Catherine Dale Owen
Encyclopedia
Catherine Dale Owen was an American
stage and film actress
.
, Owen graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in New York City
. First discovered by Laura MacGillivray, the wife of Actors Equity
president Frank Gillmore
, Owen appeared on Broadway
in the 1920s through early 1930s in productions including The Mountain Man, The Whole Town's Talking, Trelawny of the Wells, The Love City and The Play's the Thing.
In 1925, Owen was acclaimed as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world.
Captain Kovacs in His Glorious Night. It was to Owen that Gilbert spoke the lines, "Oh beauteous maiden, my arms are waiting to enfold you. I love you. I love you. I love you." The scene, which proved disastrous for Gilbert's career, was later parodied in the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain
. In 1930, Owen starred in Lawrence Tibbet's
film debut, The Rogue Song
and also with Edmund Lowe
in Born Reckless
.
Owen's likeness was drawn in caricature by Alex Gard
for Sardi's
, the New York City theater district restaurant. The picture is now part of the collection of the New York Public Library
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage and film actress
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Stage career
Born to a prominent family in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Owen graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. First discovered by Laura MacGillivray, the wife of Actors Equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
president Frank Gillmore
Frank Gillmore
Frank Gillmore was an English American playwright and a stage and early film actor...
, Owen appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in the 1920s through early 1930s in productions including The Mountain Man, The Whole Town's Talking, Trelawny of the Wells, The Love City and The Play's the Thing.
In 1925, Owen was acclaimed as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world.
In films
In films, Owen appeared as Princess Orsolini opposite John Gilbert'sJohn Gilbert (actor)
John Gilbert was an American actor and a major star of the silent film era.Known as "the great lover," he rivaled even Rudolph Valentino as a box office draw...
Captain Kovacs in His Glorious Night. It was to Owen that Gilbert spoke the lines, "Oh beauteous maiden, my arms are waiting to enfold you. I love you. I love you. I love you." The scene, which proved disastrous for Gilbert's career, was later parodied in the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
. In 1930, Owen starred in Lawrence Tibbet's
Lawrence Tibbett
Lawrence Mervil Tibbett was a great American opera singer and recording artist who also performed as a film actor and radio personality. A baritone, he sang with the New York Metropolitan Opera company more than 600 times from 1923 to 1950...
film debut, The Rogue Song
The Rogue Song (film)
The Rogue Song is a 1930 romantic musical film which tells the story of a Russian bandit who falls in love with a princess, but takes his revenge on her when her brother rapes and kills his sister. It was directed by Lionel Barrymore and Hal Roach and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
and also with Edmund Lowe
Edmund Lowe
Edmund Dantes Lowe was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. He was born in San Jose, California.-Film career:...
in Born Reckless
Born Reckless (1930 film)
Born Reckless is a American crime comedy directed by Andrew Bennison and John Ford, from a screenplay written by Donald Henderson Clarke based on his novel Louis Beretti. The film starred Edmund Lowe and Catherine Dale Owen.-Plot:...
.
Personal life
In 1934, Owen married Milton F. Davis, Jr., son of Brigadier General Milton F. Davis. The marriage ended in divorce 1937 and Owen married Homer P. Metzger that same year. With Metzger, Owen had one son, Robert Owen Metzger. Owen died of a stroke in New York City at the age of 62.Owen's likeness was drawn in caricature by Alex Gard
Alex Gard
Alex Gard , born Alexey Kremkoff in Kazan, Russia, was a cartoonist. He contributed weekly drawings to the drama section of The New York Herald Tribune, and was hired to create caricatures of Broadway and other celebrities at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City.Restaurant owner, Vincent Sardi, and...
for Sardi's
Sardi's
Sardi's is a restaurant in New York City's theater district at 234 West 44th Street in Manhattan. Known for the hundreds of caricatures of show-business celebrities that adorn its walls, Sardi's opened at its current location on March 5, 1927....
, the New York City theater district restaurant. The picture is now part of the collection of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
.
Filmography
- The Forbidden Woman (1927)
- His Glorious NightHis Glorious NightHis Glorious Night is a 1929 American romance film directed by Lionel Barrymore and starring John Gilbert in his first released talkie. It has gained notoriety as the film that reputedly ended the career of John Gilbert by revealing that he had a voice unsuitable for sound...
(1929) - Such Men Are Dangerous (1930)
- Strictly Unconventional (1930)
- The Rogue SongThe Rogue Song (film)The Rogue Song is a 1930 romantic musical film which tells the story of a Russian bandit who falls in love with a princess, but takes his revenge on her when her brother rapes and kills his sister. It was directed by Lionel Barrymore and Hal Roach and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
(1930) - Born RecklessBorn Reckless (1930 film)Born Reckless is a American crime comedy directed by Andrew Bennison and John Ford, from a screenplay written by Donald Henderson Clarke based on his novel Louis Beretti. The film starred Edmund Lowe and Catherine Dale Owen.-Plot:...
(1930) - Today (1930)
- Behind Office DoorsBehind Office Doors-Cast:*Mary Astor as Mary Linden*Robert Ames as James Duneen*Ricardo Cortez as Ronnie Wales*Catherine Dale Owen as Ellen May Robinson*Kitty Kelly as Delores Kogan*Edna Murphy as Daisy Presby*Charles Sellon as John Ritter*William Morris as Banker Charles H...
(1931) - Defenders of the Law (1931)