Mazatlán, Mexico....
, featured Torres with Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford was an American actor best known for his supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for The Song of Bernadette , The Farmer's Daughter , and Johnny Belinda...
. The story begins with the death of her lover in the huge wings of a bat, underwater. The movie was filmed in the tropics of southern Mexico. She received favorable reviews as the Spanish girl whose character exemplifies the voodoo superstitions of the natives. Other films Torres appeared in were Under A Texas Moon, The Bridge of San Luis Rey
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1929 film)
The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in both silent and part-talkie versions. The was film directed by Charles Brabin and starred Lili Damita and Don Alvarado...
, So This Is Africa, and Red Wagon. In 1931 she performed at the Loew's State Theater in New York with a vaudeville act. The following year she appeared briefly on Broadway in John McDermott's play, Adam Had Two Sons. She also appeared in the Marx Brothers classic, Duck Soup (1933).
Romance and marriages
In 1934 Torres met the New York stockbroker Stephen Ames at a Hollywood party. At the time Ames was still married to film actress Adrienne AmesAdrienne Ames
Adrienne Ames was an American film actress.-Life and career:Born Adrienne Ruth McClure in Fort Worth, Texas, Ames began her film career in 1927 as a stand-in for Pola Negri. Ames was soon cast in small film roles in silent films.With the advent of talking pictures, Ames' popularity grew and she...
and Torres was escorted to the party by film agent Charles K. Feldman
Charles K. Feldman
Charles K. Feldman was a film producer and talent agent born in New York City. In 1934 he married actress Jean Howard, whom he divorced in 1948...
. Torres was suffering from a cold and found a quiet corner for solitude. Ames came over and asked her "Why so quiet?" She told him about "the terrible cold in my head". Ames described some of his favorite remedies and the actress appreciated how considerate Ames was.
A year later they met again in New York. Ames was by now divorced and Torres had not gone through with an anticipated wedding. They met a number of times in New York and Hollywood before Stephen asked her to marry him at the Colony Club while they were dancing. After deliberating for the night Torres decided to marry him when he called her the following day.
Ames presented her with a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
present and two weeks later they were married. Following their wedding they spent several months in New York and Florida prior to purchasing an option on two and a half acres of land in the exclusive Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
enclave of Bel Air where they wanted to build a home. Ames died in 1955. In 1959 Torres married actor Jon Hall
Jon Hall
Jon Hall was an American film actor.-Biography:Born Charles Felix Locher in Fresno, California, and raised in Tahiti by his father, the Swiss-born actor Felix Locher, he was a nephew of James Norman Hall, one of the authors of Mutiny on the Bounty...
, a hero of 1930s and 1940s South Sea epics. They divorced several years later.
Fire damage
In October 1985 there was a fire in Malibu, California which damaged homes in the Las Flores Canyon area. Embers carried by wind across the wide Pacific Coast Highway ignited the roof of Raquel Torres' home. Her single story home was located at 22350 Pacific Coast Highway. The dwelling was 80% destroyed but the actress escaped unharmed, escorted by firefighters to safety.Death
Raquel Torres died from a heart attack on August 10, 1987 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos 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...
. She was 78 years old.