Sigrid Gurie
Encyclopedia
Sigrid Gurie was a Norwegian American
motion picture actress from the late 1930s to early 1940s.
from 1902 to 1912. Since Sigrid Gurie and her twin brother Knut Haukelid
were born in America, the twins held dual Norwegian-American citizenship. In 1914, the family returned to Norway. Sigrid Gurie subsequently grew up in Oslo
and was educated in Norway, Sweden and Belgium. In 1935 Gurie married Thomas Stewart of California; she filed for divorce in 1938. Her brother became a noted member of the Norwegian resistance movement
during World War II
.
Sam Goldwyn reportedly took credit for discovering her, promoting his discovery as "the new Garbo" and billed her as "the siren of the fjords". When the press discovered Gurie's birth in Flatbush, Goldwyn then claimed "the greatest hoax in movie mystery." She starred as Kokashin, daughter of Kublai Khan
, in the 1938 production of The Adventures of Marco Polo
, and went on to give worthwhile performances in such films as Algiers
(1938), Three Faces West
(1940) and Voice in the Wind
(1944). She had a minor role in the classic Norwegian film Kampen om tungtvannet (1948). The movie was based principally on the book Skis Against the Atom which was written by her brother.
In the late 1940s she attended the Kann Art Institute, operated in West Hollywood by abstract art
ist Frederick I. Kann (1886–1965). She studied oils and portraiture. Among her works were landscapes, portraits and pen and ink sketches
.
From 1961 to 1969 she lived in San Miguel de Allende
, Mexico
, where she continued painting, and was also designing jewelry for Royal Copenhagen
in Denmark
. She entered the hospital in Mexico City
on an emergency basis for a recurring kidney problem, then developed a blood clot that passed through her lungs, which led to her death.
Norwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
motion picture actress from the late 1930s to early 1940s.
Early life
She was born Sigrid Gurie Haukelid in Brooklyn, New York to Bjørulf Knutson Haukelid (1878–1944) and Sigrid Johanne Christophersen (1877–1969). Her father was a civil engineer who worked for the New York City SubwayNew York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
from 1902 to 1912. Since Sigrid Gurie and her twin brother Knut Haukelid
Knut Haukelid
Knut Haukelid was a Norwegian resistance movement soldier during World War II, most notable for participating in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage...
were born in America, the twins held dual Norwegian-American citizenship. In 1914, the family returned to Norway. Sigrid Gurie subsequently grew up in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and was educated in Norway, Sweden and Belgium. In 1935 Gurie married Thomas Stewart of California; she filed for divorce in 1938. Her brother became a noted member of the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Career
In 1936, Gurie arrived in Hollywood. Film magnateMagnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
Sam Goldwyn reportedly took credit for discovering her, promoting his discovery as "the new Garbo" and billed her as "the siren of the fjords". When the press discovered Gurie's birth in Flatbush, Goldwyn then claimed "the greatest hoax in movie mystery." She starred as Kokashin, daughter of Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
, in the 1938 production of The Adventures of Marco Polo
The Adventures of Marco Polo
The Adventures of Marco Polo is a 1938 drama-adventure genre film, and one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions.-Plot:...
, and went on to give worthwhile performances in such films as Algiers
Algiers (film)
Algiers is a 1938 American drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie, and Hedy Lamarr. The Walter Wanger production was a remake of the successful 1937 French film Pépé le Moko, which derived its plot from the Henri La Barthe novel of the same name...
(1938), Three Faces West
Three Faces West
Three Faces West is a 1940 film starring John Wayne, Sigrid Gurie and Charles Coburn. An unusual film, with a political agenda that seems to be part pro New Deal, it is part anti-fascist and part pro good old American community values...
(1940) and Voice in the Wind
Voice in the Wind
Voice in the Wind is a 1944 American film noir directed by Arthur Ripley and written by Friedrich Torberg, based on a story written by Arthur Ripley. The drama features Francis Lederer, Sigrid Gurie, J...
(1944). She had a minor role in the classic Norwegian film Kampen om tungtvannet (1948). The movie was based principally on the book Skis Against the Atom which was written by her brother.
In the late 1940s she attended the Kann Art Institute, operated in West Hollywood by abstract art
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
ist Frederick I. Kann (1886–1965). She studied oils and portraiture. Among her works were landscapes, portraits and pen and ink sketches
Sketch (drawing)
A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work...
.
From 1961 to 1969 she lived in San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is a city and municipality located in the far eastern part of the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. It is 274 km from Mexico City and 97 km from the state capital of Guanajuato...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where she continued painting, and was also designing jewelry for Royal Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory is a manufacturer of porcelain products and was founded in Copenhagen 1 May 1775 under the protection of Queen Juliane Marie...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. She entered the hospital in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on an emergency basis for a recurring kidney problem, then developed a blood clot that passed through her lungs, which led to her death.
Filmography
- The Road BackThe Road BackThe Road Back is a novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque. The novel was first serialized in the German newspaper Vossische Zeitung between December 1930 and January 1931, and published in book form in April 1931. It details the experience of young men in Germany who have returned from the...
(1937) (uncredited) as Soldier's wife - The Adventures of Marco PoloThe Adventures of Marco PoloThe Adventures of Marco Polo is a 1938 drama-adventure genre film, and one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions.-Plot:...
(1938) as Princess Kukachin - AlgiersAlgiers (film)Algiers is a 1938 American drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie, and Hedy Lamarr. The Walter Wanger production was a remake of the successful 1937 French film Pépé le Moko, which derived its plot from the Henri La Barthe novel of the same name...
(1938) as Ines - The Forgotten Woman (1939) as Anne Kennedy
- Rio (1939) as Irene Reynard
- Three Faces WestThree Faces WestThree Faces West is a 1940 film starring John Wayne, Sigrid Gurie and Charles Coburn. An unusual film, with a political agenda that seems to be part pro New Deal, it is part anti-fascist and part pro good old American community values...
(1940) as Leni 'Lenchen' Braun - Dark Streets of CairoDark Streets of CairoDark Streets of Cario is a 1940 American mystery film directed by László Kardos and starring Sigrid Gurie, Ralph Byrd, Eddie Quillan, George Zucco and Katherine DeMille.-Cast:* Sigrid Gurie - Ellen Stephens* Ralph Byrd - Dennis Martin...
(1940) as Ellen Stephens - A Voice in the Wind (1944) as Marya
- Enemy of Women (1944) as Magda Quandt
- Kampen om tungtvannet (1948)
(released internationally as Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water) - Sword of the Avenger (1948) as Maria Louisa
- Sofia (1948) as Linda Carlsen
- The Du Pont Story (1950) as Sophie du Pont
External links
- Sigrid Gurie at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...