Florence Davenport Rice (February 14, 1907 – February 23, 1974) was an American film actress.

Early years

Florence Davenport Rice was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the only child of the noted sportswriter

Grantland Rice Henry Grantland "Granny" Rice (November 1, 1880July 13, 1954) was an early 20th-century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio. Early years Rice wa ...

and Fannie Katherine Hollis. She attended Dwight School for Girls at Englewood, New Jersey, and

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

Career

Rice became an actress during the late 1920s and, after several Broadway roles, eventually made her way to Hollywood, where she acted in almost 50 films between 1934 and 1943. Rice was cast as the reliable girlfriend in several films for

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by amazon (company), Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded o ...

. MGM gradually provided her with more substantial roles, occasionally in prestige productions. Rice never became a major figure in movies, but she performed in a number of screen pairings with Robert Young. Her most widely seen performances were in ''

Double Wedding A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...

'' (1937), in which she was billed third in the cast credits behind

William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor. A major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the ''The Thin Man (film), Thin Man'' series based on the Nick and Nora Cha ...

and

Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...

, '' Sweethearts'' (1938) with

Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American singer and Actor, actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', ''Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow (1934 ...

and

Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclub ...

, and

The Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

film ''

At The Circus ''At the Circus'' is a 1939 comedy film starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx) released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in which they help save a circus from bankruptcy. The film contains Groucho Marx's classic rendition of ...

'' (1939). During the 1940s, the quality of her roles steadily decreased, and in 1947, she retired.

Personal life

Rice married four times, with her fourth marriage lasting until her death.

Death

On February 23, 1974, Rice died in Honolulu from lung cancer at age 67. She was survived by her husband.

Filmography

* '' Fugitive Lady'' (1934) – Ann Duncan * '' The Best Man Wins'' (1935) – Ann Barry * ''

Under Pressure "Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album ''Hot Space''. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, ...

'' (1935) – Pat Dodge * ''

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

'' (1935) – Miss Holbrook * ''

Death Flies East ''Death Flies East'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Conrad Nagel, Florence Rice and Raymond Walburn. The action takes place on an airline flight with a murderer aboard. The film was an early example of the avia ...

'' (1935) – Evelyn Vail * ''

The Awakening of Jim Burke ''The Awakening of Jim Burke'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Michael L. Simmons. The film stars Jack Holt, Florence Rice, Jimmy Butler, Kathleen Burke, Robert Middlemass and Ralph Remley. The film was ...

'' (1935) – Tess Hardie * ''

Guard That Girl ''Guard That Girl'' is a 1935 American mystery film written and directed by Lambert Hillyer, which stars Robert Allen, Florence Rice, and Ward Bond. Cast list * Robert Allen as Larry Donovan * Florence Rice as Helen Bradford * Ward Bond as Bud ...

'' (1935) – Helen Bradford * ''

Escape from Devil's Island ''Escape from Devil's Island'' is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Earle Snell and Fred Niblo Jr. The film stars Victor Jory, Florence Rice, Norman Foster, Stanley Andrews, Daniel L. Haynes and Herbert ...

'' (1935) – Johanna Harrington * ''Super-Speed'' (1935) – Billie Devlin * ''

Pride of the Marines ''Pride of the Marines'' is a 1945 American biographical war film starring John Garfield and Eleanor Parker. It tells the story of U.S. Marine Al Schmid in World War II, his heroic stand against a Japanese attack during the Battle of Guadalc ...

'' (1936) – Molly Malone * ''

Panic on the Air ''Panic on the Air'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Lew Ayres. Cast * Lew Ayres as Jerry Franklin * Florence Rice as Mary Connor Cremer * Benny Baker as Andy * Edwin Maxwell as Gordon * Charles C. Wi ...

'' (1936) – Mary Connor aka Cremer * ''

Blackmailer Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fam ...

'' (1936) – Joan Rankin * ''

Women Are Trouble ''Women Are Trouble'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Errol Taggart and written by Michael Fessier. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Paul Kelly, Florence Rice, Margaret Irving, Cy Kendall and John Harrington. The film was released on J ...

'' (1936) – Ruth Nolan * ''

Sworn Enemy Sworn Enemy is an American crossover thrash band from New York City. Biography The band formed as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York hardcore scene. At its original inception th ...

'' (1936) – Margaret 'Peg' Gattle * '' The Longest Night'' (1936) – Joan Sutton * ''

Under Cover of Night ''Under Cover of Night'' is a 1937 American action film directed by George B. Seitz, written by Bertram Millhauser, and starring Edmund Lowe, Florence Rice, Nat Pendleton, Henry Daniell, Sara Haden and Dean Jagger. It was released on January 8, ...

'' (1937) – Deb Reed * '' Man of the People'' (1937) – Abbey Reid * '' Riding on Air'' (1937) – Betty Harrison * ''

Married Before Breakfast ''Married Before Breakfast'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Robert Young, Florence Rice and June Clayworth. Plot After years of struggling, inventor Tom Wakefield sells his hair-removal invention ...

'' (1937) – Kitty Brent * ''

'' (1937) – Irene Agnew * ''

Navy Blue and Gold "Navy Blue and Gold" is the alma mater of the United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during ...

'' (1937) – Patricia 'Pat' Gates * ''

Beg, Borrow or Steal ''Beg, Borrow or Steal'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and written by Leonard Lee, Harry Ruskin and Marion Parsonnet. The film stars Frank Morgan, Florence Rice, John Beal, Janet Beecher, Herman Bing and Erik Rho ...

'' (1937) – Joyce Steward * ''

Paradise for Three ''Paradise for Three'', titled ''Romance for Three'' in the United Kingdom, is a 1938 romantic comedy film starring Frank Morgan as a wealthy industrialist who decides to find out about his German workers by temporarily living among them incognit ...

'' (1938) – Hilde Tobler * ''

Fast Company ''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year. History ''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...

'' (1938) – Garda Sloane * ''

Vacation from Love ''Vacation from Love'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Fitzmaurice, written by Patterson McNutt and Harlan Ware, and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Reginald Owen, June Knight, Edward Brophy and Truman Bradley. It was ...

'' (1938) – Patricia Lawson * '' Sweethearts'' (1938) – Kay Jordan * '' Stand Up and Fight'' (1939) – Susan Griffith * ''

Four Girls in White ''Four Girls in White'' is a 1939 drama film directed by S. Sylvan Simon, starring Florence Rice and Una Merkel. It follows the mostly comical exploits of four nursing students enrolled in a three-year training course. Plot Student nurses at a la ...

'' (1939) – Norma Page * ''

The Kid from Texas ''The Kid from Texas'' is a 1950 American Western film that was Audie Murphy's first Technicolor Western and the first feature film on Murphy's Universal-International Pictures contract. It was directed by Kurt Neumann and featured Gale Storm ...

'' (1939) – Margo Thomas * ''

Miracles for Sale ''Miracles for Sale'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Tod Browning, and starring Robert Young and Florence Rice. It was Browning's final film as a director. The film is based on a locked-room mystery novel by well-known mystery writ ...

'' (1939) – Judy Barclay * ''

At the Circus ''At the Circus'' is a 1939 comedy film starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx) released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in which they help save a circus from bankruptcy. The film contains Groucho Marx's classic rendition of ...

'' (1939) – Julie Randall * ''

Little Accident ''Little Accident'' was a 1928 Broadway three-act comedy written by Floyd Dell and Thomas Mitchell (who also played Norman Overbeck in the play). It was based on Dell's 1927 novel ''An Unmarried Father''. It was produced by Crosby Gaige and direc ...

'' (1939) – Alice Pearson * ''

Broadway Melody of 1940 ''Broadway Melody of 1940'' is a 1940 MGM film musical starring Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and George Murphy (Astaire's first male dancing partner on film). It was directed by Norman Taurog and features music by Cole Porter, including "Begin the ...

'' (1940) – Amy Blake * ''

Girl in 313 ''Girl in 313'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Barry Trivers and M. Clay Adams. The film stars Florence Rice, Kent Taylor, Lionel Atwill, Kay Aldridge, Mary Treen and Jack Carson. The film was released o ...

'' (1940) – Joan Matthews * ''

Phantom Raiders ''Phantom Raiders'' is a 1940 film, the second in the series starring Walter Pidgeon as detective Nick Carter. The film was part of a movie trilogy based on original stories featuring the character from the long-running ''Nick Carter, Detective'' ...

'' (1940) – Cora Barnes *''

The Secret Seven The Secret Seven or Secret Seven Society is a fictional group of child detectives created by Enid Blyton and based on the publisher’s children. They appear in one of several adolescent detective series which Blyton wrote. The Secret Seve ...

'' (1940) – Lola Hobbs * ''

Cherokee Strip The Cherokee Outlet, or Cherokee Strip, was located in what is now the state of Oklahoma in the United States. It was a 60-mile-wide (97 km) parcel of land south of the Oklahoma-Kansas border between 96 and 100°W. The Cherokee Outlet wa ...

'' (1940) – Kate Cross * ''

Mr. District Attorney ''Mr. District Attorney'' is a radio crime drama produced by Samuel Bischoff that aired on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939 to June 13, 1952 (and in transcribed syndication through 1953). The series focused on a crusading district attorney initia ...

'' (1941) – Terry Parker * ''

Father Takes a Wife ''Father Takes a Wife'' is a 1941 American comedy film starring Gloria Swanson and Adolphe Menjou. Silent screen queen Gloria Swanson returned to films after a seven-year absence. Eight years later, Swanson staged another comeback in the classic ...

'' (1941) – Enid * ''

Doctors Don't Tell ''Doctors Don't Tell'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Jacques Tourneur and written by Theodore Reeves and Isabel Dawn. The film stars John Beal, Florence Rice, Edward Norris, Ward Bond, Douglas Fowley and Grady Sutton. Plot Med stu ...

'' (1941) – Diana Wayne * ''

The Blonde from Singapore ''The Blonde from Singapore'' (also released as ''Hot Pearls'') is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Florence Rice. Cast * Florence Rice as Mary Brooks * Leif Erickson as Terry Prescott * Gordon Jones as ' ...

'' (1941) – Mary Brooks * ''

Borrowed Hero ''Borrowed Hero'' is a 1941 American film directed by Lewis D. Collins. Plot A knowledgeable newspaper reporter helps a young prosecutor fight organized crime in a city. Cast * Alan Baxter as Roger Andrews *Florence Rice as Ann Thompson *C ...

'' (1941) – Ann Thompson * ''

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp ''Tramp, Tramp, Tramp'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent comedy film directed by Harry Edwards (director), Harry Edwards and starring Harry Langdon and Joan Crawford. Premise The film tells of Harry (Langdon) a ne'er-do-well who falls in ...

'' (1942) – Pam Martin * ''

Let's Get Tough! ''Let's Get Tough!'' is a 1942 film and the ninth film in the East Side Kids series, starring Leo Gorcey (as Muggs), Huntz Hall (as Glimpy), Bobby Jordan (as Danny), and Robert Armstrong (as "Pops" the Cop). Released in early 1942, it was direct ...

'' (1942) – Nora Stevens * '' Stand By All Networks'' (1942) – Frances Prescott * ''

The Boss of Big Town ''The Boss of Big Town'' is a 1942 American film directed by Arthur Dreifuss. Cast *John Litel as Michael Lynn *Florence Rice as Linda Gregory * H. B. Warner as Jeffrey Moore *John Miljan as Craige *Jean Brooks as Iris Moore * David Bacon as Dr ...

'' (1942) – Linda Gregory * ''

The Ghost and the Guest ''The Ghost and the Guest'' is a 1943 American black-and-white comedy-mystery film directed by William Nigh and starring James Dunn, Florence Rice, Robert Dudley, and Sam McDaniel. The plot finds a newlywed couple honeymooning in a house they ...

'' (1943) – Jacqueline 'Jackie' DeLong / Frye (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Profile
obscureactresses.wordpress.com. Accessed August 2, 2022. {{DEFAULTSORT:Rice, Florence 1907 births 1974 deaths American film actresses American stage actresses Actresses from Cleveland Deaths from lung cancer Deaths from cancer in Hawaii Dwight-Englewood School alumni 20th-century American actresses