Benita Hume (14 October 1907 – 1 November 1967) was an English theatre and film actress. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1925 and 1955.

Life and career

She was married to film actor

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Hollywood film career. He wa ...

from 1938 to his death in 1958; they were the parents of a daughter, Juliet. She starred with Colman in both versions of the

situation comedy A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

The Halls of Ivy ''The Halls of Ivy'' is an American situation comedy that ran from 1950 to 1952 on NBC radio, created by '' Fibber McGee & Molly'' co-creator/writer Don Quinn. The series was adapted into a CBS television comedy (1954–55) produced by ITC Enterta ...

'', an

NBC Radio The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first t ...

programme (1950–1952) and a

CBS Television CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

show (1954–1955). She also made occasional guest appearances with her husband on ''

The Jack Benny Show ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...

'' on radio, where the Colmans were portrayed as Benny's long-suffering next-door neighbours, a role they reprised once on his television show. After Ronald Colman's death, she married actor

George Sanders George Henry Sanders (3 July 1906 – 25 April 1972) was a British actor and singer whose career spanned over 40 years. His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth, bass voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous chara ...

in 1959 and they remained together until her death in 1967. Sanders originally was signed to play Sheridan Whiteside in the musical ''

Sherry! ''Sherry!'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by James Lipton and music by Laurence Rosenthal. The musical is based on the 1939 George S. Kaufman-Moss Hart play ''The Man Who Came to Dinner''. In 1967, following a short run on Broadway and poo ...

'' but when Hume became terminally ill with cancer, he withdrew from the project.James Lipton. ''Inside Inside'' (2007), Dutton, , p. 155 Hume died in Kent from

bone cancer A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in bone, traditionally classified as noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Cancerous bone tumors usually originate from a cancer in another part of the body such as from lung, breast, thyro ...

, aged 60.

Filmography

Film

* ''

The Happy Ending ''The Happy Ending'' is a 1969 drama film written and directed by Richard Brooks, which tells the story of a repressed housewife who longs for liberation from her husband and daughter. It stars Jean Simmons (who received an Oscar nomination), ...

'' (1925) as Miss Moon * ''

Second to None ''2nd to None'' (also known as ''ELVIIS: 2nd to None'') is a collection of songs by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. The album was released by on October 7, 2003 by RCA Records as the sequel to the previous year's highly successful ...

'' (1927) as Ina * '' The Constant Nymph'' (1928) as Antonia Sanger * '' Easy Virtue'' (1928) as Telephone Receptionist (uncredited) * '' Balaclava'' (1928) as Jean McDonald * ''

A South Sea Bubble ''A South Sea Bubble'' is a 1928 British silent comedy adventure film directed by T. Hayes Hunter and starring Ivor Novello, Benita Hume and Alma Taylor. The screenplay concerns a group of adventurers who head to the Pacific Ocean to hunt f ...

'' (1928) - Averil Rochester * '' A Light Woman'' (1928) as Dolores de Vargas * ''

The Lady of the Lake The Lady of the Lake (french: Dame du Lac, Demoiselle du Lac, cy, Arglwyddes y Llyn, kw, Arloedhes an Lynn, br, Itron al Lenn, it, Dama del Lago) is a name or a title used by several either fairy or fairy-like but human enchantresses in the ...

'' (1928) as The Lady of the Lake * ''

High Treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...

'' (1929) as Evelyn Seymour * '' The Clue of the New Pin'' (1929) as Ursula Ardfern * '' The Wrecker'' (1929) as Mary Shelton * '' The House of the Arrow'' (1930) as Betty Harlow * '' Symphony in Two Flats'' (1930) as Lesley Fullerton (UK version) * '' The Flying Fool'' (1931) as Marion Lee * ''

A Honeymoon Adventure ''A Honeymoon Adventure'' is a 1931 British thriller film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Benita Hume, Peter Hannen and Harold Huth. Written in collaboration by Rupert Downing and Basil Dean, it The film was shot at Beaconsfield Studios ...

'' (1931) as Eve Martin * ''

'' (1931) as Yvonne * '' Service for Ladies'' (1932) as Countess Ricardi * ''

Women Who Play ''Women Who Play'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and starring Mary Newcomb, Benita Hume and George Barraud. It was produced by Walter Morosco and Alexander Korda and has a screenplay by Basil Mason and Gilbert Wakefie ...

'' (1932) as Margaret Sones * ''

Help Yourself Help is a word meaning to give aid or signal distress. Help may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Help'' (2010 film), a Bollywood horror film * ''Help'' (2021 theatrical film), a British psychological thriller film * '' ...

'' (1932) as Mary Lamb * '' Diamond Cut Diamond'' (1932) as Marda Blackett * '' Men of Steel'' (1932) as Audrey Paxton * '' Sally Bishop'' (1932) as Evelyn Standish * '' Lord Camber's Ladies'' (1932) as Janet King * ''

Discord Discord is a VoIP and instant messaging social platform. Users have the ability to communicate with voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called "servers".The developer documenta ...

