Molly Lamont (22 May 1910 – 7 July 2001) was a South African-

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

film actress.

Life and career

Lamont was born in

Boksburg Boksburg is a city on the East Rand of Gauteng province of South Africa. Gold was discovered in Boksburg in 1887. Boksburg was named after the State Secretary of the South African Republic, W. Eduard Bok. The Main Reef Road linked Boksburg ...

Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. After winning a beauty contest in South Africa she was offered a contract by

British International Pictures Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appro ...

. She began her career in

films in 1930 and for several years played small, often uncredited roles. Her roles began to improve by the mid-1930s, whilst resident in London, but she later moved to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

where she played roles such as

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

's fiancée in ''

The Awful Truth ''The Awful Truth'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Based on the 1923 play ''The Awful Truth'' by Arthur Richman, the film recounts how a distrustful rich couple begins d ...

'' (1937). Her other appearances include such popular films as ''

The White Cliffs of Dover The White Cliffs of Dover is the region of English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face, which reaches a height of , owes its striking appearance to its composition of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposi ...

'' and ''

Mr. Skeffington ''Mr. Skeffington'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Vincent Sherman, based on the 1940 novel of the same name by Elizabeth von Arnim. The film stars Bette Davis as a beautiful but self-centered woman who has many suitors but marries Jo ...

'' (both 1944). Lamont retired from acting in 1951 with more than fifty films to her credit. She married an airline pilot, Edward Bellande, on April 1, 1937. They remained married until his death in 1976. She died on 7 July 2001 in

Brentwood, Los Angeles Brentwood is a suburban neighborhood in the Los Angeles Westside, Westside region of Los Angeles. History General Modern development began after the establishment of the Sawtelle Veterans Home, Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disab ...

, aged 91.

Filmography

*''

The Black Hand Gang ''The Black Hand Gang'' is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Wee Georgie Wood, Viola Compton and Alfred Wood. It was made by British International Pictures and based on a play by ''Black Hand George'' by Bert Lee an ...

'' (1930) (uncredited) *''

Uneasy Virtue ''Uneasy Virtue'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Norman Walker and starring Fay Compton, Edmund Breon, Francis Lister, Donald Calthrop, and Garry Marsh. It was produced by British International Pictures and shot at the company's El ...

'' (1931) as Ada *'' Old Soldiers Never Die'' (1931) as Ada *''

The Wife's Family ''The Wife's Family'' (also released as ''My Wife's Family'') is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Gene Gerrard, Muriel Angelus, and Amy Veness. It was based on the popular stage farce by Fred Duprez. The play was ...

'' (1931) as Sally *'' Doctor Josser K.C.'' (1931) (uncredited) *'' Strictly Business'' (1931) as Maureen *'' What a Night!'' (1931) as Nora Livingstone *''

Shadows A shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, o ...

'' (1931) as Jill Dexter *''

The Strangler ''The Strangler'' is a 1964 crime thriller, directed by Burt Topper and starring Victor Buono, David McLean, Davey Davison and Ellen Corby, with a screenplay by Bill S. Ballinger. The film was inspired by the Boston Strangler, a serial killer ...

'' (1932) as Frances Marsden *''

The House Opposite The House Opposite may refer to: * ''The House Opposite'' (play), a play by Perceval Landon ** ''The House Opposite'' (1917 film), a silent film adaptation directed by Walter West * ''The House Opposite'' (novel), by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon * ...

'' (1932) as Doris *''

Brother Alfred ''Brother Alfred'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Gene Gerrard, Molly Lamont and Elsie Randolph. After she finds him embracing one of the maids, a man's fiancée ends her engagement to him. In an effort to ...

'' (1932) as Stella *'' Lucky Girl'' (1932) as Lady Moira *''

The Last Coupon ''The Last Coupon'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Leslie Fuller, Mary Jerrold and Molly Lamont. It was based on a play by Ernest Bryan and was a success at the box office.Shafer p.153 It was shot at the Els ...

