Monty Banks
Monty Banks was a short, stocky but somehow debonair Italian-born comic actor, later also writer and director. In the US from 1914, he first appeared on stage in musical comedy and cabaret. By 1917 he was working as a dancer in New York's Dominguez Cafe. After this he turned to films, acting and doing stunt work at Keystone, Universal and for Al Christie. Changing his name from Mario Bianchi to Monty Banks may have been prompted by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as a passing reference to his playing '"montebanks". By 1919 Banks had moved to Vitagraph to play a villain in The Grocery Clerk (1919), foil to star comic Larry Semon. Banks first came to the fore in his own right as star of the "Welcome Comedies" made by Warner Brothers. He spent the early 1920s at Fox and Grand Asher, graduating to writing and directing two-reel comedies with himself as the star. Most noteworthy entries in regard to inventive sight gags and Mack Sennett--style madcap plots are Pay or Move (1924) and The Golf Bug (1924). The success of this series prompted Banks to create an independent production company, the Monty Banks Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with writer/director Howard Estabrook. He made several feature-length films for Pathe, including Play Safe (1927)) (generally considered his best work), which featured a climactic runaway train sequence. This style of fast-action slapstick made it inevitable that Banks suffered more than his fair share of injuries, especially since he continued to do many of his own stunts. From the late 1920s Banks worked in England and made several appearances in sound films. However, his accent proved to be something of an obstacle. He therefore decided, after 1930, to concentrate on directing and producing. He helmed four features starring the popular entertainer Gracie Fields, who became his second wife in 1940. In 1935 he directed a well-received George Formby comedy, No Limit (1935), about the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man, which were shot on location there. With the outbreak of World War II Banks--being an Italian citizen--would have faced internment in England as an enemy alien. He therefore deemed it necessary to flee to Canada, and from there to the neutral United States. He eventually obtained American citizenship, for which he had applied years earlier, but had forgotten to submit the necessary paperwork. Back in Hollywood he ended up at 20th Century-Fox, directing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Great Guns (1941), arguably one of their lesser efforts. Banks died of a heart attack during a trip through Italy in January 1950, aged just 52. Sadly, the majority of his one- and two-reelers are now considered lost films. As a result, his status as a leading comic of the silent screen may have somewhat diminished--except, perhaps, in his home town of Cesena, where a foundation was established in his honor (the "Aula Didattica Monty Banks"), offering students "practical courses on experimental aspects of video production".
Known For
Credits
- 1961 · Days of Thrills and Laughter as Self (archive footage)
- 1952 · Elstree Story as Himself
- 1951 · The Slappiest Days of Our Lives as (archive footage)
- 1945 · A Bell for Adano as Giuseppe
- 1941 · Blood and Sand as Antonio Lopez
- 1940 · Olympic Honeymoon as Orban
- 1939 · Shipyard Sally as
- 1936 · Queen of Hearts as Montague Banking
- 1935 · Man of the Moment as Doctor
- 1935 · So You Won't Talk as Tony
- 1934 · The Church Mouse as Window Washer
- 1934 · Falling in Love as Film Director
- 1934 · The Girl in Possession as Caruso
- 1933 · You Made Me Love You as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- 1933 · Heads We Go as Chauffeur
- 1933 · Leave It to Me as
- 1932 · For the Love of Mike as Chef
- 1931 · Tonight's the Night - Pass It On as Convict
- 1929 · Atlantic as Dandy
- 1929 · The Compulsory Husband as Monty
- 1929 · Week-End Wives as Max Ammon
- 1928 · Adam's Apple as Monty Adams
- 1928 · A Perfect Gentleman as Monty Brooks
- 1927 · Flying Luck as The Boy
- 1927 · Chasing Choo Choos as Monty
- 1927 · Horse Shoes as Monty Milde
- 1927 · Play Safe as The Boy
- 1926 · Atta Boy as Monty Milde
- 1925 · Africa F.O.B. as Monty Banks, the Stranger
- 1925 · Keep Smiling as The Boy
- 1924 · Home Cooking as
- 1924 · The Golf Bug as Monty
- 1924 · A Wild Goose Chase as Monty
- 1924 · Pay or Move as Monty
- 1924 · Wedding Bells as The Groom
- 1924 · Hot Sands as
- 1923 · Taxi Please as The Taxi Driver
- 1923 · The Covered Schooner as The Boy
- 1923 · Paging Love as The Encyclopedia Salesman
- 1923 · Love's Handicap as The Watchful Waiter
- 1923 · Oils Well! as Monty, the Office Force
- 1923 · Six A.M. as
- 1923 · Always Late as
- 1922 · Brilliantine the Bull Fighter as Adolph Brilliantino
- 1922 · Derby Day as
- 1921 · Cleaned and Dry as The Dry Cleaner Delivery Wagon Driver
- 1921 · Fresh Air as The boy
- 1921 · In and Out as Mr. Newlywed
- 1921 · Where Is My Wife? as The Jealous Husband
- 1921 · A Bedroom Scandal as A Husband
- 1920 · Nearly Married as Count Up / Mac Aroni
- 1920 · A Flivver Wedding as The Boy
- 1920 · Don't Park Here as A Rival
- 1920 · The Garage as Man with Dog (uncredited)
- 1919 · The Grocery Clerk as The Tow Gusher, a 'He Vamp'
- 1919 · Too Much Johnson as Leon Dathis
- 1919 · One Night Only as
- 1919 · Her First False Hare as Unnamed
- 1919 · Coppers and Scents as Sherlock McNutt
- 1919 · Love as Farmhand
- 1919 · Camping Out as
- 1918 · The Sheriff as
- 1918 · A Scrap of Paper as Soldier
- 1918 · The Belles of Liberty as Harold Hatband (Son) as Frenchie Bianchi
- 1918 · A Blind Pig as French Salesman
- 1918 · Did She Do Wrong? as
- 1916 · The Purple Mask as Jack Elliot & Jacques, Patricia's Butler (as Mario Bianchi)
- 1916 · Cold Hearts and Hot Flames as
- Future · Squirrel Food as The Jailbird