Bella Darvi[2] (born Bajla Węgier; 23 October 1928 – 11 September 1971) was a Polish[3] film actress and stage performer who was active in France and the United States.[4]
Biography
Early life
Darvi was born Bajla Węgier[1] to Jewish parents Chajm Węgier, a baker, and his wife, Chaja (née Zygelbaum). She had three brothers, Robert, Jacques, and Jean-Isidore, and a sister, Sura.[citation needed]
Darvi's family settled in France when she was one year old.[5] When the Germans invaded France during World War II, Darvi's mother fled to southern France with her sister and two brothers. Darvi decided to stay in Paris for her education along with her brother Robert. Both were eventually jailed by the Vichy government due to their Polish background. She was fifteen years old. Robert died in a concentration camp.[6] "I had the usual experiences of hunger and humiliation, and I try not to think of them and discuss them but I can never forget them," she later said.[7]
Darvi's mother secured her release after three years, in 1943. She went to stay with her mother near Toulouse. "We were always under threat on account of us being Polish," she said.[8]
She married a businessman, Alban Cavalcade, on October 7, 1950[9] and traveled with him to Monaco.[citation needed]
Darryl and Virginia Zanuck
While on the French Riviera she became associated with Virginia and Darryl Zanuck.[10] She was separated from Cavalcade at the time. The Zanucks invited her to come to Los Angeles and in 1952 she moved there to live with them. She shared a room with Zanuck's second daughter, Susan.[11]
She changed her name to Bella Darvi, Darvi being a combination of the first names of Zanuck and his wife, Virginia.[12] She took acting lessons.[11]
In February 1953 it was announced she had signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. Hedda Hopper called her "an exciting new personality".[13]
Hell and High Water came out in February. The New York Times said Darvi "does not succeed convincingly."[18]
From February to June 1954 she made The Egyptian. Fox then announced her for The Racers.[19] She was publicly linked with Brad Dexter around this time.[20][21]The Racers started filming in September 1954.[22] In November 1954 she left Hollywood to return to Paris.[23]
"I was guilty of egomania," Zanuck later said about trying to build Darvi into a star.[24]
European career
According to Ephraim Katz, her "three disappointing Hollywood films" were followed by a "number of undistinguished French and Italian productions".[10]
Zanuck left his wife for Darvi, but left her when he discovered that she was bisexual.[12]
In 1956, she reportedly lost $1,000 in two minutes at the casino[25] then $65,000 in two days.[26] She made I'll Get Back to Kandara (1956) in France.
Darvi returned to Hollywood briefly to make her TV debut in "Blind Drop: Warsaw" an episode of the show Conflict with Keith Andes.[27]
In 1957, she was supposed to make a film with George Raft called Morning Call, (which in America was called 'The Strange Case of Dr. Manning'), but filming was put on hold when Raft pulled out, unhappy with the script. They were replaced by Ron Randell and Greta Gynt.[28]
Darvi later very publicly dated women as well as men. Despite liaisons with extremely wealthy men, she was unable to establish a permanent relationship or to curb her gambling habit. Zanuck was still paying off her debts as late as 1970. She would win and lose up to £30,000 a night.[31]
In February 1959, she was injured in a car crash in Paris when a taxi she was riding in was hit by another car.[32][33] She was in Jules' Breadwinner (1960) and The Woman of Ice (1960).
Later life
On November 13, 1960, Darvi married Claude Rouas, a restaurant waiter, in Las Vegas; the marriage was annulled less than a year later.[citation needed]
She did The Roar of the Bolidi (1961) in Italy. In 1961 Hedda Hopper reported Darvi was living in Monte Carlo "gambling like mad, and losing every night, but is still wearing fabulous furs and jewels."[34]
In early 1962 she guest starred on an episode of The Dick Powell Theatre, "View from the Eiffel Tower".
In August 1962 she was found unconscious in her hotel room in Monte Carlo after taking an overdose of barbiturates. She eventually recovered.[35]
In 1968 she was found again after an overdose of barbiturates.[36]
On September 11, 1971, after several failed attempts, Darvi committed suicide, in Monte Carlo by gas. Her body remained undiscovered for more than a week.[38][39]
^French Beauty Wins 20th Pact and Role Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 7 Feb 1953: 12.
^CHILD FOUND IN BAY REVIVED HOUR LATER
Los Angeles Times 25 July 1953: A1.
^Drama: Dancing Leads Set for 'Hit the Deck'
Los Angeles Times 2 Dec 1953: B8.
^'THESE WILL STAR IN 1954': Says HEDDA HOPPER STARS OF 1954
Chicago Daily Tribune3 Jan 1954: f8.
^Marilyn Monroe, Ladd and Taylor Win Awards: International Press of Hollywood Reveals World Favorites on Actors and Actresses
Los Angeles Times 23 Jan 1954: A5.
^THE SCREEN IN REVIEW: Fox' 'Hell and High Water' in CinemaScope Is the New Feature at Roxy
By BOSLEY CROWTHER. New York Times 2 Feb 1954: 20.
^HEDDA HOPPER: Donna Reed to Enact Role of Indian Girl
Los Angeles Times 12 June 1954: 12.
^'Mutiny' Hassle Going to Court
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 12 July 1954: 15.
^TODAY'S COVER GIRL
Leonard, William. Chicago Daily Tribune 8 Aug 1954: c28.
^Bogart-Peck-Huston Combine Likely; Boyer, Niven, Brand May Team
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 Sep 1954: B9.
^Mature Will Star in 'Gilded Rooster'
Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 6 Nov 1954: A6.
^Buchwald, Art (1962-07-14). "Zanuck Vs. Greco: Four-Year Friendship Egomania Ambitious Girls". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. p. D31
^Dorothy Kilgallen: Bella Darvi Loses At $500 Per Minute
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 12 May 1956: 40.
^Dorothy Kilgallen: Marilyn Gets Even With Joan
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 9 Aug 1956: 28.
^TV 'RANCH PARTY' WILL BE FILMED: Screen Gems Plans Series of 39 Programs Featuring 'Country-Style' Acts The New York Times. 27 Nov 1956: 51.
^CROWD FORCES ELIZABETH TO MISS DANCE
Los Angeles Times 21 Feb 1957: 7.
^Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 26, Iss. 300, (Jan 1, 1959): 48.
^MOVIELAND EVENTS: Mason Gets Video Actor Young as Aide
Los Angeles Times 2 Jan 1958: A6.
^Gambling like this is not for you and me: Ian Wooldridge TALKING SPORT
The Times of India 7 Nov 1971: A15.
^Actress Hurt in Crash
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 19 Feb 1959: 3.
^Bella Darvi Hurt in Taxi Mishap
The Washington Post and Times-Herald (1954-1959); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]16 Feb 1959: A20.
^Looking at Hollywood: Holden to Be War II Hero in Zanuck's 'Longest Day'
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 24 July 1961: a6.
^Bella Darvi in Monaco Hospital, New York Times 17 Aug 1962: 11
^Actress Bella Darvi's Death in Monaco Apparent Suicide
Los Angeles Times 17 Sep 1971: 3.
^Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 39, Iss. 456, (Jan 1, 1972): 35.
^Actress, 42, Found Dead In Monaco
The Washington Post and Times-Herald 18 Sep 1971: B4.
^MONACO POLICE TELL BELLA DARVI DEATH
Los Angeles Times 18 Sep 1971: a7.
