Elissa Landi was born in Venice, Italy under the birth name of Elizabeth-Marie Kuhnelt on December 6, 1904. From the outset, Elissa was fascinated with the stage. As with a lot of little girls, she wanted nothing more than to be a big star on the great stages of Europe.
Her acting career started out at local theater companies in and around her home. Her budding stage career eventually led to the hallowed stages of London where she made her debut in THE STORM. The play lasted for five months where she received rave reviews for her performances. This in turn led to getting leads in the LAVENDER LADIES and other meaty stage roles.
The film companies in Europe immediately saw her great photogenic beauty and her talent. Elissa was to star in eight movies in the next two years. Her first film was the German made SYND in 1928. It didn't set critics humming until she played Anthea Dane in THE PRICE OF THINGS in 1930.
Elissa felt that she would make more headway in the US so she arrived in New York in 1931 and starred in the stage version of A FAREWELL TO ARMS. Although the play made no huge impression, it was enough to make the Hollywood moguls to set up and take notice.
Her first Hollywood film was BODY AND SOUL opposite Charles Farrell. However it wasn't until Cecil B. De Mille's biblical epic, THE SIGN OF THE CROSS in 1932, that movie goers were becoming enthralled with Elissa. She starred with such luminaries as Claudette Colbert, Frederic March, Charles Laughton, and Vivian Tobin. Completed inside of eight weeks it was a smashing and financial success.
After A PASSPORT TO HELL and DEVIL'S LOTTERY, both in 1932, she hit her stride in THE WARRIOR'S HUSBAND (1933). Here was a film of the intricacies of the old Roman Empire and starred Marjorie Rambeau and Ernest Truex.
In 1934 she co-starred with Robert Donat in the classic COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Later the next year, Elissa was oddly cast in the role of Lisa Robbia in ENTER MADAME with Cary Grant, the era's greatest leading man. The part was extremely difficult because she was required to sing (it was dubbed over by someone else) and singing was not one of her strong suites. She was also required to throw temper tantrums and again the director had a double to do that. Unfortunately, the film was a box-office dud.
After a mediocre role in MAD HOLIDAY in 1936, Elissa played Selma Landis in the hit AFTER THE THIN MAN in 1936. She appeared in only three movies after that, the last being CORREGIDOR in 1943.
Afterwards, Elissa left films behind and concentrated on
writing where she produced six novels and books on poetry. Elissa succumbed to cancer on October
21, 1948. She was just 43 years old.
Pics of the beautiful Elissa Landi
Elissa Pic 1
Elissa Pic 2
Elissa Pic 3
Elissa Pic 4
Elissa Pic 5
Elissa Pic 6
Elissa Pic 7
Elissa Pic 8
Click here to go to Nancy Carroll
A big thank you goes to Sofia Larsson for photos number seven and eight. Email me if you want on the mailing list. Also here is an email from a fan of Miss Landi's:Denny-
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your Elissa Landi page. I have always found her beauty completely transcends the times in which she made movies.
Ms. Landi lived in our community after she left Hollywood; she is in fact buried here in Newburyport Massachusetts with her mother. I visit her grave often over the seasons, as the cemetery is a lovely, restful and arboreal place. I had heard that some people were trying to restore the small shoreline bungalow she shared with her writer/husband- whom I believe is still alive, although frail. I think after her death he moved back to the New York area.
Thanks again.
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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