Helen Chandler

Helen Chandler (February 1, 1906 – April 30, 1965) was an American film and theater actress, best known for playing Mina Seward in the 1931 horror film ''Dracula''.

Career

Born in Charleston, South Carolina,A 1935 Associated Press story about Chandler's wedding to Bramwell Fletcher says Chandler "was born here ...", apparently referring to the story's New York dateline. Chandler began her acting career in New York City at the age of eight and was on Broadway two years later in 1917. Her early performances include Arthur Hopkins' 1920 production of ''Richard III'', which starred John Barrymore, ''Macbeth'' in 1921 with Lionel Barrymore; Hedvig in Henrik Ibsen's ''The Wild Duck'' in 1925 and Ophelia in the 1925 modern dress version of ''Hamlet'' starring Basil Sydney. By the time of her first film she had been in over twenty Broadway productions.
She made her film debut in 1927 in the silent film '' The Music Master'' and in 1930 joined Leslie Howard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Beryl Mercer for ''Outward Bound'', the film version of the stage success. The unusual story told of a group of passengers on an ocean liner who gradually realize that they are all dead and will soon face the Last Judgment. Chandler, with her blonde hair and ethereal quality, was considered to be perfectly cast, and she received critical praise for her performance.

Chandler did not want to play the role for which she is probably best remembered, Mina in ''Dracula'' (1931); she wanted to play Alice in ''Alice in Wonderland''. Nevertheless, Chandler joined David Manners and Bela Lugosi in what became one of the most successful movies made at that time. Chandler appeared with Manners that same year in the Lost Generation celebration of alcohol in Paris, '' The Last Flight'', also starring Richard Barthelmess and John Mack Brown. She achieved more successes in ''A House Divided'' (1931) and ''Christopher Strong'' (1933), all the while dividing her time among films, radio work, and theater roles in Los Angeles, New York and London.

She starred in British actor Will Hay's 1934 movie, ''Radio Parade of 1935'' and played a role on Lux Radio in ''Alibi Ike'' with Joe E. Brown (1937). Among her later stage successes were ''Within The Gates'' in 1934, ''Pride and Prejudice'' in 1935, ''Lady Precious Stream'' in 1936 with then-husband Bramwell Fletcher, a reprise of her film role in ''Outward Bound'' in 1938 and various productions of ''Boy Meets Girl'' and Noël Coward's ''Tonight at 8.30''

Personal life

On February 14, 1935, Chandler married actor Bramwell Fletcher in Riverside Church in New York. She had previously been married to Cyril Hume, whom she divorced in 1934.

By the late 1930s she was battling alcoholism and her acting career declined. She was hospitalized several times but was unable to gain control over her life. In 1950, Chandler was severely burned in an apartment fire, caused by her falling asleep while smoking. She survived but her body was badly disfigured. Her alcoholism continued unabated after the accident.

Death

Helen Chandler died on April 30, 1965, from cardiac arrest during surgery for a stomach ulcer in Hollywood, California. Her remains were cremated in accordance with her wishes, and are interred at Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.

Filmography

*'' The Music Master'' (1927) as Jenny
*''The Joy Girl'' (1927) as Flora
*''Mother's Boy'' (1929) as Rose Lyndon
*''Salute'' (1929) as Nancy Wayne
*''The Sky Hawk'' (1929) as Joan Allan
*''Rough Romance'' (1930) as Marna Reynolds
*''Outward Bound'' (1930) as Ann
*''Mothers Cry'' (1930) as Beattie Williams
*''Dracula'' (1931) as Mina Seward
*'' Daybreak'' (1931) as Laura Taub
*'' Salvation Nell'' (1931) as Nell Saunders
*'' The Last Flight'' (1931) as Nikki
*''Fanny Foley Herself'' (1931) as Lenore
*'' A House Divided'' (1931) as Ruth Evans
*''Vanity Street'' (1932) as Jeanie Gregg
*''Behind Jury Doors'' (1932) as Elsa Lanfield
*''Christopher Strong'' (1933) as Monica Strong
*''Alimony Madness'' (1933) as Joan Armstrong
*''Dance Hall Hostess'' (1933) as Nora Marsh
*'' Goodbye Again'' (1933) as Elizabeth Clochessy
*''The Worst Woman in Paris?'' (1933) as Mary Dunbar
*''Long Lost Father'' (1934) as Lindsey Lane
*''Midnight Alibi'' (1934) as Abigail 'Abbie' Ardsley as a Girl
*''Unfinished Symphony'' (1934) as Emmie Passeuter
*''Radio Parade of 1935'' (1934) as Joan Garland
*''It's a Bet'' (1935) as Clare
*''Mr. Boggs Steps Out'' (1938) as Oleander Tubbs (final film role)

Notes

References

External links

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*
*

Helen Chandler Fansite
* Van Neste, Dan. ""Helen Chandler: Vision of Beauty"" Films of the Golden Age, Spring, 199


* Fiore, David. ''Hypocritic Days'' Insomniac Press, 2014
Toronto Star review of the novel

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Helen
1906 births
1965 deaths
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
American stage actresses
Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Actresses from Charleston, South Carolina
20th-century American actresses