This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features actress Mona Maris (1903-1991). The postcard was published by Ross Verlag (No.3887/1). The photograph is from the Hanni Schwarz studio. Schwarz was a German female photographer and her work was praised in “American Photography” (1909). She was a well known professional photographer in Germany during the early 1900’s. She is thought to have worked until the 1930’s. The subject of this photo, Mona Maris was born in Argentina. Her mother was Spanish Basque and her father was French Catalan. At the early age of four, Mona was orphaned. She grew up with her grandmother in France where she was educated in a convent as well as in Germany and England. At age 19, she spoke four languages. It was during World War I that Mona decided to be an actress. While she was in school in France, she and her classmates wrote, directed and acted in plays to entertain nearby troops. Upon graduation, she went to England to live, where she stayed two and a half years. She was introduced to the President of the United Film Association by the Argentinian ambassador to Germany. She was signed to a five year contract by Germany’s Universum Film AG productions. She began her film career in either 1924 or 1925. After just four films in Germany, she began a Hollywood career in United Artists “The Apache” (1925). Despite knowing multiple languages, the onset of sound films created a problem. Her English was described as “almost unintelligible”. Between 1931 and 1941, she starred in 19 Spanish language versions of successful American films. The movies were produced by Fox Films. She has been described as “sultry” and “sleepy eyed”. The IMDb credits her with 53 film roles between 1925 and 1984. Mona was married twice and had no children. She died and was buried in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This vintage postcard features Mona Maris posing with an adorable smoll dog. Maris is very pretty. Note her eyes. They have been compared to Bette Davis’s eyes. (SOLD)
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