Sari Maritza
Encyclopedia
Sari Maritza was an actress in British films of the early 1930s.
Born Dora Patricia Detring-Nathan in Tianjin
, China, Maritza was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist and his Viennese
wife. Her stage name was taken from the titles of two then famous European operettas: 'Sari' and 'Countess Maritza'. She entered films in 1930 and gained some notoriety for dancing a tango with Charles Chaplin at the premiere for his film City Lights
in 1931. Although her behaviour was described as lurid, which was silly publicity, she attracted attention and was cast in several low budget, but relatively popular British films.
She made the film Monte Carlo Madness in Germany in 1932 before travelling to Hollywood, but her few films there for Paramount Studios were poorly received. In America she was portrayed as an exotic European vamp with emphasis placed on her mother's Austrian heritage, but Maritza had lived most of her life in England, and disapproved of the studio's attempts to create a more mysterious facade for her. She retired in 1934 following her marriage, and in later years, admitted that she had been eager to end her career as she did not consider herself to be a capable actress.
The Literary Digest
said the name was pronounced SHA-ree MAR-ee-tsa. (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)
She died in the Virgin Islands
.
Born Dora Patricia Detring-Nathan in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, China, Maritza was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist and his Viennese
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
wife. Her stage name was taken from the titles of two then famous European operettas: 'Sari' and 'Countess Maritza'. She entered films in 1930 and gained some notoriety for dancing a tango with Charles Chaplin at the premiere for his film City Lights
City Lights
City Lights is a 1931 American silent film and romantic comedy-drama written by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. It also has the leads Virginia Cherrill and Harry Myers. Although "talking" pictures were on the rise since 1928, City Lights was immediately popular. Today, it is thought of...
in 1931. Although her behaviour was described as lurid, which was silly publicity, she attracted attention and was cast in several low budget, but relatively popular British films.
She made the film Monte Carlo Madness in Germany in 1932 before travelling to Hollywood, but her few films there for Paramount Studios were poorly received. In America she was portrayed as an exotic European vamp with emphasis placed on her mother's Austrian heritage, but Maritza had lived most of her life in England, and disapproved of the studio's attempts to create a more mysterious facade for her. She retired in 1934 following her marriage, and in later years, admitted that she had been eager to end her career as she did not consider herself to be a capable actress.
The Literary Digest
Literary Digest
The Literary Digest was an influential general interest weekly magazine published by Funk & Wagnalls. Founded by Isaac Kaufmann Funk in 1890, it eventually merged with two similar weekly magazines, Public Opinion and Current Opinion.-History:...
said the name was pronounced SHA-ree MAR-ee-tsa. (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)
She died in the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
.