Anita Page
Born Anita Pomares Aug. 4, 1910, in Queens, New York.
Page's opportunity to enter films came when a budding manager
saw her photo in Betty Bronson's (she was Page's friend) home.
He had her report to Paramount where a casting director agreed
to give her a test. She made two uncredited appearances -- one
of which was Betty Bronson's "A Kiss for Cinderella"
(1925). Mal St. Clair, who was directing with MGM, was looking
for a new face and called her. She signed a contract with MGM,
and her first feature was co-starring with William Haines in "Telling
the World" (1928). She made a hit in her next film, "Our
Dancing Daughters" (1928) which co-starred Joan Crawford
and Dorothy Sebastian. She literally "stole" the film
in the role of the less than virtuous Ann who takes Johnny Mack
Brown away from Crawford. Good roles continued to come her way
with "While the City Sleeps" (1928) opposite Lon Chaney,
"The Flying Fleet" (1929) opposite Ramon Novarro, and
co-starring with Bessie Love in one of the best of the early sound
films "The Broadway Melody" (1929). Cashing in on the
popularity of "Our Dancing Daughters," Crawford, Sebastian
and Page were co-starred in two more films together, "Our
Modern Maidens" (1929) and "Our Blushing Brides"
(1930). Although sound was taking over the movies, Page made the
transition easily as evidenced by her success in "The Broadway
Melody." However, MGM began to give Page smaller and less
significant roles. She blamed this on demands for more money which
her agent pushed her to do. They began to loan her out to other
studios. She did have some good roles in movies such as "Night
Court" (1932) with Phillips Holmes and "Gentleman's
Fate" (1931) with John Gilbert, but she also had her low
points such as "Jungle Bride" (1933) for the low budget
Chesterfield company. Page made 20 films from 1930 until her last,
"Hitch Hike to Heaven" (1936) -- none of them very memorable.
Page's first marriage was to songwriter Nacio Herb Brown in 1934.
She was wed a second time to naval officer Herschel House in 1937.
They remained married until House's death in 1992. As of 2002,
she still lives comfortably in California.
Selected films of this star available for viewing:
A Kiss for Cinderella (1925)
Our Dancing Daughters (1928)
While the City Sleeps (1928)
Our Modern Maidens (1929)
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