Bella Darvi

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Bella Darvi
Darvi in 1954
Born
Bajla Węgier[1]

(1928-10-23)23 October 1928
Sosnowiec, Poland
Died11 September 1971(1971-09-11) (aged 42)
Monte Carlo, Monaco
OccupationActress
Years active1954–1971
Spouses
Alban Cavalcade
​
​
(m. 1950; div. 1952)​
Claude Rouas
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1961)​

Bella Darvi[2] (born Bajla Węgier; 23 October 1928 – 11 September 1971) was a Polish[3] film actress and stage performer who was active in France and the United States.[4]

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Darvi was born Bajla Węgier[1] to Jewish parents Chajm Węgier, a baker, and his wife, Chaja (née Zygelbaum). She had three brothers, Robert, Jacques, and Jean-Isidore, and a sister, Sura.

Darvi's family settled in France when she was one year old.[5] When the Germans invaded France during World War II, Darvi's mother fled to southern France with her sister and two brothers. Darvi decided to stay in Paris for her education along with her brother Robert. Both were eventually jailed by the Vichy government due to their Polish background. She was fifteen years old. Robert died in a concentration camp.[6] "I had the usual experiences of hunger and humiliation, and I try not to think of them and discuss them but I can never forget them," she later said.[7]

Darvi's mother secured her release after three years, in 1943. She went to stay with her mother near Toulouse. "We were always under threat on account of us being Polish," she said.[8]

She married a businessman, Alban Cavalcade, on October 7, 1950[9] and traveled with him to Monaco.

Darryl and Virginia Zanuck[edit]

While on the French Riviera she became associated with Virginia and Darryl Zanuck.[10] She was separated from Cavalcade at the time. The Zanucks invited her to come to Los Angeles and in 1952 she moved there to live with them. She shared a room with Zanuck's second daughter, Susan.[11]

She changed her name to Bella Darvi, Darvi being a combination of the first names of Zanuck and his wife, Virginia.[12] She took acting lessons.[11]

In February 1953 it was announced she had signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. Hedda Hopper called her "an exciting new personality".[13]

Eventually, she became Zanuck's mistress, although she reportedly dated other men including Robert Stack and Brad Dexter.

Hollywood career[edit]

She starred opposite Richard Widmark in Sam Fuller's film Hell and High Water (1954) which started filming in April 1953. She was injured during filming when knocked over.[14]

In March 1953 Leonard Goldstein was reportedly writing The Daughter of Mata Hari as a vehicle for her.[8]

In December 1953 she was announced for the role of Nefer, the seductive Babylonian courtesan, in The Egyptian (1954) over Ava Gardner.[15] Hedda Hopper predicted Darvi would be one of the "stars of 1954" and "make a splash" in her first film.[16] The International Press of Hollywood announced she was one of their "stars of tomorrow" along with Hugh O'Brian, Pat Crowley, Steve Forrest, Barbara Rush and Richard Egan.[17]

Hell and High Water came out in February. The New York Times said Darvi "does not succeed convincingly."[18]

From February to June 1954 she made The Egyptian. Fox then announced her for The Racers.[19] She was publicly linked with Brad Dexter around this time.[20][21] The Racers started filming in September 1954.[22] In November 1954 she left Hollywood to return to Paris.[23]

"I was guilty of egomania," Zanuck later said about trying to build Darvi into a star.[24]

European career[edit]

According to Ephraim Katz, her "three disappointing Hollywood films" were followed by a "number of undistinguished French and Italian productions".[10]

She made a film in France with Eddie Constantine, Je suis un sentimental (1955).

Zanuck left his wife for Darvi, but left her when he discovered that she was bisexual.[12]

In 1956, she reportedly lost $1,000 in two minutes at the casino[25] then $65,000 in two days.[26] She made I'll Get Back to Kandara (1956) in France.

Darvi returned to Hollywood briefly to make her TV debut in "Blind Drop: Warsaw" an episode of the show Conflict with Keith Andes.[27]

In 1957, she was supposed to make a film with George Raft called Morning Call, (which in America was called 'The Strange Case of Dr. Manning'), but filming was put on hold when Raft pulled out, unhappy with the script. They were replaced by Ron Randell and Greta Gynt.[28]

Instead, she was in Sinners of Paris (1958) (Rafles sur la ville), The Mask of the Gorilla (1958) with Lino Ventura,[29] and Pia of Ptolomey (1958).

In January 1958, she was announced for The Lovers of Tomorrow with Edith Piaf.[30]

Instead, she made The Enigma of the Folies-Bergere (1959), and Lipstick (1960).

Darvi later very publicly dated women as well as men. Despite liaisons with extremely wealthy men, she was unable to establish a permanent relationship or to curb her gambling habit. Zanuck was still paying off her debts as late as 1970. She would win and lose up to £30,000 a night.[31]

In February 1959, she was injured in a car crash in Paris when a taxi she was riding in was hit by another car.[32][33] She was in Jules' Breadwinner (1960) and The Woman of Ice (1960).

Later life[edit]

On November 13, 1960, Darvi married Claude Rouas, a restaurant waiter, in Las Vegas; the marriage was annulled less than a year later.

She did The Roar of the Bolidi (1961) in Italy. In 1961 Hedda Hopper reported Darvi was living in Monte Carlo "gambling like mad, and losing every night, but is still wearing fabulous furs and jewels."[34]

In early 1962 she guest starred on an episode of The Dick Powell Theatre, "View from the Eiffel Tower".

In August 1962 she was found unconscious in her hotel room in Monte Carlo after taking an overdose of barbiturates. She eventually recovered.[35]

In 1968 she was found again after an overdose of barbiturates.[36]

Her final roles were in Le bourgeois gentil mec (1969) and Good Little Girls (Les Petites Filles Modèles) (1971).[37]

Death[edit]

On September 11, 1971, after several failed attempts, Darvi committed suicide, in Monte Carlo by gas. Her body remained undiscovered for more than a week.[38][39]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1954 Hell and High Water Denise Montel
1954 The Egyptian Nefer
1955 The Racers Nicole
1955 Je suis un sentimental Marianne Colas
1956 I'll Get Back to Kandara Pascale Barret
1957 Monkey on My Back Cathy Holland
1958 Rafles sur la ville [fr] Cri Cri
1958 Le Gorille vous salue bien [fr] Isoline
1958 Pia de' Tolomei Bice
1959 The Enigma of the Folies-Bergere Solange
1960 Il rossetto Nora, madre di Silvana
1960 Le Pain des Jules Gina Beau Sourire
1960 La donna di Ghiaccio Adriana Savelli
1961 L'Urlo dei bolidi
1969 Le bourgeois gentil mec La tante
1971 Les Petites Filles modèles Mme de Rosbourg English title: Good Little Girls, (final film role)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Tragiczna młodość - Galeria - Film - WP.PL". Film. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Bella Darvi". Eduteka.pl. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Bella Darvi - opinie i oceny". Guster.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Hollywoodzka gwiazda z Sosnowca". Eesil.pl. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  5. ^ Bella Darvi's, Radiofrance.fr, 4 February 2018
  6. ^ "Bella Darvi - The Private Life and Times of Bella Darvi. Bella Darvi Pictures". Glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  7. ^ Actress Beila Darvi's Death in Monaco Apparent Suicide: DARVI Los Angeles Times 18 Sep 1971: b5.
  8. ^ a b First Film Will Tell if Bella's Cinderella: Bella May Be Cinderella Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 8 Mar 1953: D1.
  9. ^ "Biography: Bella Darvi". lesgensducinema.com. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  10. ^ a b Katz, Ephraim (1998). The Macmillan International Film Encyclopedia. London & Basingstoke: Macmillan. p. 333.
  11. ^ a b Bella Darvi Deems Grooming and Clothes Equally Important Lane, Lydia. Los Angeles Times 7 Feb 1954: C14.
  12. ^ a b "The Private Life and Times of Bella Darvi". Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  13. ^ French Beauty Wins 20th Pact and Role Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 7 Feb 1953: 12.
  14. ^ CHILD FOUND IN BAY REVIVED HOUR LATER Los Angeles Times 25 July 1953: A1.
  15. ^ Drama: Dancing Leads Set for 'Hit the Deck' Los Angeles Times 2 Dec 1953: B8.
  16. ^ 'THESE WILL STAR IN 1954': Says HEDDA HOPPER STARS OF 1954 Chicago Daily Tribune3 Jan 1954: f8.
  17. ^ Marilyn Monroe, Ladd and Taylor Win Awards: International Press of Hollywood Reveals World Favorites on Actors and Actresses Los Angeles Times 23 Jan 1954: A5.
  18. ^ THE SCREEN IN REVIEW: Fox' 'Hell and High Water' in CinemaScope Is the New Feature at Roxy By BOSLEY CROWTHER. New York Times 2 Feb 1954: 20.
  19. ^ HEDDA HOPPER: Donna Reed to Enact Role of Indian Girl Los Angeles Times 12 June 1954: 12.
  20. ^ 'Mutiny' Hassle Going to Court The Washington Post and Times-Herald 12 July 1954: 15.
  21. ^ TODAY'S COVER GIRL Leonard, William. Chicago Daily Tribune 8 Aug 1954: c28.
  22. ^ Bogart-Peck-Huston Combine Likely; Boyer, Niven, Brand May Team Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 Sep 1954: B9.
  23. ^ Mature Will Star in 'Gilded Rooster' Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 6 Nov 1954: A6.
  24. ^ Buchwald, Art (1962-07-14). "Zanuck Vs. Greco: Four-Year Friendship Egomania Ambitious Girls". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. p. D31
  25. ^ Dorothy Kilgallen: Bella Darvi Loses At $500 Per Minute The Washington Post and Times-Herald 12 May 1956: 40.
  26. ^ Dorothy Kilgallen: Marilyn Gets Even With Joan The Washington Post and Times-Herald 9 Aug 1956: 28.
  27. ^ TV 'RANCH PARTY' WILL BE FILMED: Screen Gems Plans Series of 39 Programs Featuring 'Country-Style' Acts The New York Times. 27 Nov 1956: 51.
  28. ^ CROWD FORCES ELIZABETH TO MISS DANCE Los Angeles Times 21 Feb 1957: 7.
  29. ^ Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 26, Iss. 300, (Jan 1, 1959): 48.
  30. ^ MOVIELAND EVENTS: Mason Gets Video Actor Young as Aide Los Angeles Times 2 Jan 1958: A6.
  31. ^ Gambling like this is not for you and me: Ian Wooldridge TALKING SPORT The Times of India 7 Nov 1971: A15.
  32. ^ Actress Hurt in Crash The Washington Post and Times-Herald 19 Feb 1959: 3.
  33. ^ Bella Darvi Hurt in Taxi Mishap The Washington Post and Times-Herald (1954-1959); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]16 Feb 1959: A20.
  34. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Holden to Be War II Hero in Zanuck's 'Longest Day' Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 24 July 1961: a6.
  35. ^ Bella Darvi in Monaco Hospital, New York Times 17 Aug 1962: 11
  36. ^ Actress Bella Darvi's Death in Monaco Apparent Suicide Los Angeles Times 17 Sep 1971: 3.
  37. ^ Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 39, Iss. 456, (Jan 1, 1972): 35.
  38. ^ Actress, 42, Found Dead In Monaco The Washington Post and Times-Herald 18 Sep 1971: B4.
  39. ^ MONACO POLICE TELL BELLA DARVI DEATH Los Angeles Times 18 Sep 1971: a7.

External links[edit]

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