Olive Sloane (16 December 1896 – 28 June 1963) was an English actress whose film career spanned over 40 years from the

silent era 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, wh ...

through to her death. Sloane's career trajectory was unusual in that for most of her professional life she was essentially an anonymous

bit part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British television, ...

actress, and her best, most substantial roles did not come until relatively late in her career when she was in her 50s. Her most famous film appearance is the 1950 production ''

Seven Days to Noon ''Seven Days to Noon'' is a 1950 British drama/thriller film directed by John and Roy Boulting. Paul Dehn and James Bernard won the Academy Award for Best Story for their work on the film. Plot In 1950, the British Prime Minister receives ...

''.

Career

1920s-1940s

Born in London in 1896, Sloane's first screen credit came in a 1921 silent film ''The Door That Has No Key'' produced by

Frank Hall Crane Frank Hall Crane (January 1, 1873 – September 1, 1948) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director.midnight film The term midnight movie is rooted in the practice that emerged in the 1950s of local television stations around the United States airing low-budget genre films as late-night programming, often with a host delivering ironic asides. As a cinematic ...

aficionados due to its unintentionally ludicrous hilarity, and received a DVD release in the US in 2006. After 1925, there would be no further film appearance for Sloane until after the advent of

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

with 1933's ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

''. Details of Sloane's activities in the intervening years are sparse, but information retrieved places her working with a touring stage company in New Zealand in 1927."The Show's the Thing"
''NZ Truth'', 17 November 1927. ''Retrieved 28 July 2010'' After 1933, Sloane rapidly began to accumulate credits in British films. The majority of these were cheaply made

quota quickies Quota may refer to: Economics * Import quota, a trade restriction on the quantity of goods imported into a country * Market Sharing Quota, an economic system used in Canadian agriculture * Milk quota, a quota on milk production in Europe * Indi ...

which immediately vanished into oblivion, but occasionally there was a higher-profile and more prestigious production such as the

Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

star vehicle ''

Sing As We Go ''Sing As We Go'' is a 1934 British musical film starring Gracie Fields, John Loder and Stanley Holloway. The script was written by Gordon Wellesley and J. B. Priestley. Considered by many to be British music hall star Gracie Fields' finest ve ...

'' (1934), in which she was credited as "Violet, the Song-Plugger's Girlfriend". However Sloane toiled mainly in insignificant roles in inferior films for many years, and it was not until towards the end of the 1940s, aged over 50, that she began to find her services in increasing demand, with a notable improvement both in the quality of films and size of roles being offered to her.

1950-1963

A minor role in

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 ...

's 1949 British production ''

Under Capricorn ''Under Capricorn'' is a 1949 British historical thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock about a couple in Australia who started out as lady and stable boy in Ireland, and who are now bound together by a horrible secret. The film is based on ...

'' was followed the next year by her most widely admired and best-known screen performance in the critically acclaimed

Boulting Brothers John Edward Boulting (21 December 1913 – 17 June 1985) and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting (21 December 1913 – 5 November 2001), known collectively as the Boulting brothers, were English filmmakers and identical twins who became known for thei ...

-directed ''

'', as Goldie Phillips, the woman who helps the desperate Professor Willingdon ( Barry Jones). The character of Goldie was written as an ageing ex-

chorus girl A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms s ...

- brassy, excessively made-up and cheaply and gaudily dressed, whiling away her days gossiping and tippling in local

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

s. Although not explicitly stated, the script strongly implied that Goldie relied on casual prostitution to make ends meet. With the open and unquestioning way in which she offered assistance and shelter to Willingdon, and her devotion to her little dog Trixie, Goldie came across as a cheerful, good-hearted soul and Sloane's performance earned much praise from critics for the mixture of humour and pathos she brought to Goldie's character, in a way that a younger or more glamorous actress would have been unlikely to have been able to achieve. The next few years brought roles for Sloane in other notable films. In an ensemble cast, she brought a poignant note to the theatre comedy ''

Curtain Up ''Curtain Up'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Robert Morley, Margaret Rutherford and Kay Kendall. Written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee it is based on the play ''On Monday Next'' by Philip King. It w ...

