Vilma Bánky
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| Vilma Bánky | |
 Vilma Bánky on the cover of a 1920s fan magazine |
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| Birth name | Vilma Konsics Bánky |
| Born | January 9, 1898 Nagydorog, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | March 18, 1991 (aged 93) |
| Spouse(s) | Rod La Rocque (June 26, 1927-October 15, 1969) |
Vilma Bánky (January 9, 1898 - March 18, 1991) was a Hungarian-born American silent film actress, although the early part of her acting career began in Budapest, spreading to France, Austria, and Germany. (*There is some evidence to her being born in 1903.)
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[edit] Early life
She was born either Vilma Konsics Bánky (some believe Vilma Lonchit as many sources have erroneously reported this) to Johann Konsics Bánky and Katalin Ulbert in Nagydorog, Austria-Hungary, and began appearing in films in 1920, her first film being Im Letzten Augenblick, directed by Carl Boese in Germany. On a trip to Budapest in 1925, Hollywood film producer Samuel Goldwyn discovered the violet-eyed, blonde beauty and signed her to a contract.
[edit] Career
She was hailed as "The Hungarian Rhapsody" and was an immediate hit with American audiences. She appeared opposite silent greats Rudolph Valentino in The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926) and Ronald Colman in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) and A Lady to Love (1930). It is commonly believed that her thick Hungarian accent cut her career short with the advent of sound, however she began losing interest in films and wanted to settle down with Rod, and simply be a wife. Of her twenty four films, seven exist in their entirety (Der Zirkuskönig, The Son of the Sheik, The Eagle, The Winning of Barbara Worth, The Night of Love, A Lady to Love, and The Rebel) and two exist in fragments (Tavaszi Szerelem in scattered bits and the first five reels of The Magic Flame).
[edit] After Hollywood
She married actor Rod La Rocque on June 26, 1927, and was with him until his death on October 15, 1969. They had no children. From all accounts theirs was a marriage based on mutual respect and compatibility.
Her post Hollywood years were spent selling real estate with her husband and playing golf, her favorite sport. She and her husband created an educational fund for children called "The Banky - La Rocque Foundation".
Bánky died (believed to be 93 years old) on March 18, 1991, of cardiopulmonary failure. It is often stated that her last years were spent regretting the fact that no one came to visit her, although in all actuality, she often sent fans away. Her ashes were scattered at sea.
[edit] References
Unterburger, Amy L., International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Vol. 3. 3rd ed. Detroit: St. James Press, c1997. ISBN 1-55862-302-7.
[edit] External links
Vilma's life + foto, in Hungarian language: http://www.szineszkonyvtar.hu/contents/a-e/bankyelet.htm