'' (1933) as Phil Stenning * '' The Little Damozel'' (1933) as Sybil Craven * '' Clear All Wires!'' (1933) as Kate * ''

Looking Forward ''Looking Forward'' is the third and final studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and their fifth, overall. It is the fourteenth and final album when conflated with releases by the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released on Reprise ...

'' (1933) as Mrs. Isobel Service * ''

Gambling Ship A gambling ship is a sea vessel of any kind on which gambling takes place. Historically, international waters began just from land in many countries. Gambling ships, like offshore radio stations, would usually be anchored just outside the th ...

'' (1933) as Eleanor La Velle * '' Only Yesterday'' (1933) as Phyllis Emerson * ''

The Worst Woman in Paris? ''The Worst Woman in Paris?'' is a 1933 American drama film directed by Monta Bell and written by Monta Bell and Marion Dix. The film stars Benita Hume, Adolphe Menjou, Harvey Stephens, Helen Chandler, Margaret Seddon and Adele St. Mauer. The ...

'' (1933) as Margaret Ann 'Peggy' Vane * ''

The Private Life of Don Juan ''The Private Life of Don Juan'' is a 1934 British comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon and Benita Hume. At the age of 51, it was the final role of Fairbanks, who died five years later. The f ...

'' (1934) as Dona Dolores, a Lady of Mystery * '' Jew Suss'' (1934) as Marie Auguste * ''

18 Minutes ''18 Minutes'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Monty Banks and starring Gregory Ratoff, John Loder and Benita Hume. It was shot at Walton Studios near London. Plot A lion tamer adopts an orphaned girl and marries her, only to find ...

'' (1935) as Lady Phyllis Pilcott * ''

The Divine Spark ''The Divine Spark'' is a 1935 British musical film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Marta Eggerth, Phillips Holmes, Benita Hume and Donald Calthrop. An Italian-language version '' Casta Diva'' was shot simultaneously. Both films were ...

'' (1935) as Giuditta Pasta * ''

The Gay Deception ''The Gay Deception'' is a 1935 romantic comedy film starring Francis Lederer and Frances Dee. Writers Stephen Morehouse Avery and Don Hartman were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story. Plot Secretary Mirabel Miller (Frances Dee) win ...

'' (1935) as Miss Channing * ''

The Garden Murder Case ''The Garden Murder Case'' (first published in 1935) is the ninth in a series of mystery novels by S. S. Van Dine about fictional detective Philo Vance. Plot outline Floyd, the son of Professor Garden, invites his socialite friends to the rooft ...

'' (1936) as Nurse Beeton * ''

Moonlight Murder ''Moonlight Murder'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. The film stars Chester Morris, Madge Evans, Leo Carrillo, Frank McHugh, Benita Hume, Grant Mitchell, Katharine ...

'' (1936) as Diana * '' Suzy'' (1936) as Diane Eyrelle * ''

Tarzan Escapes ''Tarzan Escapes'' is a 1936 Tarzan film based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the third in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ''Tarzan'' series to feature Johnny Weissmuller as the "King of the Apes". Previous films were '' Tarzan ...

'' (1936) as Rita Parker * ''

Rainbow on the River ''Rainbow on the River'' (also known as ''It Happened in New Orleans'') is a 1936 American musical film directed by Kurt Neumann from a screenplay by Harry Chandlee, Earle Snell, and William Hurlbut, based upon the novel ''Toinette's Philip'' ...

'' (1936) as Julia Layton * '' The Last of Mrs. Cheyney'' (1937) as Kitty Wynton * ''

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus ''Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, based on the book of the same name by George W. Peck, one of his stories of Peck's Bad Boy. Plot summary Bill Peck receives ten dollars from his p ...

'' (1938) as Myrna Daro

Television

* ''

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedies ...

'' (1953) * ''

'' (1954–1954)

Selected stage credits

* '' London Life'' by

Arnold Bennett Enoch Arnold Bennett (27 May 1867 – 27 March 1931) was an English author, best known as a novelist. He wrote prolifically: between the 1890s and the 1930s he completed 34 novels, seven volumes of short stories, 13 plays (some in collaboratio ...

(1924) * ''

Chance Acquaintance ''Chance Acquaintance'' is a 1927 play by the British writer John Van Druten, one of his earliest. It was staged at the Criterion Theatre in the West End for a run of 19 performances between 2 and 19 November 1927. The cast included Helen Haye, ...

'' by

John Van Druten John William Van Druten (1 June 190119 December 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observation ...

(1927)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hume, Benita 1907 births 1967 deaths Deaths from bone cancer English film actresses English silent film actresses Deaths from cancer in England Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses British expatriate actresses in the United States