Noel Francis
Biography
Noel Francis was an American actress on stage and screen. Born in Temple, Texas, and raised in Dallas, she broke through at 19 as a Ziegfeld girl in Ziegfeld Follies of 1925, then appeared in three more Florenz Ziegfeld productions, including the musical Rio Rita. While working in Show Girl, Fox Film scouts signed her for her singing and dancing; her film debut came in New Movietone Follies of 1930, followed by a featured role in John Ford's Up the River (1930). After Fox dropped her contract, Warner Bros. hired her, where she became known for tough, no-nonsense women. She appeared in Smart Money (1931), Blonde Crazy (1931), and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), playing Linda, a part some called her best. As offers shrank, a 1935 Broadway comeback in Satellite lasted one performance, and she retired after two westerns with Buck Jones in 1937.
53years old at death
- Born Temple
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 4 years1930 to 1934
First and latest
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Big break
At 19, Francis landed her break as a Ziegfeld girl in the Broadway show Ziegfeld Follies of 1925. She then worked steadily for Florenz Ziegfeld, taking featured roles in three more of his productions, among them the musical comedy Rio Rita.
A role that slipped away
In 1929, Wheeler and Woolsey brought their Rio Rita stage roles to the screen, but Francis did not appear in the film; she was likely busy starring in the Broadway show Show Girl.
Big break
Talent scouts from Fox Film saw Francis perform in Show Girl and were impressed by her singing and dancing. They signed her to a contract with plans for her to appear in musicals.
A change of course
After Fox ended her contract because Fox Movietone Follies of 1930 did not succeed, Francis moved to Warner Bros. There she played tough no-nonsense women and had her biggest film successes.
A role that slipped away
Unhappy with the quality of the work she was getting, Francis went back to New York to revive her Broadway career. She starred in Satellite, which ran for just one performance in November 1935.
Noel Francis movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Three actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Cagney's page
Bill Elliott's page
Polly Walters's page
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.