'' (1932) as Betty Carter *''

Josser on the River ''Josser on the River'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Norman Lee and starring Ernie Lotinga, Molly Lamont and Charles Hickman. Plot summary Two seaside photographers become entangled with a blackmailer. Cast * Ernie Lotinga as Jim ...

'' (1932) as Julia Kaye *'' His Wife's Mother'' (1932) as Cynthia *''

Lord Camber's Ladies ''Lord Camber's Ladies'' (1932) is a British drama film directed by Benn W. Levy, produced by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Gerald du Maurier, Gertrude Lawrence, Benita Hume, and Nigel Bruce. Plot An aristocrat marries a singer, but then tries ...

'' (1932) as Actress *'' Leave It to Me'' (1933) as Eve Halliday *''

Paris Plane ''Paris Plane'' is a 1933 British crime film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring John Loder, Molly Lamont and Allan Jeayes. It was made at Shepperton Studios as a quota quickie. Plot A Scotland Yard detective pursues a murderer aboar ...

'' (1933) *''

Letting in the Sunshine ''Letting in the Sunshine'' is a 1933 British comedy crime film directed by Lupino Lane and starring Albert Burdon, Renee Gadd and Molly Lamont. It was based on a story by Anthony Asquith.Sutton p.218 The film was made by British International ...

'' (1933) as Lady Anne *''

White Ensign The White Ensign, at one time called the St George's Ensign due to the simultaneous existence of a cross-less version of the flag, is an ensign worn on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on ...

'' (1934) as Consul's Daughter *'' No Escape'' (1934) as Helen Arnold *'' Irish Hearts'' (1934) as Nurse Otway *''

The Third Clue ''The Third Clue'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Basil Sydney, Molly Lamont and Raymond Lovell. The film was based on Neil Gordon's novel ''The Shakespeare Murders'', which also inspired '' The Claydon Tr ...

'' (1934) as Rosemary Clayton *''

Murder at Monte Carlo ''Murder at Monte Carlo'' is a British 1934 mystery crime thriller film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Errol Flynn, Eve Gray, Paul Graetz and Molly Lamont, the production was Flynn's debut film in a lead role in England. The film is curre ...

'' (1935) as Margaret Becker *'' Handle with Care'' (1935) as Patricia *'' Oh, What a Night'' (1935) as Pat *'' Rolling Home'' (1935) as Ann *'' Jalna'' (1935) as Pheasant Vaughn Whiteoaks *''

Alibi Inn An alibi (from the Latin, '' alibī'', meaning "somewhere else") is a statement by a person, who is a possible perpetrator of a crime, of where they were at the time a particular offence was committed, which is somewhere other than where the crim ...

'' (1935) as Mary Talbot *''

Another Face ''Another Face'' (released in the UK as ''It Happened in Hollywood'')''Another Face' ...

'' (1935) as Mary McCall *'' Muss 'em Up'' (1936) as Nancy Harding, Paul's Daughter *'' Mary of Scotland'' (1936) as Mary Livingstone *''

Fury and the Woman ''Lucky Corrigan'' or ''Fury and the Woman'' is a 1936 American-Canadian drama film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring William Gargan, Molly Lamont and James McGrath. It was later screened at the 1984 Festival of Festivals as part of Fro ...

'' (1936) as June McCrae *''

A Woman Rebels ''A Woman Rebels'' is a 1936 American historical drama film adapted from the 1930 novel ''Portrait of a Rebel'' by Netta Syrett and starring Katharine Hepburn as Pamela Thistlewaite, who rebels against the social mores of Victorian England. The f ...

'' (1936) as Young Girl with Sick Baby (uncredited) *''

The Jungle Princess ''The Jungle Princess'' is a 1936 American adventure film directed by Wilhelm Thiele starring Dorothy Lamour and Ray Milland. Plot Christopher Powell is in Malaya with his fiancée and her father, capturing wild animals. While out hunting he is a ...

'' (1936) as Ava *''

A Doctor's Diary ''A Doctor's Diary'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Charles Vidor and written by David Boehm and Samuel Ornitz. The film stars George Bancroft, Helen Burgess, John Trent, Ruth Coleman, Ronald Sinclair and Molly Lamont. The film was ...

'' (1937) as Mrs. Fielding *''

'' (1937) as Barbara Vance *''

Somewhere I'll Find You ''Somewhere I'll Find You'' is a 1942 film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner, released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. The film took almost two years to complete and was the last film Gable starred in before he enlisted ...

'' (1942) as Nurse Winifred (uncredited) *''

The Moon and Sixpence ''The Moon and Sixpence'' is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, first published on 15 April 1919. It is told in episodic form by a first-person narrator providing a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character, Charles Stric ...

'' (1942) as Mrs. Amy Strickland (uncredited) *'' A Gentle Gangster'' (1943) as Ann Hallit *''

Thumbs Up A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval, respectively. These gestures have become metaphors i ...

'' (1943) as Welfare Supervisor *'' Follow the Boys'' (1944) as Miss Hartford (secretary) (uncredited) *''

'' (1944) as Helen Hampton (uncredited) *''

'' (1944) as Miss Norris (uncredited) *'' Minstrel Man'' (1944) as Caroline (Mother) *''

Youth Runs Wild ''Youth Runs Wild'' is a 1944 B movie directed by Mark Robson and starring Bonita Granville, Kent Smith, Jean Brooks, Glen Vernon and Vanessa Brown. The plot concerns inattentive parents and juvenile delinquency. The film was produced by Val Lewt ...

'' (1944) as Mrs. Webster (uncredited) *''

Three Sisters of the Moors ''Three Sisters of the Moors'' is a 1944 American short historical film directed by John Larkin and starring Cedric Hardwicke, Molly Lamont and Lynne Roberts.Quinlan p.19 It portrays the life of the Brontë sisters. The film was released by 20 ...

'' (1944, Short) as Charlotte Brontë *'' The Suspect'' (1944) as Edith Simmons *''

Devil Bat's Daughter ''Devil Bat's Daughter'' is a 1946 American horror film directed by Frank Wisbar. It stars Rosemary La Planche, who was crowned Miss America 1941. It is a sequel to the 1941 film ''The Devil Bat'', with no returning cast members. It marked the ...

'' (1946) as Ellen Masters Morris *''

So Goes My Love ''So Goes My Love'' (released as ''A Genius in the Family'' in the UK) is an American 1946 comedy-drama film, produced by Universal Pictures. It is based on a true story, ''A Genius in the Family'', the memoir of Hiram Percy Maxim, which focuses ...

'' (1946) as Cousin Garnet Allison *''

The Dark Corner ''The Dark Corner'' is a 1946 American crime film, crime film noir directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix and Mark Stevens (actor), Mark Stevens.. The film was not a commercial success but has since been ...

'' (1946) as Lucy Wilding (uncredited) *'' Scared to Death'' (1947) as Laura Van Ee *''

Ivy ''Hedera'', commonly called ivy (plural ivies), is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and ...

'' (1947) as Bella Crail *''

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation ...

'' (1947) as Harriet Rhodes *''

South Sea Sinner ''South Sea Sinner'' is a 1950 American adventure film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Macdonald Carey and Shelley Winters. It is a remake of '' Seven Sinners'' (1940). Liberace has a small role. Plot A cafe owner on a South Sea i ...

'' (1950) as Kay Williams *''

The First Legion ''The First Legion'' is a 1951 American drama film directed by Douglas Sirk and written by Emmet Lavery. The film stars Charles Boyer, William Demarest, Lyle Bettger, Walter Hampden, Barbara Rush, Wesley Addy, H. B. Warner and Leo G. Carroll. ...

'' (1951) as Mrs. Nora Gilmartin (final film role)

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lamont, Molly 1910 births 2001 deaths People from Boksburg English film actresses South African film actresses South African emigrants to the United Kingdom British emigrants to the United States 20th-century English actresses