Maria Montez at Brian's Drive-In Theater

biography

Born Maria Africa Gracia Vidal in the Dominican Republic on June 6, 1912, exotic actress Maria Montez was raised in the Canary Islands, where she attended convent school. She came to America in the late 1930s with her first husband William, a British Army officer whom she married at age 20. The marriage fizzled in 1939, and Montez went to New York to take a modeling job. Her photos came to the attention of several studio executives. She initially signed with RKO, but when the studio declined to pick up her option, Universal Studios put her under contract in 1940.

LEFT: Early 1940s Universal studio photo of Maria Montez. CENTER: With frequent costar Jon Hall. RIGHT: With second husband Jean-Pierre Aumont

Maria Montez's first film for Universal was the 1940 sci-fi comedy The Invisible Woman; however, her role wasn't much more than a bit part. Montez grew frustrated with the studio system at Universal, which dictated coming up through the ranks by way of small roles and low-budget films. Montez wished to start at the top, but without studio execs on her side, she started her own publicity campaigns and fan club. Throughout the next two years, Montez appeared in several more films, including That Night in Rio (1941; with Alice Faye and Don Ameche) and Raiders of the Desert (1941; with Richard Arlen and Turhan Bey), but she served as little more than window dressing in these films. So Montez stepped up her efforts at self-promotion, making grand entrances at nightclubs and social functions, and even appearing at smaller gatherings with her own entourage. Her efforts began to pay off by 1942, when she was cast in the title role in the film The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942; with Patric Knowles). Gaining a following, Montez insisted that her next film be shot in color, since she didn't photograph as well in black and white. Her impulse was correct, as Arabian Nights (1942; with Jon Hall and Sabu) was released during the 1942 Christmas season and became an instant smash hit.

the films of maria montez

Boss of Bullion City (1940)

Fuzzy Knight, Johnny Mack Brown, and Maria Montez

With Johnny Mack Brown and Fuzzy Knight in the Universal western Boss of Bullion City

Arabian Nights (1942)

LEFT: With frequent co-stars Jon Hall and Sabu in the Universal actioner Arabian Nights. This was the first of six films in which Hall and Montez costarred. RIGHT: With Sabu

Bombay Clipper (1942)

Maria Montez, William Gargan, and Turhan Bey

With William Gargan and Turhan Bey in Universal's mystery Bombay Clipper

White Savage (1943)

LEFT: With Jon Hall in Universal's White Savage. RIGHT: With Sidney Toler

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944)

With Turhan Bey in the colorful Universal adventure Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Cobra Woman (1944)

From Universal's Technicolor adventure Cobra Woman. LEFT and CENTER A: Montez as Tollea. CENTER B: With Lon Chaney Jr. and Sabu. RIGHT: With Jon Hall

Sudan (1945)

Again with Turhan Bey in Universal's romantic adventure Sudan

Siren of Atlantis (1949)

With Dennis O'Keefe in the campy adventure Siren of Atlantis

later years

In July 1943, Montez married French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, but Aumont's service in World War II immediately interrupted the honeymoon. After returning from the war, Aumont returned to making films in America but was unhappy with the types of roles offered to him, so in 1948 Montez, Aumont, and their daughter Tina, born in 1946, moved to France where Aumont resumed his career in French films.

Montez became discontented with the roles Universal offered her after the war. When she was cast in The Exile (1947; with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), she found the role gave her only 20 minutes of screen time. She balked but later accepted the role rather than be suspended by the studio, but Montez had a stipulation in her contract giving her top billing. After getting out of her Universal contract, she began making films in Europe with quite a bit of success. Sadly, on September 7, 1951, Montez was found dead in the bathtub of her Paris home at age 39. Although no autopsy was performed, it was speculated that she had a heart attack. She was survived by second husband Jean-Pierre Aumont (1911-2001) and their daughter, actress Tina Aumont (1946-2006).

filmography

FILM
Camorra (1951)
City of Violence (1951)
Revenge of the Pirates (1951)
The Thief of Venice (1950)
Portrait of an Assassin (1949) with Erich von Stroheim
Wicked City (1948) with Jean-Pierre Aumont and Lilli Palmer
Siren of Atlantis (1948) with Jean-Pierre Aumont
The Exile (1947) with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Pirates of Monterey (1947) with Gilbert Roland
Tangier (1946) with Sabu and Louise Allbritton
Sudan (1945) with Jon Hall, Turhan Bey, and Andy Devine
Gypsy Wildcat (1944) with Jon Hall
Cobra Woman (1944) with Jon Hall, Sabu, and Lon Chaney Jr.
Follow the Boys (1944)
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944) with Jon Hall and Turhan Bey
Bowery to Broadway (1944) with Turhan Bey and Jack Oakie
White Savage (1943) with Jon Hall, Sabu, and Turhan Bey
Arabian Nights (1942) with Jon Hall, Sabu, and Turhan Bey
Mystery of Marie Roget (1942) with Maria Ouspenskaya and Patric Knowles
Bombay Clipper (1942) with William Gargan, Irene Hervey, Lloyd Corrigan, and Turhan Bey
South of Tahiti (1941) with Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford, Andy Devine, and Armida
Lucky Devils (1941) with Richard Arlen and Andy Devine
That Night in Rio (1941) with Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Carmen Miranda
Boss of Bullion City (1941) with Johnny Mack Brown and Fuzzy Knight
Moonlight in Hawaii (1941) with Jane Frazee, Leon Errol, and Mischa Auer
Raiders of the Desert (1941) with Richard Arlen and Turhan Bey
The Invisible Woman (1940) with Virginia Bruce and John Barrymore

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This page premiered May 12, 2000.
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Maria Montez

(1912-1951)