Vera James Munro (born Vera Gwendoline James, 2 April 1892 – 19 October 1980) was a New Zealand actress who worked in theatre and film. In 1929 she appeared in the first all-talking, all-colour feature length movie ever made, Warner Bros On with the Show!, and was already well known for starring in A Girl of the Bush in 1921.
James was born Vera Gwendoline James on 2 April 1892, the daughter of William Francis James and Alice Jane James (née Hill) of Dunedin, New Zealand. [1] [2] She moved to Australia in 1919 and appeared in two films for Franklyn Barrett. [3] The first was A Girl of the Bush, [4] [5] which was screened in both Australia and New Zealand. [6] Her performance in the lead role was widely praised for the versatility of her acting, her mimicry, feats of horsemanship, and her good looks. [7] She had learned to ride horses and swim in order to land the role. [8] The second film was Know Thy Child, [9] in which James' character was first shown at the age of seventeen, then aged twenty-five, and finally aged about forty; "in each age she plays the part with restraint and dramatic skill". [10]
After these successes, James moved to Hollywood in 1922, [11] with her new husband, Arthur Henry Munro, [12] [13] who she had married on 29 June 1921 at the Presbyterian Church, Neutral Bay, Sydney. [14] In Hollywood, James appeared in a B-Western, McGuire of the Mounted (1923), playing a member of a drug smuggling gang who was married to the hero while he was doped. [15] [16] She was cast in Bavu (1923), and appeared in pre-release publicity images, [17] [18] [19] but does not appear in the cast list of the final release. James also had supporting roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), [19] [5] The Radio Detective (1925) (a serial), [5] [20] Three Wise Men (1925) with Janet Gaynor and Ben Corbett, [21] Fade-Away Foster (1926), [5] and On with the Show! which was the first all-colour, all-talking full-length movie in history. [12] [19] She was one of the few New Zealand actors to find some fame in Hollywood at the time. [22]
In 1928 she appeared in a production of the operetta The Desert Song. The Los Angeles Times described her as "not only pleasing to gaze upon, but is possessed of a beautiful contralto voice". [23]
In 1929, she travelled back to Australia and New Zealand, intending to return to Hollywood the following year. [19] [24] [25] However, there is no evidence that she did. [1] [12] [19] She was offered parts after returning to Australia, but always turned them down. [26] She went on to manage a beauty salon in Sydney. [8] She died on 19 October 1980 in Sydney. [26]
Vera James Munro (born Vera Gwendoline James, 2 April 1892 – 19 October 1980) was a New Zealand actress who worked in theatre and film. In 1929 she appeared in the first all-talking, all-colour feature length movie ever made, Warner Bros On with the Show!, and was already well known for starring in A Girl of the Bush in 1921.
James was born Vera Gwendoline James on 2 April 1892, the daughter of William Francis James and Alice Jane James (née Hill) of Dunedin, New Zealand. [1] [2] She moved to Australia in 1919 and appeared in two films for Franklyn Barrett. [3] The first was A Girl of the Bush, [4] [5] which was screened in both Australia and New Zealand. [6] Her performance in the lead role was widely praised for the versatility of her acting, her mimicry, feats of horsemanship, and her good looks. [7] She had learned to ride horses and swim in order to land the role. [8] The second film was Know Thy Child, [9] in which James' character was first shown at the age of seventeen, then aged twenty-five, and finally aged about forty; "in each age she plays the part with restraint and dramatic skill". [10]
After these successes, James moved to Hollywood in 1922, [11] with her new husband, Arthur Henry Munro, [12] [13] who she had married on 29 June 1921 at the Presbyterian Church, Neutral Bay, Sydney. [14] In Hollywood, James appeared in a B-Western, McGuire of the Mounted (1923), playing a member of a drug smuggling gang who was married to the hero while he was doped. [15] [16] She was cast in Bavu (1923), and appeared in pre-release publicity images, [17] [18] [19] but does not appear in the cast list of the final release. James also had supporting roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), [19] [5] The Radio Detective (1925) (a serial), [5] [20] Three Wise Men (1925) with Janet Gaynor and Ben Corbett, [21] Fade-Away Foster (1926), [5] and On with the Show! which was the first all-colour, all-talking full-length movie in history. [12] [19] She was one of the few New Zealand actors to find some fame in Hollywood at the time. [22]
In 1928 she appeared in a production of the operetta The Desert Song. The Los Angeles Times described her as "not only pleasing to gaze upon, but is possessed of a beautiful contralto voice". [23]
In 1929, she travelled back to Australia and New Zealand, intending to return to Hollywood the following year. [19] [24] [25] However, there is no evidence that she did. [1] [12] [19] She was offered parts after returning to Australia, but always turned them down. [26] She went on to manage a beauty salon in Sydney. [8] She died on 19 October 1980 in Sydney. [26]