Phyllis Konstam
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Konstam was an English film actress. She appeared in 11 films between 1928
and 1964
, including four films directed by Alfred Hitchcock
.
She was born in London
and died in Somerset
from a heart attack
.
She married the tennis
star Bunny Austin in 1931, whom she met on a cruise liner while traveling to the US to appear in a stage production of Frank Vosper
's Murder on the Second Floor, opposite her close friend Laurence Olivier
. Together, Austin and Konstam were one of the celebrity couples of the age. Austin played tennis with Charlie Chaplin
, was a friend of Daphne du Maurier
, and met both Queen Mary
and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had two children.
In her later years, she joined her husband with involvement in the Oxford Group
, performing in several films and theatrical productions around the world to benefit the cause.
1928 in film
-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
and 1964
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
, including four films directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
.
She was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and died in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
She married the tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
star Bunny Austin in 1931, whom she met on a cruise liner while traveling to the US to appear in a stage production of Frank Vosper
Frank Vosper
Frank Vosper was a British actor and playwright.-Stage:Vosper made his stage debut in 1919 and was best known for playing urbane villains....
's Murder on the Second Floor, opposite her close friend Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
. Together, Austin and Konstam were one of the celebrity couples of the age. Austin played tennis with Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, was a friend of Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
, and met both Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had two children.
In her later years, she joined her husband with involvement in the Oxford Group
Oxford Group
The Oxford Group was a Christian movement that had a following in Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Scandinavia and America in the 1920s and 30s. It was initiated by an American Lutheran pastor, Frank Buchman, who was of Swiss descent...
, performing in several films and theatrical productions around the world to benefit the cause.
Selected filmography
- ChampagneChampagne (film)Champagne is a silent comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on an original story by English writer and critic Walter C. Mycroft...
(1928) - BlackmailBlackmail (1929 film)Blackmail is a 1929 British thriller drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anny Ondra, John Longden, and Cyril Ritchard, and featuring Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood and Charles Paton. The film is based on the play Blackmail by Charles Bennett, as adapted by Hitchcock, with dialogue by...
(1929) - Murder!Murder!Murder! is a 1930 British drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring and Edward Chapman. It is based on a novel and play called Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson...
(1930) - Compromising DaphneCompromising DaphneCompromising Daphne is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Jean Colin, Phyllis Konstam, C.M. Hallard and Viola Compton. It was also released as Compromised! and was based on a play by Edith Fitzgerald.-Cast:...
(1930) - The Skin Game (1931)
- A Gentleman of ParisA Gentleman of Paris (1931 film)A Gentleman of Paris is a 1931 crime drama film directed by Sinclair Hill, based on the story "His Honour, the Judge" by Niranjan Pal.- Cast :* Arthur Wontner as Judge Le Fevre* Vanda Gréville as Paulette Gerrard* Hugh Williams as Gaston Gerrard...
(1931) - The Crowning Experience (1960)
- Voice of the Hurricane (1964)