With the advent of sound films in Hollywood, it was more and more often possible to see actors with a catchy appearance, a charming smile, and a gentle voice on the screens. One of the brightest, memorable screen heroines was a sexy girl who conquered the audience and directors - Raquel Torres.
Raquel Torres (or) is a Mexican-American film actress of early sound films. Thanks to her external data, acting skills and a pleasant voice, she achieved a lot in her film career, found her love.
Biography
She was born on November 11, 1908 in the family of an emigrant from Germany and a Mexican mother. The family lived in the small town of Hermosillo, Sonora (Mexico), where the girl began attending a local school. At the age of seven, after the death of her mother, her father took her with her sister to America, where young ladies were educated. To give intrigue, to benefit in Hollywood, she changed her last name, she spoke with a slight accent (a mixture of English and Mexican). At school, many paid attention to a charming girl, endowed by nature with talent and beauty. They noted her porcelain skin, big eyes, sweet smile, kindness and attractiveness. After receiving her secondary education, Raquel decided to try herself as an actress and entered a theater studio.
Career
The first steps towards creativity were taken in the 1928 non-sound film White Shadows of the South Seas, in which she played a Tahitian woman, the wife of the white Dr. Lloyd. Despite her young age, she passed the casting, she was chosen among 300 applicants, and received this role. The film first featured the roar of a lion (Metro Golden Myers' signature intro) and was the longest sound in a silent movie. Subsequently, the film, completely ready for distribution, was processed at a New Jersey studio, musical accompaniment and special effects were applied.
Then there was a series of films where Raquel played charming, seductive islanders. A smile, facial expressions, plastic movements of a charming body, everything delighted the audience, pictures with her participation were eagerly awaited, she was in great demand. The most important event for Torres was the recognition of her voice, he became a brand in the selection of actors for films.
In 1929, two films were released - "The Horseman of the Desert" and "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", which brought fame to Raquel and the first "Oscar". She tried herself in a new role, played versatile heroines.
The year 1930 was marked for the actress by a series of films with the most popular actors of those years: Charles Bigford, Lionel Barrymore, Boris Karloff. It was a new wave of emotions, sensations. Thriller "Sea Bat" was received with a bang by the audience, received the highest praise from critics.
In 1931, she decided to take a chance, tried working on Broadway, played in vaudeville, comedy, and took part in a theatrical production of the Loew State Theater in New York. The most memorable viewer was the play by John McDermott "Adam had two sons" (Adam had two sons).
In the period from 1933 to 1936, she played in five films, differing in repertoire. These were comedy, dramatic, adventure films filled with an unusual plot and filming location. Torres easily coped with the tasks, brought new notes to her role. The best films of this period were: "Duck Soup", "The Woman I Stole", "Aloha", "Westward, Young Man" (1936).
Personal life
Raquel was married twice, but never experienced the happiness of motherhood. Since 1936, she practically stopped acting in films, occasionally performing in the theater. For her professional career, she starred in 15 films, played in ten performances, and participated in television shows.
In 1934, at a friendly party with Hollywood stage partners, she met reseller Stephen Ames. A friend liked them, but the young man was married to actress Adrienne Ames, and Torres was dating a film partner. Short meetings grew into passion. A year later, a new meeting brought them together in New York, they met, he accompanied her to the shooting of the film.
In 1935, while dancing in a colonial club, Stephen proposed to her, but the girl took time, she needed to think. On the morning call and repeated proposal, she agreed to become his wife. Raquel's engagement gift was a luxury Rolls-Royce and two weeks later they were married.
After the honeymoon, they purchased land in Bel Air, the most beautiful area of Los Angeles, and built a house. The first marriage lasted almost twenty years. The businessman passed away in April 1955, on the day of their wedding anniversary. It was a happy marriage, she devoted years of her life to her husband, dreaming of children.
The second spouse was the famous actor, director and producer John Hall, a handsome adventurer, a favorite of women. They signed in 1959, but because of their hot-tempered characters, they soon divorced. After a short time, having met on the set, they again reached out to each other and decided to live together, even bought a small house in California.
Two years before her death, during a terrible fire in Malibu, her house completely burned down. The actress did not suffer, but she was very worried, began to get sick often and at the age of 79 she passed away. According to the doctors, it was a heart attack. She was buried in Los Angeles, California.
In 2002, a historical documentary film dedicated to the centenary image of Latin Americans in cinema was released. It is based on archival recordings preserved in the film fund of forty-nine of the most popular and memorable Latinos actors, among which were the recordings of the great Raquel Torres.
