Sigrid Holmquist: Difference between revisions
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In 1920, at the age of 21, Holmquist had appeared in several Swedish films, three of which have been identified. She debuted in ''Karlek Och Bjornjakt'', and then starred in two other comedic pictures: ''[[Robinson i skärgården]]'' and ''Flickorna Fran Are''. On the merits of her performance in these films, Holmquist became known as “Sweden’s Sweetheart.”<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 203: Regarded as “one of Sweden’s most popular actresses” at the time.</ref> |
In 1920, at the age of 21, Holmquist had appeared in several Swedish films, three of which have been identified. She debuted in ''Karlek Och Bjornjakt'', and then starred in two other comedic pictures: ''[[Robinson i skärgården]]'' and ''Flickorna Fran Are''. On the merits of her performance in these films, Holmquist became known as “Sweden’s Sweetheart.”<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 203: Regarded as “one of Sweden’s most popular actresses” at the time.</ref> |
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==Hollywood career== |
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Holmquist’s enlistment by [[Paramount Pictures | Paramount]] was prompted in part by the early retirement of [[Marguerite Clark]], the only genuine rival to [[United Artists]]’ screen star [[Mary Pickford]]. As such, Paramount promoted Holmquist as “Sweden’s Mary Pickford.” At the peak of her success, she was earning over $2500 a week and owned “3 cars, each with a chauffeur, a country house and a townhouse.”<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 203, p. 205: Salary amount in New York Post article cited here. And p. See New York Post excerpt on her property, automobiles.</ref> |
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In her American debut, Holmquiest was cast as a working-class girl in the romantic comedy ''[[Just Around the Corner (1921 film) | Just Around the Corner]]'' (1921) in which she wins the devotion of a wealthy playboy. After making two more box-office successes—''[[My Old Kentucky Home (1922 film) | My Old Kentucky Home]]'' (1922) and ''[[A Gentleman of Leisure (1923 film) |A Gentleman of Leisure ]]'' (1923)—Paramount miscast Holmquist in an adaptation of [[Rudyard Kipling]]’s ''[[The Light That Failed]]'' (1923). Disparaged by reviewers, she departed Paramount and was limited to working on [[Poverty row | poverty row]] productions.<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 204</ref> Holmquist was repeatedly offered minor ingénue roles, but enjoyed performances in three successful 1925 comedies, two of which co-starred [[Johnny Hines]]: ''[[The Early Bird (1925 film) |The Early Bird ]]'' and ''[[The Crackerjack]]''.<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 205</ref> |
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Holmquist left Hollywood in 1925, at age 26. Film historian Hans J. Wollstein reports that she may have suffered from “[[Klieg light|Klieg eyes]]”, a debilitating occupational malady caused by the bright [[Arc lamp | arc lamps]] used to illuminate movie sets. She briefly appeared before the camera in the late 1920s as a fashion model, a single-reel 1927 color commercial production.<ref>Wollstein, 1994 p. 205</ref> |
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==Filmography== |
==Filmography== |
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[[Category:20th-century Swedish actresses]] |
[[Category:20th-century Swedish actresses]] |
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[[Category:Swedish expatriates in the United States]] |
[[Category:Swedish expatriates in the United States]] |
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{{Sweden-actor-stub}} |
Revision as of 18:34, 5 July 2024
Sigrid Holmquist | |
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Born | Borås, Sweden | 21 February 1899
Died | 9 July 1970 Sydney, Australia | (aged 71)
Occupation | Actress |
Sigrid Holmquist (21 February 1899, in Borås – 9 July 1970, in Sydney, Australia), also known by the diminutive “Sie” or “Bie” Holmquist[1][2] was a Swedish actress during the silent film era. After three films in Sweden, she went to pursue a career in Hollywood. She appeared in 18 films between 1920 and 1927 before retiring from the screen.[3][4][5][6]
