Monty Banks
Monty Banks , actually Mario Bianchi , (born July 18, 1897 in Cesena , Italy , † January 7, 1950 in Arona , Italy) was an Italian-American comedian , film actor and film director , film producer and screenwriter .
Life
Mario Bianchi immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1914, and later became a US citizen . From 1916 he worked as a film actor and played among other things for the film studio of Roscoe Arbuckle . In the early 1920s, Banks was so popular that he starred in over 35 short comedies, and later turned to full-length films. The dawn of the sound film and with it the disclosure of his strong Italian accent damaged his film career as a comedian. He then turned to directing and writing gags for other comedians. His last film in which he directed was the 1941 Laurel and Hardy film horror of the Company ( Great Guns ).
From 1929 until the divorce in 1932 he was married to the actress Gladys Frazin , the marriage lasted until his death. In 1940, Banks married the British actress and singer Gracie Fields . Since Italy was an opponent of the British, the two emigrated to North America . He died of a heart attack when he was only 52 .
Filmography (selection)
As a director
- 1924: Hot Sands (also actor)
- 1930: Liebestoll (The Compulsory Husband) (also actor)
- 1934: The Church Mouse
- 1935: George breaks all records (No Limit) (also actor)
- 1935: Man of the Moment (also actor)
- 1936: Keep Your Seats, Please!
- 1939: Shipyard Sally
- 1941: Horrors of the Company (Great Guns) (also actor)
Actors only
- 1916: Cold Hearts and Hot Flames
- 1919: Love
- 1919: The Grocery Clerk
- 1920: The Workshop ( The Garage , short film)
- 1929: Atlantic
- 1932: Hold 'Em Jail
- 1941: King of the Toreros (Blood and Sand)
- 1945: A Bell for Adano
Web links
- Monty Banks in theInternet Movie Database(English)
- Monty Banks in the database of Find a Grave (English)
- Notes for at essay on the film career of Monty Banks (English)
- Pictures by Monty Banks In: Virtual History
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Banks, Monty |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Bianchi, Mario (real name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian-American comedian, film actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter |
DATE OF BIRTH | July 18, 1897 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Cesena , Italy |
DATE OF DEATH | January 7, 1950 |
Place of death | Arona , Italy |