Barbara Kent ( Barbara Cloutman) December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011) was a Canadian film actress, prominent from 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 to the early

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 ...

of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Barbara Kent won the Miss Hollywood Beauty Pageant.

Career

Barbara Cloutman was born on December 16, 1907 in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada, to Lily Louise Kent and Jullion Curtis Cloutman. In 1925, she graduated from

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. Histo ...

and went on to win the Miss Hollywood Pageant. It was also the year in which she began her

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, ...

career with a small role for

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

, which signed her to a

contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

. A petite brunette who stood less than five feet tall, Kent became popular as a

comedian A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or a ...

opposite such stars as Reginald Denny. She made a strong impression as the heroine pitted against

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragedy, ...

's ''

femme fatale A ''femme fatale'' ( or ; ), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of ...

'' in ''

Flesh and the Devil ''Flesh and the Devil'' is an American silent romantic drama film released in 1927 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and stars Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Lars Hanson, and Barbara Kent, directed by Clarence Brown, and based on the novel ''The Undying P ...

'' in 1926 after Universal had lent the actress to

MGM 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 through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

to make the film. Kent then attracted the attention of audiences and censors in the 1927 production ''

No Man's Law ''No Man's Law'' is a 1927 American silent Western film starring Rex the King of Wild Horses and featuring Oliver Hardy as a lustful villain. Plot Cast * Rex the King of Wild Horses as Nobody's Horse *Barbara Kent as Toby Belcher * James Fi ...

'' by appearing to swim nude. She actually wore a flesh-colored moleskin bathing suit in scenes that were considered very daring at the time. The popularity of that film led to her selection as one of the

WAMPAS Baby Stars The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. ...

for 1927. She made a smooth transition into

talking pictures 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 ...

opposite

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

in the 1929 comedy ''

Welcome Danger ''Welcome Danger'' is a 1929 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Clyde Bruckman and starring Harold Lloyd. A sound version and silent version were filmed. Ted Wilde began work on the silent version, but became ill and was replaced by Bruck ...

''. Kent was also featured with Lloyd in his iconic ''

Feet First ''Feet First'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film starring Harold Lloyd, a popular daredevil comedian during the 1920s and early 1930s. It was Lloyd's second sound film. The film's copyright was renewed in 1957, so it will not be in the p ...

''. Over the next few years, she remained popular and received critical praise in 1933 for her role in the film version of ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

''. Kent married

talent agent A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, broadcast journalists, film directors, musicians, models, professional athletes, screenwriters, writers, and other professionals in various entertainment or sport ...

Harry Edington in

Yuma, Arizona Yuma ( coc, Yuum) is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 93,064 at the 2010 census, up from the 2000 census population of 77,515. Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, M ...

, on December 16, 1932 — her 25th birthday. During a one-year hiatus, Edington groomed Kent for what he intended to be a high-profile career. By the time she returned to films, however, her popularity had waned and she was unable to reestablish herself. She made her last appearance on screen in 1935.

Later years

Following the death of her husband Harry in 1949, Kent retreated from public life. She did, though, marry again in 1954, then to Jack Monroe, an engineer. The couple resided initially in

Sun Valley, Idaho Sun Valley is a resort city in the western United States, in Blaine County, Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum in the Wood River valley. The population was 1406 at the 2010 census, down from 1427 in 2000.Palm Desert, California Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs, northeast of San Diego and east of Los Angeles. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census. The city has bee ...

. There Kent lived until her death, at the age of 103, on October 13, 2011.

Hobbies

Kent had a great love for the outdoors. Always active, she enjoyed golf, fly fishing, hunting, and gardening. She was a longtime member of Marakkesh, Sunland, and Thunderbird Country Clubs. She was known as a talented cook and loved entertaining friends and family. Kent continued to fly light aircraft until her 85th birthday and was still playing golf well into her mid-90s.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1926) * ''

Prowlers of the Night ''Prowlers of the Night'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Ernst Laemmle and starring Fred Humes, Barbara Kent and Slim Cole.Langman, p. 342 Cast * Fred Humes as Jack Morton * Barbara Kent as Anita Parsons * Slim Cole as A ...

'' (1926) * ''The Peace Deputy'' (1927, short) * ''

The Lone Eagle The Lone Eagle is a 1927 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson, based on the story by Emilie Johnson, and starring Raymond Keane, Barbara Kent and Nigel Barrie. It was released by Universal Pictures on September 18, 1927. Plot Du ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Small Bachelor ''The Small Bachelor'' is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United Kingdom on 28 April 1927 by Methuen & Co., London, and in the United States on 17 June 1927 by George H. Doran, New York.McIlvaine (1990), A37, pp. 51–53. ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Drop Kick ''The Drop Kick'' (also known as ''Glitter'' in the UK) is a 1927 silent film directed by Millard Webb written by Katherine Brush about a college football player (Richard Barthelmess). It was one of the early films of John Wayne who was only a ...

'' (1927) * ''

Modern Mothers ''Modern Mothers'' is a 1928 American silent drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Helene Chadwick, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Ethel Grey Terry, and was released on May 13, 1928. Cast list * Helene Chadwick as Adele Dayton * Douglas F ...