Career in Sweden
Educated in a Danish convent, the 10-year-old Holmquist was vacationing in Great Britain with her parents when they were approached by Sydney Chaplin, brother to Charles, later Charlie Chaplin. The film actor offered to feature the attractive child in a screen role, which the parents declined. Holmquist was intrigued by the encounter and became determined to pursue a career as a movie actor.[7]
In 1920, at the age of 21, Holmquist had appeared in several Swedish films, three of which have been identified. She debuted in Karlek Och Bjornjakt, and then starred in two other comedic pictures: Robinson i skärgården and Flickorna Fran Are. On the merits of her performance in these films, Holmquist became known as “Sweden’s Sweetheart.”[8]
Hollywood career
Holmquist’s enlistment by Paramount was prompted in part by the early retirement of Marguerite Clark, the only genuine rival to United Artists’ screen star Mary Pickford. As such, Paramount promoted Holmquist as “Sweden’s Mary Pickford.” At the peak of her success, she was earning over $2500 a week and owned “3 cars, each with a chauffeur, a country house and a townhouse.”[9]
In her American debut, Holmquiest was cast as a working-class girl in the romantic comedy Just Around the Corner (1921) in which she wins the devotion of a wealthy playboy. After making two more box-office successes— My Old Kentucky Home (1922) and A Gentleman of Leisure (1923)—Paramount miscast Holmquist in an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Light That Failed (1923). Disparaged by reviewers, she departed Paramount and was limited to working on poverty row productions.[10] Holmquist was repeatedly offered minor ingénue roles, but enjoyed performances in three successful 1925 comedies, two of which co-starred Johnny Hines: The Early Bird and The Crackerjack.[11]
Holmquist left Hollywood in 1925, at age 26. Film historian Hans J. Wollstein reports that she may have suffered from “Klieg eyes”, a debilitating occupational malady caused by the bright arc lamps used to illuminate movie sets. She briefly appeared before the camera in the late 1920s as a fashion model, a single-reel 1927 color commercial production.[12]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | Robinson i skärgården | Brita's sister, the newlywed | |
1921 | Just Around the Corner | Essie Birdsong | |
1922 | The Prophet's Paradise | Mary Talbot | Lost film |
1922 | My Old Kentucky Home | Virginia Sanders | Lost film |
1923 | A Gentleman of Leisure | Molly Creedon | Lost film |
1923 | Hollywood | Herself | Lost film |
1923 | The Light That Failed | Maisie Wells | Lost film |
1924 | Youth for Sale | Connie Sutton | Lost film |
1924 | The Age of Innocence | Lost film | |
1924 | Meddling Women | Grace Ainsworth | |
1924 | Two Shall Be Born | Janet Van Wyck | Lost film |
1925 | The Early Bird | Jean Blair | |
1925 | School for Wives | Betty Lynch | Lost film |
1925 | The Crackerjack | Rose Bannon | |
1926 | The Men Women Love | Madame Nola | Lost film |
Notes
- ^ "Sigrid Holmquist (1899–1970)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 203: “...affectionately nicknamed “Sie”...
- ^ photo Motion Picture Classic v19 #3:12 1924
- ^ Willis, H.B.K. (1924) This Way Out! Screenland v9 #6:38-39, 88-91
- ^ Sigrid Holmquist Signed Moving Picture World 10 Jan 1925
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 203: “...affectionately nicknamed “Sie”...
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 203
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 203: Regarded as “one of Sweden’s most popular actresses” at the time.
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 203, p. 205: Salary amount in New York Post article cited here. And p. See New York Post excerpt on her property, automobiles.
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 204
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 205
- ^ Wollstein, 1994 p. 205
References
- Forslund, Bengt (1995), Filmstjärnor: en bok om svenska skådespelerskor i världen, Stockholm: Alfabeta
- Wollstein, Hans J. 1994. Strangers in Hollywood: The History of Scandinavian Actors in American Films, 1910 to World War II. The Scarecrow Press, Filmmakers series no. 43. Anthony Slide, editor ISBN 0-8108-2938-X
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)