'' (1952), as an actor whose best days are behind her encouraging an ingenue. She appeared in the 1953

Ealing Studios Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever s ...

satire''

Meet Mr. Lucifer ''Meet Mr. Lucifer'' is a black-and-white British comedy satire film released in 1953 starring Stanley Holloway. It was filmed at Ealing Studios, London, and is one of the Ealing comedies. The film is based on the play ''Beggar My Neighbour'' by ...

'' with

Stanley Holloway Stanley Augustus Holloway (1 October 1890 – 30 January 1982) was an English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles Stanley Holloway on stage and screen, on stage and screen, especially t ...

and the 1954 prison drama ''

The Weak and the Wicked ''The Weak and the Wicked'' (called ''Young and Willing'' in the United States) is a 1954 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson based on the autobiographical novel '' Who Lie in Gaol'' by his wife, Joan Henry, starring Glynis Johns and ...

'', in which she played Nellie Baden, an elderly compulsive

shoplifter Shoplifting is the theft of goods from an open retail establishment, typically by concealing a store item on one's person, in pockets, under clothes or in a bag, and leaving the store without paying. With clothing, shoplifters may put on items ...

sharing the cells with, amongst others,

Glynis Johns Glynis Margaret Payne Johns (born 5 October 1923) is a South African-born British former actress, dancer, musician and singer. Recognised as a film and Broadway icon, Johns has a career spanning eight decades, in which she appeared in more than ...

and

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren. Dors was pr ...

. 1955 brought the

Richard Widmark Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, '' Kiss of Death'' (1947) ...

heist thriller ''

A Prize of Gold ''A Prize of Gold'' is a 1955 Technicolor film noir crime film directed by Mark Robson partly filmed in West Berlin. The film stars Richard Widmark as a United States Air Force Air Police Master Sergeant motivated by love and compassion to ...

'' and 1957 the legal comedy '' Brothers in Law''. Sloane's final credit came in the

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...

satire ''

Heavens Above! ''Heavens Above!'' is a 1963 British satirical comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by John and Roy Boulting, who also co-wrote along with Frank Harvey, from an idea by Malcolm Muggeridge. It is in a similar vein to the earlier collab ...

'', released two weeks before she died in London on 28 June 1963, aged 66.

Filmography

* ''

The Door That Has No Key ''The Door That Has No Key'' is a 1921 silent British drama film directed by Frank Hall Crane. The film is considered to be lost. Cast * George Relph as Jack Scorrier * Betty Faire as Margaret Hubbard * Evelyn Brent as Violet Melton * Wilfr ...

'' (1921) - Blossy Waveney * '' Greatheart'' (1921) - Rose de Vigne * ''

Trapped by the Mormons ''Trapped by the Mormons'' (also released as ''The Mormon Peril'') is a 1922 silent British drama film directed by H. B. Parkinson and starring Evelyn Brent. This anti-Mormon film involves the taking of young virginal English women to Utah to ...

'' (1922) - Sadie Keane * ''Le crime de Lord Arthur Savile (1922) * ''

Rogues of the Turf ''Rogues of the Turf'' is a 1923 British silent sports film directed by Wilfred Noy and starring Fred Groves, Olive Sloane and James Lindsay.Low p.438 The screenplay involves a plot to kidnap a race horse. Cast * Fred Groves as Bill Higgi ...

'' (1923) - Marian Heathcote * ''The Dream of Eugene Aram'' (1923) - Mrs. Aram * '' Money Isn't Everything'' (1925) - Elizabeth Tuter * ''

'' (1933) - Effie * ''

Soldiers of the King ''Soldiers of the Queen'' is a song written and composed by Leslie Stuart. The song is often sung and published as "Soldiers of the King" depending on the reigning monarch at the time. The tune was originally composed by Stuart as a march celebr ...

