This vintage real photo postcard features British silent film actress, Lilian Hall-Davis (1898-1933). She had much success in silent films but struggled with the transition from silent to sound films. This frustration and disappointment likely led to her experiencing mental health problems and eventually to her suicide at the age of 35. She was one of Britain’s leading actresses in the 1920’s, appearing in numerous films that showcased her charm, talent and on-screen presence. She worked with some of the most respected directors of her time and was a recognized talented actress in both British and International films. She starred in both romantic and dramatic roles. She is best remembered for her performances in two of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, “The Ring” (1927) and “The Farmer’s Wife” (1928). Other notable performances were in “The Passionate Adventure” (1924), “The Ghost Train” (1927), and “The Guns of Loos” (1928). Her popularity is reflected by the number of collectible postcards (such as this one) and photographs that were published during her era. This postcard shows Miss Hall-Davis with short wavy styled dark hair. understated make-up and large expressive eyes. Her gaze is slightly off-camera, conveying a reflective, almost wistful mood. She is wearing an elegant sleeveless dress adorned with embellishments along the shoulder strap. A delicate pearl necklace adds to her refined and classic look. The photographer of Miss Hall-Davis’s portrait was Schneider, a Berlin based photographer, The postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin). Ernst Schneider was one of the most celebrated studio photographers in Berlin during three decades (1900’s, 1910’s, 1920’s). He photographed many celebrities from the world of theater, opera, circuses, and film. He was also one of the most prominent fashion photographers in Berlin. In addition, he was well known for his nude photography and he published books showcasing his work in this domain. Sometime around 1908 Schneider began working with postcard publishers “Rotophot” and “Neue Photographische Gesellschaft” (NPG). In 1919 he began working with Ross Verlag. SOLD
LILIAN HALL-DAVIS : BRITISH SILENT FILM ACTRESS : DIED BY SUICIDE AT 35 : RPPC
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Some of her older postcards are nicer than this one, sadly she didn’t seem to make the transition from silent films, and personally I didn’t like The Ring