Helena Carter
Helena Carter | |
---|---|
Culver City, Los Angeles, California | |
Alma mater | Hunter College Columbia University |
Spouse | Michael Meshekoff (1953–1997) |
Children | 1 |
Helena Carter (born Helen Jean Ruckert; August 24, 1923[1] – January 11, 2000) was an American film actress in the 1940s and 1950s who is best known for her work in the film Invaders from Mars as Dr. Patricia Blake. From 1947 to 1953 she would appear in 13 films, during which time she also worked as a model.[2]
Early years
Carter was born in New York City.[3] She graduated from Hunter College and attended graduate school at Columbia University, studying for a teaching degree.[4] She later said her ambition was to be a teacher and marry a college professor.[5]
During this period she worked as a
Film
Carter was visiting friends at
Her first film role was a small part in Time Out of Mind in 1947,[3] which starred Ella Raines and Phyllis Calvert.[5] According to Filmink "Carter has poise and beauty, but her inexperience is most evident in her speaking voice – she enunciates like someone who has been to finishing school. However, she already demonstrates what would be more notable attributes – her beauty, spark and intelligence, and her ability to focus her eyes on the person she was performing a scene with."[2]
Universal put Carter in Something in the Wind (1948) with Deanna Durbin. In April 1947 she was loaned out for Intrigue (1948), her biggest part yet, billed third after George Raft and June Havoc.[7] According to Filmink her performance in the latter "helped establish what would be her stock in trade character – a good girl sexually attracted to the bad boy hero; moral, but not a stick in the mud; intelligent and spirited."[2]
Back at Universal she was in
The film that brought her back was being cast as
In June 1948 she told an interviewer, "Cameras don't frighten me even if I have freckles. But I still talk too fast. Sound men tear their hair out when I speak my first words in a picture. They are polite but very firm as they say, between clenched teeth, 'Slow down, Miss Carter, slow down.'"[5]
Conflict with Universal
Carter turned down the part of Richard Long's wife in Ma and Pa Kettle in October 1948; Meg Randall played the role.[12] In November Hedda Hopper reported that Carter wanted out of her Universal contract six months ago, and would get it if she paid back all the salary she had received since September. Hopper reported that the studio got enough money out of her loan outs to Fairbanks and Raft to cover two years of her pay.[13] Filmink suggested Carter knew how good she was and wanted better roles. But Universal executives weren't about to let any uppity ex model college grad tell them what to do and slapped her down."[2]
However, she stayed with Universal. In July 1949 Carter replaced Dolores Hart in East of Java[14] which became South Sea Sinner (1951). Carter and Shelley Winters reportedly feuded on set, although both denied it.[14][15] She followed it with the female lead in Double Crossbones (1950), a comedy with Donald O'Connor.
Final Films
In April 1950,
William Cagney used her again in Bugles in the Afternoon (1952) with Ray Milland.[18] Sam Katzman used her in The Golden Hawk (1952) and The Pathfinder (1952). Carter's final film role was in 1953 when she starred in William Cameron Menzies' sci-fi thriller Invaders from Mars. As pointed out by Filmink "For the first time in her entire career, Carter played something other than a love interest for the male lead."[2]
She retired following her second marriage.[19]
Personal life
Carter married twice, the first ending in divorce. On December 31, 1953, she married Michael Meshekoff,[20] with whom she would remain until his death in 1997.
Death
Carter died at age 76 in Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 2000.[21]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1947 | Time Out of Mind | Dora Drake | |
Something in the Wind | Clarissa Prentice | ||
Intrigue | Linda Parker | ||
1948 | River Lady
|
Stephanie Morrison | |
1949 | The Fighting O'Flynn | Lady Benedetta | |
1950 | Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
|
Margaret Dobson | |
South Sea Sinner | Margaret Landis | ||
1951 | Double Crossbones | Lady Sylvia Copeland | |
Fort Worth
|
Amy Brooks | ||
1952 | Bugles in the Afternoon | Josephine Russell | |
The Golden Hawk | Blanca de Valdiva | ||
The Pathfinder | Alison | ||
1953 | Invaders from Mars | Dr. Patricia Blake |
References
- ^ Year of birth also given as 1920 and 1924, varying sources.
- ^ a b c d e Vagg, Stephen (February 14, 2020). "Helena Carter: An Appreciation". Filmink.
- ^ a b "Helena Carter; Model, Movie Actress of 1940s and '50s". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2000. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Scott, J. L. (June 20, 1948). "Glamour Girl Found to Have Ability, Too". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Thomas F. Brady (April 20, 1948). "Columbia to Film Barry Storm Work: Studio Acquires Screen Rights to 'Thundergod's Gold,' Tale of Lost Mine in Arizona". The New York Times. p. 33.
- ProQuest 165748138.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (July 25, 1947). "Drama and Film: Mrs. Miniver Revives; Unborn Baby 'Siqned'". Los Angeles Times. p. A3.
- ProQuest 165991139.
- ProQuest 108401432.
- ^ "Movie Fencers". Life Magazine. November 8, 1948.
- ProQuest 165870793.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (November 13, 1948). "Jean Peters to Star With Ray Milland". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
- ^ a b "Janet Leigh Gets 2 RKO Film Leads". The New York Times. July 1, 1949. p. 14.
- ^ Hedda Hopper (July 26, 1949). "Walker Will Costar With Singer Grayson". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
- ^ "Holden Gets Role in 'Born Yesterday'". The New York Times. April 15, 1950. p. 11.
- ^ Hedda Hopper's Staff (April 27, 1950). "Gregory Peck Teams with Gene Tierney in Combination Film Tale: Looking at Hollywood". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a1.
- ProQuest 166203588.
- ^ "Obituaries; helena carter; model, movie actress of 1940s and '50s". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2000.
- ^ "Marriages". Billboard. January 16, 1954. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- ISBN 9780786410248. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
External links
- Helena Carter at IMDb
- Helena Carter at Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen