Mae Murray

Dubbed "The Girl with the Bee Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen," silent screen star 'Mae Murray' (qv) was born in New York City as Marie Adrienne Koenig on May 10, 1885. The middle of three children born to French and German émigrés, she began studying dance at a young age.Mae's professional career hit an early break when she partnered with ballroom extraordinaire 'Vernon Castle' (qv) in the 1906 Broadway show "About Town." She continued in the chorus with such New York shows as "The Great Decide" (1906), "Fascinating Flora" (1907), "The Hoyden" (1907) and "The Merry-Go-Round" (1908). The lovely lady eventually joined the "Ziegfeld Follies" chorus line in 1908. After moving up in status with featured/co-star roles in the Broadway productions of "The Young Turk" (1910), "The Broadway Belles" (1910) and "The Little Highness" (1913) and "The Daisy" (1914), Mae moved up to become a Ziegfeld headliner in 1915. Mae played the top clubs in Paris and in America in an act that accentuated her dancing prowess. Other highly smooth dance partners would follow, including 'Clifton Webb' (qv), 'Rudolph Valentino' (qv) and 'John Gilbert' (qv).In 1916, the strikingly exotic beauty with the frizzy blonde hair moved to films a year later starring as Lady Joselyn alongside handsome 'Wallace Reid' (qv) as Captain Ralph Percy in the _To Have and to Hold (1916)_ (qv), produced by pioneer producer 'Jesse L. Lasky' (qv). The success of that film helped move her quickly up the ladder with Lasky starring her in such romantic comedies and dramas as the title role in _Sweet Kitty Bellairs (1916)_ (qv), plus _The Dream Girl (1916)_ (qv), _The Plow Girl (1916)_ (qv), _A Mormon Maid (1917)_ (qv) and _The Primrose Ring (1917)_ (qv).Mae became Universal Picture's new darling in the films _Princess Virtue (1917)_ (qv), _On Record (1917)_ (qv), _The Bride's Awakening (1918)_ (qv), _Her Body in Bond (1918)_ (qv), _Modern Love (1918)_ (qv), _Big Little Person (1919)_ (qv) and _The Scarlet Shadow (1919)_ (qv). Many of her films, containing dance sequences designed especially for her, were written and produced by her third husband (of four), 'Robert Z. Leonard' (qv), whom she married in 1918 and divorced in 1925. Mae remained a top star, moving around for different studios playing opposite a number of handsome leading men, including _The Gilded Lily (1921)_ (qv) with 'Lowell Sherman' (qv); _Peacock Alley (1922)_ (qv) and _Broadway Rose (1922)_ (qv) both with 'Monte Blue' (qv); _Jazzmania (1923)_ (qv) and _The French Doll (1923)_ (qv) both with 'Rod La Rocque' (qv); and, most notably, _The Delicious Little Devil (1919)_ (qv) and _Big Little Person (1919)_ (qv) both opposite 'Rudolph Valentino' (qv).Brought over to MGM, Mae's most acclaimed film would be _The Merry Widow (1925)_ (qv) opposite matinée idol 'John Gilbert' (qv) and written and directed by 'Erich von Stroheim' (qv). She also starred in the romantic drama _The Masked Bride (1925)_ (qv) and appeared in the title role in _Valencia (1926)_ (qv); _Altars of Desire (1927)_ (qv). Her last silent film was the MGM romantic drama _Altars of Desire (1927)_ (qv) opposite 'Conway Tearle' (qv).Mae's movie career faded with the advent of sound. Her first sound film, _Peacock Alley (1930)_ (qv), received lackluster reviews and failed at the box office. As time had taken its leading lady toll on her (she was now past 40), her voice and mannerisms were not deemed suited to talkies. She might have remained on the MGM for a few more years; however, her fourth and last husband, Prince David Mdvani, who she allowed control over her business affairs, ill-advisedly had her leave the studio. Mae only made two more films. She was billed third, behind 'Lowell Sherman' (qv) and 'Irene Dunne' (qv) in the romantic dramedy _Bachelor Apartment (1931)_ (qv) and a co-starring role opposite Sherman again in the crime caper _High Stakes (1931)_ (qv). Divorcing Mdvani in 1934, Mae lost her son in a nasty custody battle.The former actress grew more eccentric over the years and was eventually forced to declare bankruptcy, living in abject poverty for the better part of her later life. The 74-year-old lady managed to co-write her autobiography in 1959 entitled "The Self-Enchanted" and ended her days in the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, CA. She died of a heart ailment on March 23, 1965. Although forgotten for the most part, in her heyday, Mae was a huge draw and above-the-title star, becoming one of the few Ziegfeld dancer attractions to hit big-screen stardom.::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]