'' (1933) - Sarah Marvello * ''

Music Hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

'' (1934) - (uncredited) * ''

Faces The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affe ...

'' (1934) - Lady Wallingford * ''

Brides to Be ''Brides to Be'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Betty Stockfeld, Constance Shotter and Ronald Ward. The film was made at Elstree Studios as a quota quickie for release by the British branch of Paramount ...

'' (1934) - Phyllis Hopper * ''

'' (1934) - Violet - The Song-Plugger's Girlfriend * ''

Key to Harmony ''Key to Harmony'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring Belle Chrystall, Fred Conyngham and Reginald Purdell. The film is a quota quickie made at British and Dominions Elstree Studios for release by Paramount P ...

'' (1935) - Nonia Sande * '' Squibs'' (1935) - Barmaid (uncredited) * ''Alibi Inn'' (1935) - Oueenie * ''

The Private Secretary ''The Private Secretary'' is an 1883 farce in three acts, by Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1858), Charles Hawtrey. The play, adapted from a German original, depicts the vicissitudes of a mild young clergyman, innocently caught up in the machinatio ...

'' (1935) - Impecunious bus passenger (uncredited) * ''The Howard Case'' (1936) - Lena Maxwell * ''

In the Soup ''In the Soup'' is a 1992 independent comedy directed by Alexandre Rockwell, and written by Rockwell and Sollace Mitchell (credited as Tim Kissell). It stars Steve Buscemi as Aldolfo Rollo, a self-conscious screenwriter who has written an unfi ...

'' (1936) - Defendant (uncredited) * ''It's Love Again'' (1936) - Francine Grenoble (uncredited) * ''Café Collette'' (1937) * ''Overcoat Sam'' (1937) * ''Stardust'' (1937) - Gloria Dane * ''

Make It Three ''Make It Three'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by David MacDonald and starring Hugh Wakefield, Edmund Willard and Diana Beaumont. The screenplay concerns a bank clerk who is left a very large inheritance on condition that he first se ...

'' (1938) - Kate * ''

Inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a coro ...

'' (1939) - Lily Prudence * '' Tower of Terror'' (1941) - Florist * '' Those Kids from Town'' (1942) - Vicar's Wife * '' Let the People Sing'' (1942) - Daisy Barley * '' Thunder Rock'' (1942) - Woman Director * ''

The Dummy Talks ''The Dummy Talks'' is a 1943 British crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Jack Warner, Claude Hulbert and Beryl Orde. It marked the film debut of Jack Warner. Synopsis Set over the course of one night, the story takes place in ...

'' (1943) - (uncredited) * ''

The Voice Within "The Voice Within" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fourth studio album, ''Stripped (Christina Aguilera album), Stripped'' (2002). The song was written by Aguilera and Glen Ballard, with production handled by Ballard. It ...

'' (1946) - Fair Owner's Wife * '' They Knew Mr. Knight'' (1946) - Mrs. Knight * ''

Send for Paul Temple ''Send for Paul Temple'' is a 1946 British crime film directed by John Argyle and starring Anthony Hulme, Joy Shelton and Tamara Desni. Paul Temple is called in by Scotland Yard after a major diamond theft. It was the first of four film adaptati ...

'' (1946) - Ruby * ''Bank Holiday Luck'' (1947) * ''

Counterblast ''Counterblast'' is a 1948 British thriller film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Robert Beatty, Mervyn Johns and Nova Pilbeam. It was made by British National Films at Elstree Studios. Plot A Nazi scientist escapes from prison, murders ...

