- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMaria Africa Antonia Gracia Vidal de Santo Silas
- Nicknames
- The Queen of Technicolor
- The Caribbean Cyclone
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- In a world weary of war and dispirited by the ravages of the Great Depression, Hollywood at the turn of the 1940s concocted a wildly popular, effective lot of escapist fare (though often cheaply made) to regale the sick at heart worldwide. Universal Pictures, more often than not, led in producing such films. We know about the monster movies: wolf men, invisible men -- and invisible women too, for that matter. We know about Sherlock Holmes chasing not killer hounds in 1890 but chasing killer Nazis a half- century later. Such were among typical Universal "B" productions. Enter Maria de Santo Silas -- Maria Montez. This daughter of a Spanish diplomat traveled extensively after being educated in the Canary Islands and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to establish herself as a stage actress in Europe. In 1940 she found herself in New York City, a model. Her screen career began in 1941, with Universal casting her in bit parts. On account of her strikingly exotic looks and her exotic accent, the studio soon paired her with other "exotics" (Sabu and Turhan Bey), and usually with a more "home-style" hero (Jon Hall), in a series of low-budget adventures, filmed in Technicolor and situated in fantasy lands, with Montez herself often situated in revealing dress. With Montez threatened by all manner of nastiness -- from evil caliphs to man-eating sharks to her own cobra-worshipping twin sister (!) -- her pictures soon became immensely popular, even though she could not really act, could not dance and could not sing. Audiences flocked to see her films, just to witness the trials and endurance of an alluring beauty in distress (as well, perhaps, as to glimpse some scantily clad, beauteous flesh). The Depression having long since passed, the end of World War II meant also the end of flying carpets and sand dunes and deadly reptiles as potential subjects for attracting moviegoers. That bit of history, plus a bit of girth added to Montez's frame, led her and her husband, the actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, to abandon Hollywood for Europe, where she would appear in a handful of French and Italian adventure films. On 7 September 1951 Maria Montez was discovered drowned in her bath, possibly having first suffered a heart attack.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs <kinephile@aol.com>
- Maria Montez, also known as The Caribbean Cyclone, was born Maria Africa Vidal de Santo Silas, on June 6, 1912, (later changed in studio publicity to 1917) in Barahona, Dominican Republic, to a Spanish consul and his wife. After a stint in modeling, she made an attempt at Hollywood. Maria's exotic beauty landed her a contract in the movie colony. Her first film was as Marie in The Invisible Woman (1940). Five more movies with five more bit roles followed until the Hollywood brass decided to do something more with the beautiful Miss Montez. They gave her a sizable role in 1941's Boss of Bullion City (1940). That was followed the next year by a bit more substantial role in Arabian Nights (1942). It was these sand-and-sandal epics of the 1940s that kept Maria employed and moviegoers enthralled. The US was still trying to get out from under The Great Depression, and the public was weary of the war that was spreading throughout Europe and Asia. Hollywood turned to fantasy films, and Maria was just what audiences were looking for. She was immensely popular with the public. Her acting skills may not have been appreciated by some critics, but the public didn't seem to mind. They liked Maria and the dangers she faced in these cheaply made but colorful adventure flicks. Each desert film attracted droves of Montez fans to the box-office. As the Depression eased and the war ended, however, fans became bored with her films. After her Hollywood career faded, she moved to Europe with her second husband, actor Jean-Pierre Aumont. She appeared in a number of German, French and Italian productions. Her final film was a German movie entitled Schatten über Neapel (1951) (aka "Camorra"). On September 7 of that year, Maria was discovered dead of a heart attack. She was only 39 and had appeared in only 27 movies, but her legacy lives on in the colorful characterizations that she left on film. She is still a much loved figure in movie history.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson
- SpousesJean-Pierre Aumont(July 13, 1943 - September 7, 1951) (her death, 1 child)William Gourley MacFeeters(November 28, 1932 - 1940) (divorced)
- Children
- ParentsRegla María Teresa Vidal RecioIsidoro Rafael Gracia García
- RelativesJulia Andre(Sibling)David Vidal Arias(Grandparent)Justa Recio Sánchez(Grandparent)Joaquín Gracia Anadón(Grandparent)Maria Antonia García Martín(Grandparent)Aquilino Gracia García(Aunt or Uncle)Tomasa Gracia García(Aunt or Uncle)Joaquín Gracia García(Aunt or Uncle)Gaudencia Gracia García(Aunt or Uncle)Isidoro Rafael Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Aquilino Mario Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Joaquín David Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Ada "Adita" Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Luz "Lucita" Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Luis Antonio Gracia Vidal(Sibling)Jaime Enrique Gracia Vidal(Sibling)David Ángel Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)Maria Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)Mario Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)Leonardo Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)Jaime Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)Catalina Vidal Recio(Aunt or Uncle)María Montez(Niece or Nephew)Raina Paris(Niece or Nephew)María Teresa Gracia Román(Niece or Nephew)Patty Villiers(Niece or Nephew)Aruna Villiers(Niece or Nephew)Mara Villiers(Niece or Nephew)Teresita Montez(Sibling)Jean Pierre Leleu(Niece or Nephew)
- While waiting for the return of her husband from war, she wrote a novel, "Forever Is a Long Time". Beforehand, she had written a few poems in Spanish.
- Despite being born in the Dominican Republic, she was actually Spanish, the daughter of the Honorary Spanish vice-consul in Santo Domingo.
- For her stage name, she chose the last name of Montez in honor of dancer Lola Montes, a favorite of Maria's father. However, she was overruled by the studio when she insisted on spelling it with an S, not a Z.
- Was a major iconic figure of gay camp in the 1950s and '60s. In addition to being a character who appears in various Andy Warhol's films of the 1960s (played by Mario Montez, she appeared as a major character in Gore Vidal's 1974 novel "Myron," his sequel to "Myra Breckinridge".
- The international airport at Barahona, Dominican Republic, is named the Maria Montez International Airport in her honor.
- [on viewing Arabian Nights (1942)] When I look at myself, I am so beautiful I scream with joy!
- [on her film debut in The Invisible Woman (1940)] When I see myself on the screen, I am so beautiful, I jump for joy!
- [after meeting Orson Welles] He is as spectacular as I am!
- Arabian Nights (1943) - $150 /week
- Raiders of the Desert (1941) - $150 /week
- That Night in Rio (1941) - $150 /week
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