On November 9, 1913, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler was born in Vienna, Austria to a banker and his wife.(In her autobiography she stated it was 1915, but most sources indicate she may have fudged a bit). Hedwig, who obviously became Hedy, had a rather calm childhood, but it was cinema that fascinated her.
By the time she was a teenager, she decided to drop out of school and seek her fame as an actress. Her first role was a bit part in the German film GELD AUF DER STRASE(aka MONEY ON THE STREET) in 1930. She was attractive and talented enough to be in three more German productions in 1931, but it would be her fifth film that would catapult her to worldwide fame.
In 1932, Hedy appeared in a German film called EXTASY and had made the gutsy move to be nude. It's the story of a young girl who is married to a gentleman much younger than she, but she winds up falling in love with a young soldier. The movie's nude scenes created a sensation all over the world. To be fair, it is very tame by today's standards, but the film was banned by the US government at the time. I have a small clip of EXTASY lasting a couple of minutes which I came across about eleven years ago and there really isn't much to it. It consists of her young lover looking for her while she is running away so he won't see her nude. To be honest Hedy is absolute beautiful in the scene in addition to the skinny dipping scene.
Hedy soon married Fritz Mandl, who was a munitions manufactuer and a Nazi sympathizer. He made a vain attempt to buy up all the prints of EXTASY he could lay his hands on. Even Italy's dictator, Benito Mussolini, had a copy and refused to sell it to Mandl. It turned out to be a complete waste of money because there are still several prints floating around the world today.
The gutsy move to be nude brought Hollywood to her door. Certain people brought her to the attention of Louis B. Mayer who signed her to a contract against his judgement due to her nude performance. But it was the dollar signs that made him do it due to her notoriety. However, he insisted she change her name and make good, wholesome films. Besides, nudity would never pass the Hays Office(the censorship agency).
Hedy made her USA debut as Gaby in the 1938 film ALGIERS. This was followed a year later with LADY OF THE TROPICS. An actress with her fine abilites should have been given better roles because she had the beauty and talent to make her a star in the Jean Harlow or better category.
In 1942, she landed the plum role of Tondelayo in the classic, WHITE CARGO. After World War Two, her career began to decline and MGM decided it would be in the interst of all concerned if her contract were not renewed. Unfortunately, for Hedy, she turned down the leads in both GASLIGHT and CASABLANCA. What this would have done to cement her in the minds of the American public!
In 1949, she appeared as Delilah opposite Victor Mature in SAMSON AND DELILAH. This film proved to be Paramount Studios biggest movie to date bringing in $12 million in rental from theaters. The success of the film led to more parts but it was not enough to ease her financial crunch. She was to make only six more film between 1949 and 1957, the last being THE FEMALE ANIMAL.
Hedy retired to Florida where she died on January 19, 2000. She was 86 years old.
Some beautiful Hedy Lamarr pictures are below!
Hedy Pic 1
Hedy Pic 2
Hedy Pic 3
Hedy Pic 4
Hedy Pic 5
Hedy Pic 6
Hedy Pic 7
Click here to go to Myrna Loy
"Not Just Another Pretty
Face"
Check out this great site by Courtney Baalman on a side of Hedy Lamarr you probably never knew before!
Email me if you want on the mailing list for updates! Thanks to Benny Sharp for pic 7.
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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