'' (1948) - Ingram's Housekeeper (uncredited) * '' The Guinea Pig'' (1948) - Aunt Mabel * ''

'' (1949) - Sal * ''

Once a Sinner Once a Sinner may refer to: * Once a Sinner (1950 film) ''Once a Sinner'' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pat Kirkwood, Jack Watling and Joy Shelton. Plot Bank clerk John Ross (Jack Watling) falls for good ...

'' (1950) - Lil * '' Waterfront'' (1950) - Mrs. Gibson * ''

'' (1950) - Goldie * ''

The Tall Headlines ''The Tall Headlines'' is a 1952 British drama film directed by Terence Young and starring André Morell, Flora Robson, Michael Denison, Peter Burton, Sid James and Dennis Price. It was shot at Walton Studios outside London. In the United Stat ...

'' (1952) - Mrs. Baker * ''

'' (1952) - Maud Baron * ''

My Wife's Lodger ''My Wife's Lodger'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Dominic Roche, Olive Sloane and Leslie Dwyer. The screenplay concerns a who soldier returns home after the Second World War only to find a spiv lodger has es ...

'' (1952) - Maggie Higginbotham * ''

Alf's Baby ''Alf's Baby'', also known as ''Her Three Bachelors'', is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Jerry Desmonde, Pauline Stroud and Olive Sloane.Chibnall & MacFarlane p.103 It was made by ACT Films, and released as a ...

'' (1953) - Mrs. Matthews * ''

'' (1953) - Mrs. Stannard * ''

'' (1954) - Nellie Baden, inmate * ''

The Golden Link ''The Golden Link'' is a 1954 British police drama film directed by Charles Saunders, starring André Morell, Patrick Holt, Thea Gregory and Jack Watling. It was produced by Guido Coen under his Kenilworth Film Productions, featuring a screenpl ...

'' (1954) - Mrs. Pullman * ''

Murder by Proxy ''Murder by Proxy'' is a 1954 British film noir crime drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Dane Clark, Belinda Lee and Betty Ann Davies. The screenplay concerns a man who is offered money to marry a woman. It was produced by Hamm ...

'' (1954) - Landlady (uncredited) * ''

'' (1955) - Mavis * ''

The Man in the Road ''The Man in the Road'' is a 1956 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit and Cyril Cusack. The film was shot at Beaconsfield Studios. It was based on a popular contemporary novel ''H ...

'' (1956) - Mrs. Lemmin - the Landlady * ''

The Last Man to Hang ''The Last Man to Hang?'' is a 1956 crime film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Tom Conway and Elizabeth Sellars. The film was produced by John Gossage for Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians#Act Films Ltd, Act Film ...

(1956) - Mrs. Bayfield * '' Brothers in Law'' (1957) - Mrs. Newent * ''

Serious Charge ''Serious Charge'' (also known in US release as ''A Touch of Hell'') is a 1959 British film, directed by Terence Young, produced and co-written by Mickey Delamar (with Guy Elmes). It was adapted from a stage play written by Philip King. The fi ...

'' (1959) - Mrs. Browning * ''

Wrong Number A misdialed call or wrong number is a telephone call to an incorrect telephone number. This may occur because the number has been physically misdialled, the number is simply incorrect, or because the area code or ownership of the number has chang ...

'' (1959) - Miss Crystal * '' The Price of Silence'' (1959) - Landlady * ''

Your Money or Your Wife ''Your Money or Your Wife'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Anthony Simmons and starring Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins, and Richard Wattis. In this farce, a couple must divorce in order to inherit a fortune. Cast * Donald Sinden as P ...

'' (1960) - Mrs. Withers * ''

The House in Marsh Road ''The House in Marsh Road'', known on American television as ''Invisible Creature'', is a 1960 British horror suspense film produced by Maurice J. Wilson, directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Tony Wright, Patricia Dainton and Sandra Dorne. ...

'' (1960) - Mrs. Morris * ''

'' (1963) - Quarreling Housewife (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sloane, Olive 1896 births 1963 deaths English film actresses English silent film actresses English television actresses Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses