Alice White
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Alice White (born Alva White, August 25, 1904 – February 19, 1983) was an American film actress. Her career spanned late silent films and early sound films. After leaving school, White became a secretary and "script girl" for director Josef Von Sternberg. She also worked as a switchboard operator at the Hollywood Writers' Club. After clashing with Von Sternberg, White left to work for Charlie Chaplin, who decided before long to place her in front of the camera. Her bubbly and vivacious persona led to comparisons with Clara Bow, but White's career was slow to progress. In his book, Silent Films, 1877-1996: A Critical Guide to 646 Movies, Robert K. Klepper wrote: "Some critics have said that Ms. White was a second-string Clara Bow. In actuality, Ms. White had her own type of charm, and was a delightful actress in her own, unique way. Whereas Clara Bow played the quintessential, flaming redheaded flapper, Alice White was more of a bubbly, vivacious blonde." After playing a succession of flappers and gold diggers, she attracted the attention of director and producer Mervyn LeRoy, who saw potential in her. Her screen debut was in The Sea Tiger (1927). Her early films included Show Girl (1928), which had Vitaphone musical accompaniment but no dialog, and its "talkie" musical sequel Show Girl in Hollywood (1930), both released by Warner Brothers and both based on novels by J. P. McEvoy. In these two films, White appeared as "Dixie Dugan". In October 1929, McAvoy started the comic strip Dixie Dugan with the character Dixie having a "helmet" hairstyle and appearance similar to actress Louise Brooks. White also used the services of Hollywood 'beauty sculptor' Sylvia of Hollywood to stay in shape. White was featured in The Girl from Woolworth's (1929), having the role of a singing clerk in the music department of a Woolworth's store. Karen Plunkett-Powell wrote in her book, Remembering Woolworth's: A Nostalgic History of the World's Most Famous Five-and-Dime: "First National Pictures produced this 60-minute musical as a showcase for up-and-coming actress Alice White." She left films in 1931 to improve her acting abilities, returning in 1933 only to have her career hurt by a scandal that erupted over her involvement with boyfriend actor Jack Warburton and future husband Sy Bartlett. Although she later married Bartlett, her reputation was tarnished and she appeared only in supporting roles after this. By 1937 and 1938, her name was at the bottom of the cast lists. She made her final film appearance in Flamingo Road (1949) and eventually resumed working as a secretary.
Known For
Credits
- 2016 · The Crown as Bethan
- 1949 · Flamingo Road as Gracie
- 1942 · Girls' Town as Nicky
- 1941 · The Night of January 16th as Flashy Blonde
- 1938 · Annabel Takes a Tour as Marcella, Hotel Manicurist
- 1938 · King of the Newsboys as Dolly
- 1937 · Telephone Operator as Dotty Stengal
- 1937 · Big City as Peggy Devlin
- 1935 · Coronado as Violet Wray Hornbostel
- 1935 · Sweet Music as Lulu Betts
- 1935 · A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio as Herself (uncredited)
- 1934 · Secret of the Chateau as Didi Bonfee
- 1934 · The Hollywood Gad-About as Self (uncredited)
- 1934 · Gift of Gab as Margot
- 1934 · A Very Honorable Guy as Hortense
- 1934 · Jimmy the Gent as Mabel
- 1934 · Cross Country Cruise as May
- 1933 · King for a Night as Evelyn
- 1933 · Picture Snatcher as Allison
- 1933 · Employees' Entrance as Polly Dale
- 1933 · Luxury Liner as Milli Lynch
- 1931 · Murder at Midnight as Millie Scripps
- 1930 · The Naughty Flirt as Miss Katherine Constance 'Kay' Elliott
- 1930 · The Widow from Chicago as Polly Henderson, aka Polly Dorgan
- 1930 · Sweethearts on Parade as Helen
- 1930 · Sweet Mama as Goldie
- 1930 · Show Girl in Hollywood as Dixie Dugan
- 1930 · Playing Around as Sheba Miller
- 1929 · Show of Shows as Performer in 'If I Could Learn to Love' Number (uncredited)
- 1929 · The Girl from Woolworth's as Pat King
- 1929 · Broadway Babies as Dee Foster
- 1929 · Hot Stuff as Barbara Allen
- 1928 · Naughty Baby as Rosalind McGill
- 1928 · Fashion News as Self (1929)
- 1928 · Show Girl as Dixie Dugan
- 1928 · 3-Ring Marriage as Trapeze Performer
- 1928 · Harold Teen as Giggles Dewberry
- 1928 · The Big Noise as Sophie Sloval
- 1928 · Mad Hour as Aimee
- 1928 · Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Dorothy Shaw
- 1927 · The Private Life of Helen of Troy as Adraste
- 1927 · Breakfast at Sunrise as Loulou
- 1927 · American Beauty as Claire O'Riley
- 1927 · The Satin Woman as Jean Taylor
- 1927 · The Sea Tiger as Manuella