Vera Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Early life and career
Born in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1899, she started out as a dancer, worked as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, and became a leading lady in silent motion pictures. Among her film credits are starring roles in Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Samuel Grosvenor "Sam" Wood was an American film director, and producer, who was best known for directing such Hollywood hits as A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and The Pride of the Yankees...
's Prodigal Daughters (1923), and Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
's Feet of Clay
Feet of Clay (film)
Feet of Clay is a drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Vera Reynolds and Rod La Rocque, and with set design by Norman Bel Geddes. The film is now considered to be a lost film.-Cast:* Vera Reynolds - Amy Loring...
(1924), The Golden Bed
The Golden Bed
The Golden Bed is a 1925 drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film survive in the film archive at George Eastman House.-Cast:* Lillian Rich - Flora Lee Peake* Henry B...
(1925), and The Road to Yesterday
The Road to Yesterday
The Road to Yesterday is a 1925 silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film reportedly survive at George Eastman House and in private collections.-Cast:* Joseph Schildkraut - Kenneth Paulton* Jetta Goudal - Malena Paulton...
(1925).
A petite, blue-eyed brunette, with a vivacious, "bubbling-over personality", she was constantly looking for fun. Reporters noted that she was so tiny that she reminded one much more of a little girl than a mature movie star. While she was working with DeMille, he loaned her out so frequently to other studios that she seldom knew where her dressing room might be from day to day.
Controversy
On August 28, 1927, police in Hollywood reported that Reynolds had taken poison. Later the same evening she clarified what had occurred. She explained that an excited telephone operator had phoned the police when her mother requested a doctor. The police arrived along with an ambulance. The actress was found unconscious on the floor of a bathroom in her Hollywood home.Police responded initially to moans from the actress' mother who was outside the bathroom. When the door was opened they found the younger woman writhing in pain. Reynolds' mother believed her daughter had taken the poison by mistake, believing it to be medicine. Despite the actress' protestations she was transported to the emergency room and given emergency treatment.
The attending physician said that he failed to find any trace of poison. Instead he thought Reynolds may have suffered an attack brought on by acute indigestion or ptomaine poisoning. Police had discovered a half-filled bottle of poison in the bathroom which led to their initial conclusion. Vera, upon returning to her home, described the initial report as "ridiculous". I have too much to live for. she said. Life is indeed very sweet and I am certainly not ready to end it yet.
Marriages
She married twice:- To comedian Earl Montgomery; they divorced in 1926.
- To Robert Ellis Reel (1892–1974). In March 1938, Reynolds brought a breach of promiseBreach of promiseBreach of promise is a former common law tort.From at least medieval times until the early 20th century, a man's promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract...
suit against Reel was reported. She sued Reel for $150,000, and contended she lived with Reel for nine years before she learned that they were not married. The suit claimed he promised to marry her, but failed to do so. During a recess in the trial Hollywood film director Bob Vignola, who believed the case could be reconciled out of court, assumed the role of peacemaker. Reynolds claimed to have had a marriage ceremony with Reel in Greenwich, ConnecticutGreenwich, ConnecticutGreenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
in 1926. Reel denied there had been a wedding, and stated the two had lived together unmarried. He remarked they "had the edge" on their unhappy married friends.
Death
Reynolds died in Hollywood on April 22, 1962, aged 62 at the Motion Picture Country Hospital. Funeral services were conducted in the chapel of Pierce Brothers Hollywood Mortuary, and was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood.Selected filmography
- The Monster WalksThe Monster WalksThe Monster Walks directed by Frank R. Strayer, is a black-and-white horror movie.-Plot:The film opens with Ruth Earlton and her fiance Dr. Ted Carver arriving at her father's house. She has been told that her father has died, and is returning to find out what will be done with the estate...
(1932) - The Road to YesterdayThe Road to YesterdayThe Road to Yesterday is a 1925 silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film reportedly survive at George Eastman House and in private collections.-Cast:* Joseph Schildkraut - Kenneth Paulton* Jetta Goudal - Malena Paulton...
(1925) - The Golden BedThe Golden BedThe Golden Bed is a 1925 drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film survive in the film archive at George Eastman House.-Cast:* Lillian Rich - Flora Lee Peake* Henry B...
(1925) - IceboundIcebound (1924 film)Icebound is a silent film drama produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, directed by William C. deMille, and based on a 1923 Pulitzer Prize Broadway produced play of the same name by Owen Davis...
(1924) - Feet of ClayFeet of Clay (film)Feet of Clay is a drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Vera Reynolds and Rod La Rocque, and with set design by Norman Bel Geddes. The film is now considered to be a lost film.-Cast:* Vera Reynolds - Amy Loring...
(1924) - The PestThe Pest (1922 film)-Cast:* Stan Laurel - Jimmy Smith* Glen Cavender - The landlord* Vera Reynolds - The poor tenant* Joy Winthrop - The pest* Mae Laurel - A woman in court...
(1922) - Luke's Trolley TroublesLuke's Trolley TroublesLuke's Trolley Troubles is a 1917 short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd - Lonesome Luke* Bebe Daniels* Snub Pollard* Sammy Brooks* Bud Jamison* Gus Leonard* Sidney De Gray* Harvey L. Kinney* Vera Reynolds* Max Hamburger...
(1917)