'' (1928) * ''

Stop That Man! ''Stop That Man!'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Nat Ross and starring Arthur Lake, Barbara Kent and Eddie Gribbon.Langman p.398 The screenplay concerns a man who accidentally assists a group of criminals. Plot summary The ...

'' (1928) * ''

That's My Daddy ''That's My Daddy'' is a 1928 American silent comedy starring Reginald Denny and Barbara Kent. The film's story is credited to Denny; though the direction is credited to Fred C. Newmeyer, Denny claimed to have directed most of the film himself. ...

'' (1928) * ''His Destiny'' (1928) * '' Lonesome'' (1928) * ''

'' (1929) * '' The Shakedown'' (1929) * '' Night Ride'' (1930) * ''

Dumbbells in Ermine ''Dumbbells in Ermine'' is a 1930 American early talkie pre-Code comedy film based on the 1925 play ''Weak Sisters'' by Lynn Starling. The film stars Robert Armstrong and Barbara Kent, and features Beryl Mercer, James Gleason, and Claude Gilli ...

'' (1930) * ''

What Men Want ''What Men Want'' is a 2019 American romantic comedy film directed by Adam Shankman and starring Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Josh Brener, Erykah Badu, Richard Roundtree and Tracy Morgan. The film is a loose remake of the 2000 film ''What Wome ...

'' (1930) * ''

Freighters of Destiny ''Freighters of Destiny'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film produced and directed by film editor Fred Allen, from a screenplay by Adele Buffington. Allen had started in the film industry as an editor in the early 1920s during the silent e ...

'' (1931) * ''

Chinatown After Dark ''Chinatown After Dark'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stuart Paton and starring Carmel Myers, Rex Lease and Barbara Kent.Pitts p.240 Cast *Carmel Myers as Madame Ying Su *Rex Lease as James 'Jim' Bonner *Barbara Kent as Lo ...

'' (1931) * ''

Grief Street ''Grief Street'' is a 1931 American pre-Code mystery crime film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Barbara Kent and John Holland. It was produced and distributed by the Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation. Plot A womanizing matin� ...

'' (1931) * '' Indiscreet'' (1931) * ''

Self Defense Self-defense (self-defence primarily in Commonwealth English) is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in ...

'' (1932) * '' Emma'' (1932) * ''

The Pride of the Legion ''The Pride of the Legion'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Victor Jory, Barbara Kent and Sally Blane Sally Blane (born Elizabeth Jane Young; July 11, 1910 – August 27, 1997) was an American actress ...

'' (1932) * ''

No Living Witness ''No Living Witness'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by E. Mason Hopper and written by Norman Houston. The film stars Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery Sr., Barbara Kent, Carmel Myers, Otis Harlan, Dorothy Revier, J. Carrol Naish ...

'' (1932) * ''

Beauty Parlor ''Beauty Parlor'' (Movie) is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Barbara Kent, Joyce Compton and John Harron.Pitts p. 90 Cast * Barbara Kent as Sally Dale * Joyce Compton as Joan Perry * John Harron ...

'' (1932) * '' Vanity Fair'' (1932) * ''

Exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website Film and TV Film * ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film * ''Exposed'' (1932 ...

'' (1932) * ''

Marriage on Approval ''Marriage on Approval'' is a 1933 pre-Code American drama film directed by Howard Higgin and starring Barbara Kent, Don Dillaway and William Farnum.Pitts p.162 It was released in the United Kingdom by British Lion under the alternative title of ...

'' (1933) * ''

Her Forgotten Past ''Her Forgotten Past'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Wesley Ford and starring Monte Blue, Barbara Kent and Henry B. Walthall.Pitts p. 253 Synopsis Without telling her wealthy father, Doris Maynard marries the family chauffe ...

'' (1933) * ''

Swellhead ''Swellhead'' is a 1935 American comedy drama film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Wallace Ford, Dickie Moore and Barbara Kent.Dick p.239 Synopsis A cocky baseball player is forever bragging about his success on the field, and off it w ...

'' (1935) * ''

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) *''

Old Man Rhythm ''Old Man Rhythm'' is a 1935 American musical film directed by Edward Ludwig from a screenplay by Sig Herzig and Ernest Pagano, based on a story by Herzig, Lewis Gensler, and Don Hartman. The musical director was Roy Webb, with music composed by ...

'' (1935) * '' Under Age'' (1941)

References

External links

* *
''Indiscreet''_(1931)_profile_at_Internet_Archive;_starred_Gloria_Swanson
,_Monroe_Owsley.html" ;"title="Gloria Swanson">''Indiscreet'' (1931) profile at Internet Archive; starred Gloria Swanson
, Monroe Owsley">Gloria Swanson">''Indiscreet'' (1931) profile at Internet Archive; starred Gloria Swanson
, Monroe Owsley, and Kent]
Barbara Kent
at Virtual History * featuring Barbara Kent swimming * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Barbara 1907 births 2011 deaths Actresses from Alberta American centenarians American film actresses American silent film actresses Canadian centenarians Canadian film actresses Canadian silent film actresses Canadian emigrants to the United States People from the County of Stettler No. 6 People from Palm Desert, California Hollywood High School alumni 20th-century American actresses 20th-century Canadian actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars Women centenarians 21st-century American women People from Sun Valley, Idaho

Career

Later years

Hobbies

Filmography

References

Further reading

External links