Post by teleadm on Jun 12, 2021 22:57:08 GMT
Statuesque and smart characters once she got the chance, mostly in Warner Movies in the 1940's. Heard of her? If not no wonder since she slips by in most memories, even if she played with the big stars of the day.
Maybe the most famous person to to come from Penticton, British Columbia in Canada!
Alexis Smith (1921–1993)
After being discovered by a talent scout while attending college, she was signed to a contract by Warner Bros.
Her first credited role was in the feature film Dive Bomber 1941, playing the female lead opposite Errol Flynn. It was a "decorative" part but the film was very successful. Warners decided to build her up as a star.
Steel Against the Sky 1941 was a quickie of no importance, except she met the man she would marry, and his name was Craig Stevens, and a marriage that would last 49 years, until she passed away. Craig might be best known for portraying Peter Gunn on TV in late 1950's.
Gentleman Jim 1942, with an Errol named Flynn
The Constant Nymph 1943 with Charles Boyer, Peter Lorre and Joan Fontaine, a big hit back then
The Adventures of Mark Twain 1944 with Fredric March
Rhapsody in Blue 1945 a so-called biopic about George Gershwin, with Robert Alda
Hit parades loved this, she performes but the voice is dubbed, from San Antonio 1945, the song was Oscar nominated.
Night and Day 1945, a Cole Porter biopic, a movie trashed nowdays, but a mega huge hit back then, could have to do with the music.
The Decision of Christopher Blake 1948 was a failed attempt to change her movie persona, to play stronger characters and not be a "female George Brent".
Any Number Can Play 1950 with the Clark, a loan out to MGM.
In October 1949 she was granted a release from her contract with Warner Bros after refusing being loaned out to Universal for a role in Shoplifter 1950 (she was replaced by Andrea King) She had been at the studio for nine years, having signed a four year deal in 1946 that had the option of going to 1953.
Here Comes the Groom 1951 with Bing Crosby, playing Jane Wyman's sister. Reportedly this was one of her (Alexis) favorites of her own movies.
By the mid-1950's movie offers became sparse, so she and husband Craig toured America in roadshow versions of Broadway plays, and when Craig was occupied with TV and movie roles, he was replaced by Victor Jory including Bell, Book and Candle.
She toured in several stage hits including the 1955 National company of Plain and Fancy, Jean Kerr's Mary, Mary, Any Wednesday and Cactus Flower, all co-starring her husband Craig.
She appeared on the cover of the May 3, 1971 issue of Time as the result of the critical acclaim for her singing and dancing role in Hal Prince's Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which marked her long-awaited Broadway debut. In 1972, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance, and they didn't even let her sing in San Antonio.
She starred in several regional productions of Applause and then toured for more than a year as the madam in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, including a seven-month run in Los Angeles.
Sporadically appearing in movies, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane 1975
Burt's old flame in Tough Guys 1986
Movie and screen farewell as Louisa van der Luyden in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocense 1993, the movie premiered after she passed away.
She lost the battle against brain cancer one day after her 72nd birthday.
Craig and Alexis had no children, he lived another seven years.
The year after Stevens’ death funds were granted by his estate to the University of Kansas to endow the Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship in the school's theatre department. The scholarship provides financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students who are studying theatre.
Thanks for watching! very well knowing that many things was left out or else this post would have been 6 hours longer.
Opinions of all kinds are as always very welcome!
Maybe the most famous person to to come from Penticton, British Columbia in Canada!
Alexis Smith (1921–1993)
After being discovered by a talent scout while attending college, she was signed to a contract by Warner Bros.
Her first credited role was in the feature film Dive Bomber 1941, playing the female lead opposite Errol Flynn. It was a "decorative" part but the film was very successful. Warners decided to build her up as a star.
Steel Against the Sky 1941 was a quickie of no importance, except she met the man she would marry, and his name was Craig Stevens, and a marriage that would last 49 years, until she passed away. Craig might be best known for portraying Peter Gunn on TV in late 1950's.
Gentleman Jim 1942, with an Errol named Flynn
The Constant Nymph 1943 with Charles Boyer, Peter Lorre and Joan Fontaine, a big hit back then
The Adventures of Mark Twain 1944 with Fredric March
Rhapsody in Blue 1945 a so-called biopic about George Gershwin, with Robert Alda
Hit parades loved this, she performes but the voice is dubbed, from San Antonio 1945, the song was Oscar nominated.
Night and Day 1945, a Cole Porter biopic, a movie trashed nowdays, but a mega huge hit back then, could have to do with the music.
The Decision of Christopher Blake 1948 was a failed attempt to change her movie persona, to play stronger characters and not be a "female George Brent".
Any Number Can Play 1950 with the Clark, a loan out to MGM.
In October 1949 she was granted a release from her contract with Warner Bros after refusing being loaned out to Universal for a role in Shoplifter 1950 (she was replaced by Andrea King) She had been at the studio for nine years, having signed a four year deal in 1946 that had the option of going to 1953.
Here Comes the Groom 1951 with Bing Crosby, playing Jane Wyman's sister. Reportedly this was one of her (Alexis) favorites of her own movies.
By the mid-1950's movie offers became sparse, so she and husband Craig toured America in roadshow versions of Broadway plays, and when Craig was occupied with TV and movie roles, he was replaced by Victor Jory including Bell, Book and Candle.
She toured in several stage hits including the 1955 National company of Plain and Fancy, Jean Kerr's Mary, Mary, Any Wednesday and Cactus Flower, all co-starring her husband Craig.
She appeared on the cover of the May 3, 1971 issue of Time as the result of the critical acclaim for her singing and dancing role in Hal Prince's Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which marked her long-awaited Broadway debut. In 1972, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance, and they didn't even let her sing in San Antonio.
She starred in several regional productions of Applause and then toured for more than a year as the madam in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, including a seven-month run in Los Angeles.
Sporadically appearing in movies, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane 1975
Burt's old flame in Tough Guys 1986
Movie and screen farewell as Louisa van der Luyden in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocense 1993, the movie premiered after she passed away.
She lost the battle against brain cancer one day after her 72nd birthday.
Craig and Alexis had no children, he lived another seven years.
The year after Stevens’ death funds were granted by his estate to the University of Kansas to endow the Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship in the school's theatre department. The scholarship provides financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students who are studying theatre.
Thanks for watching! very well knowing that many things was left out or else this post would have been 6 hours longer.
Opinions of all kinds are as always very welcome!