Maria Montez

Biography

María África Gracia Vidal (6 June 1912 – 7 September 1951), known professionally as Maria Montez, was a Dominican actress who gained fame and popularity in the 1940s starring in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume adventure films. Her screen image was that of a seductress, dressed in fanciful costumes and sparkling jewels. She became so identified with these adventure epics that she became known as The Queen of Technicolor. Over her career, Montez appeared in 26 films, 21 of which were made in North America, with the last five being made in Europe.

== Early life == Montez was born María África Antonia de Santo Silas Gracia y Vidal in Barahona, Dominican Republic. and was the second of ten children (Isidoro Gracia Vidal, Aquilino Gracia Vidal) born to Isidoro Gracia y García, a Spaniard, from Garafía, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, and Regla María Teresa Vidal y Recio, a Dominican of Criollo descent, although it is unclear how many survived into adulthood. Her paternal grandfather Joaquín Gracia Anadón was originally from Teruel, Aragon who settled the Canaries, the birthplace of her father. Much of her backstory was fictionally created by her publicity writers, who invented a story that her father was a well travelled diplomat who, at one time had been based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was to help explain her first marriage to a Northern Irish banker. In truth she was already married before travelling with her husband through France and England before briefly visiting his homeland in 1936. Indeed Belfast didn't have any foreign consulates in the 1930s.

"A finales de 1929, con 17 años, su padre la internó en un colegio de religiosas de Tenerife con la intención de que olvidara a un cincuentón del que se había enamorado. Pero en octubre de 1930, la actriz regresó a su tierra natal y reanudó sus relaciones con el banquero irlandés William G. MacFeeters, con el que terminaría casándose en 1932." Montez learned English and was educated at a Catholic convent school in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

== Career ==

On 3 July 1939, Montez arrived in New York. Her first job, for $50, was for the cover of a magazine. Montez was spotted by a film talent scout in New York. Her first film was Boss of Bullion City (1940), a Johnny Mack Brown western produced by Universal Pictures. This was the first film where she played a leading role and the only role where she speaks some Spanish. Her next film role was in The Invisible Woman (1940). It was made for Universal Pictures, who signed her to a long-term contract starting at $150 a week. She had small decorative roles in two films with the comedy team of Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, Lucky Devils and Raiders of the Desert; the Los Angeles Times said she "was attractive as the oasis charmer" in the latter. She also appeared in Moonlight in Hawaii and Bombay Clipper. She had a small part in That Night in Rio (1941), made at 20th Century Fox. Universal did not have a "glamour girl" like other studios, an equivalent to Hedy Lamarr (MGM), Dorothy Lamour (Paramount), Betty Grable (20th Century Fox), Rita Hayworth (Columbia), or Ann Sheridan (Warner Bros). They decided to groom Maria Montez to take on this role, and she received a lot of publicity. Montez was also a keen self-promoter. In the words of The Los Angeles Times "she borrowed an old but sure-fire technique to get ahead in the movies. She acted like a movie star. She leaned on the vampish tradition set up by Nazimova and Theda Bara... She went in heavily for astrology. Her name became synonymous with exotic enchantresses in sheer harem pantaloons." She took on a "star" pose in her private life. One newspaper called her "the best commissary actress in town... In the studio cafe, Maria puts on a real show. Always Maria makes an entrance." In June 1941 Montez's contract with Universal was renewed. She graduated to leading parts with South of Tahiti, co-starring Brian Donlevy. She also replaced Peggy Moran in the title role of The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942). Public response to South of Tahiti was enthusiastic enough for the studio to cast Montez in her first starring part, Arabian Nights. She claimed in 1942 she was making $250 a week.

=== Arabian Nights and stardom ===

Arabian Nights was a prestigious production for Universal, its first shot in three-strip Technicolor, produced by Walter Wanger and starring Montez, Jon Hall, and Sabu. The resulting film was a big hit and established Montez as a star. Montez wanted to portray Cleopatra, but instead Universal reunited her with Hall and Sabu in White Savage (1943) (where Montez was upped from second-billing to top-billing). They went on to make a third film, Cobra Woman (1944). All three were audience favorites. In 1943 Montez was awarded two medals from the Dominican government for her efforts in promoting friendly relations between the US and her native land. Universal wanted three more films starring Montez, Hall, and Sabu. Sabu, however, was drafted into the US Army and so was replaced by Turhan Bey in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944). Hall, Montez, and Bey were meant to reunite in Gypsy Wildcat (1944), but Bey was required on another film and ended up being replaced by Peter Coe. Sudan (1945) starred Montez, Hall, and Bey, with Bey as Montez's romantic interest this time. Flame of Stamboul was another proposed Hall-Bey-Montez film but it was postponed. Universal also announced that Montez would play Elisabeth of Austria in The Golden Fleece, based on a story by Bertita Harding, but it was never made. She did appear in Follow the Boys, Universal's all-star musical, and Bowery to Broadway.

In 1944 Montez said that the secret to her success was that she was sexy but sweet...I am very easy to get along with. I am very nice. I have changed a lot during the last year. I have outgrown my old publicity. I used to say and do things to shock people. That was how I became famous. But now it is different. First the public likes you because you're spectacular. But after it thinks you are a star it wants you to be nice. Now I am a star, I am nice.