Lillian Hall-Davis (23 June 1898 – 25 October 1933) was an English actress during the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era, featured in major roles in English film and a number of German, French and Italian films. Born Lilian Hall Davis, the daughter of a London taxi driver, her films included a part-colour version of ''

Pagliacci ''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, "Clowns") is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who m ...

'' (1923), ''

The Passionate Adventure ''The Passionate Adventure'' is a 1924 British silent drama film directed by Graham Cutts and starring Clive Brook and Alice Joyce. The film was adapted from a novel by Frank Stayton by Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Morton, with Hitchcock als ...

'' (1924), ''

Blighty "Blighty" is a British English slang term for Great Britain, or often specifically England.

'' (1927), '' The Ring'' (1927) and ''

The Farmer's Wife ''The Farmer's Wife'' is a 1928 British silent romantic comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Jameson Thomas, Lillian Hall-Davis and Gordon Harker. It is adapted from a 1916 play of the same name by British novelist, poet an ...

'' (1928), the latter two both directed by

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

, who at the time considered her his "favourite actress." She had a lead role in a "lavish production" of ''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'' (1924), an Italian film directed by

Gabriellino D'Annunzio Gabriele Maria "Gabriellino" D'Annunzio (10 April 1886 – 8 December 1945) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. He was the son of the Italian writer Gabriele D'Annunzio. He adapted the 1921 film '' The Ship'' from a novel by h ...

and

Georg Jacoby Georg Jacoby (23 July 1882 – 21 February 1964) was a German film director and screenwriter.Profile
, bfi.org.uk; accessed ...

. Hall-Davis also appeared in ''As We Lie'' (1927), a comedy short film made in the

Lee DeForest Lee de Forest (August 26, 1873 – June 30, 1961) was an American inventor and a fundamentally important early pioneer in electronics. He invented the first electronic device for controlling current flow; the three-element "Audion" triode va ...

Phonofilm Phonofilm is an optical sound-on-film system developed by inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case in the early 1920s. Introduction In 1919 and 1920, Lee De Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patents on a sound-on-film process, ...

sound-on-film process, co-starring and directed by

Miles Mander Miles Mander (born Lionel Henry Mander; 14 May 1888 – 8 February 1946), was an English character actor of the early Hollywood cinema, also a film director and producer, and a playwright and novelist. He was sometimes credited as Luther Mile ...

. Hall-Davis did not make the transition to sound films; in 1933 her "sharp career decline and health problems" prompted her to commit suicide by turning on the gas oven and cutting her own throat at home in the

Golders Green Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in England. A smaller suburban linear settlement, near a farm and public grazing area green of medieval origins, dates to the early 19th century. Its bulk forms a late 19th century and ea ...

area of London.

Filmography

* '' La p'tite du sixième'' (1917) * ''

The Admirable Crichton ''The Admirable Crichton'' is a comic stage play written in 1902 by J. M. Barrie. Origins Barrie took the title from the sobriquet of a fellow Scot, the polymath James Crichton, a 16th-century genius and athlete. The epigram-loving Ernest is p ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Romance of Old Bill ''The Romance of Old Bill'' is a 1918 British silent film, silent comedy film, comedy war film, war directed by George Pearson (filmmaker), George Pearson and starring Charles Rock, Arthur Cleave and Hugh E. Wright. It was made at Twickenham Stud ...

'' (1918) * '' Ernest Maltravers'' (1920) * ''

The Honeypot ''The Honeypot'' is a 1920 British silent romance film directed by Fred LeRoy Granville and starring Peggy Hyland, Campbell Gullan and James Lindsay.Low p.383 It was made at Isleworth Studios. A sequel ''Love Maggy'' was released the follow ...

'' (1920) * ''

Love Maggy ''Love Maggy'' is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by Fred LeRoy Granville and starring Peggy Hyland, Campbell Gullan and James Lindsay.Quinlan p.121 It was made at Isleworth Studios as a sequel to the 1920 film '' The Honeypot''. ...

'' (1921) * '' The Wonderful Story'' (1922) * '' The Faithful Heart'' (1922) * ''

Brown Sugar Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar. Brown Sugar may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul * ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...

'' (1922) * '' Stable Companions'' (1922) * ''

The Game of Life ''The Game of Life'', also known simply as ''Life'', is a board game Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, rol ...

'' (1922) * '' If Four Walls Told'' (1922) * ''

The Knockout ''The Knockout'' is a 1914 American silent comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. It also features Charlie Chaplin in a small role, his seventeenth film for Keystone Studios. It is one of only a few films in which Chaplin's Little ...

'' (1923) * ''

Married Love ''Married Love or Love in Marriage'' is a book by British academic Marie Stopes. It was one of the first books openly to discuss birth control. The book begins by stating that "More than ever to-day are happy homes needed. It is my hope that thi ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Right to Strike ''The Right to Strike'' is a 1923 British silent film, silent drama film directed by Fred Paul and starring Lillian Hall-Davis, Fred Paul and Campbell Gullan. It was based on a play by Ernest Hutchinson (writer), Ernest Hutchinson. Cast * Lil ...

'' (1923) * '' Castles in the Air'' (1923) * ''

The Hotel Mouse ''The Hotel Mouse'' is a 1923 British silent crime film directed by Fred Paul and starring Lillian Hall-Davis, Campbell Gullan and Warwick Ward. It was based on a play by Paul Armont and Marcel Gerbidon. Cast * Lillian Hall-Davis - Mauri ...

'' (1923) * ''

Afterglow An afterglow in meteorology consists of several atmospheric optical phenomena, with a general definition as a broad arch of whitish or pinkish sunlight in the twilight sky, consisting of the bright segment and the purple light. Purple light mainl ...

'' (1923) * '' I Pagliacci'' (1923) * '' A Royal Divorce'' (1923) * ''

'' (1924) * '' The Eleventh Commandment'' (1924) * ''

'' (1924) * ''

The Unwanted ''The Unwanted'' is a 2014 American thriller film written and directed by Bret Wood. It is based on the novel '' Carmilla'' by Sheridan Le Fanu but was transposed from a Gothic tale set in Austria to a Southern Gothic setting. It stars Christe ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Farmer from Texas ''The Farmer from Texas'' (german: Der Farmer aus Texas) is a 1925 German silent film, silent comedy film directed by Joe May and starring Mady Christians, Willy Fritsch, and Lillian Hall-Davis. It was based on the play ''Kolportage'' by Georg Ka ...

'' (1925) * ''

Express Train of Love ''Express Train of Love'' (German:''Blitzzug der Liebe'') is a 1925 German silent comedy film directed by Johannes Guter and starring Ossi Oswalda, Willy Fritsch and Lillian Hall-Davis. It premiered on 6 May 1925 at the Ufa-Palast am Zoo in Berl ...

'' (1925) * '' Nitchevo'' (1926) * ''

Three Cuckoo Clocks ''Three Cuckoo Clocks'' (German: ''Die drei Kuckucksuhren'') is a 1926 German silent film, silent drama film directed by Lothar Mendes and starring Lillian Hall-Davis, Nina Vanna and Nils Asther. The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1926) * '' Love is Blind'' (1926) * ''

If Youth But Knew ''If Youth But Knew'' is a 1926 British silent romance film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Godfrey Tearle, Lillian Hall-Davis and Wyndham Standing. It is a love story spanning two generations. It was made at Southall Studios. Cast ...

'' (1926) * ''

Roses of Picardy "Roses of Picardy" is a popular British song with lyrics by Frederick Weatherly and music by Haydn Wood. Published in London in 1916 by Chappell & Co, it was one of the most famous songs of the World War I, First World War and has been recorded ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Prey of the Wind ''The Prey of the Wind'' (French: ''La proie du vent'') is a 1927 French silent drama film directed by René Clair and starring Charles Vanel, Sandra Milovanoff and Jean Murat.McGerr p.50 The film's sets were designed by Lazare Meerson. Ca ...

'' (1927) * ''

Blighty "Blighty" is a British English slang term for Great Britain, or often specifically England.

'' (1927) * '' The Ring'' (1927) * '' Boadicea'' (1928) * ''

The White Sheik ''The White Sheik'' ( it, Lo sceicco bianco) is a 1952 Italian romantic comedy film directed by Federico Fellini and starring Alberto Sordi, Leopoldo Trieste, Brunella Bovo and Giulietta Masina. Written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano a ...

'' (1928) * ''

Tommy Atkins Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is slang for a common soldier in the British Army. It was certainly well established during the nineteenth century, but is particularly associated with the First World War. It can be used as a term of reference ...

'' (1928) * '' Volga Volga'' (1928) * ''

Just for a Song ''Just for a Song'' is a 1930 British musical film directed by Gareth Gundrey and starring Lillian Hall-Davis, Roy Royston and Constance Carpenter. It was made at Islington Studios.Wood p.67 Some singing and dancing sequences were photograph ...

'' (1930) filmed partly in

Pathécolor Pathécolor, later renamed Pathéchrome, was an early mechanical stencil-based film tinting process for movies developed by Segundo de Chomón for Pathé in the early 20th century. Among the last feature films to use this process were the British ...

* '' Her Reputation'' (1931) * ''

Many Waters ''Many Waters'' is a 1986 novel by Madeleine L'Engle, part of the author's Time Quintet (also known as the Time Quartet). The title is taken from the Song of Solomon 8:7: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. If a ...

'' (1931)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hall-Davis, Lillian 1898 births 1933 deaths People from Mile End English film actresses English silent film actresses Suicides in London Drug-related suicides in England Suicides by gas Suicides by sharp instrument in England Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses 1933 suicides