One of the early sound era’s most attractive young leading ladies, doll-faced Marian Marsh enjoyed a short yet significant film career as the star of several memorable 1930s melodramas opposite some of the cinema’s best, most charismatic lead actors. Her youthful, wide-eyed innocence combined with an innate delicacy to make a storybook heroine who was the perfect counterbalance to the licentious characters who often menaced her on film. Violet Ethelred Krauth was born on October 17, 1913 in Trinidad, West Indies. By the time Violet was ten, the family had relocated to California, and Violet attended school in Los Angeles. In 1928, Violet was approached by silent screen actress Nance O’Neil, who offered her speech and movement lessons. She soon entered the movies and Violet, now known as Marilyn Morgan, secured a contract with Pathé where she was featured in many short subjects under the name Marilyn Morgan. She was seen in a small roles in Howard Hughes’ classic Hell’s Angels (1930) and Eddie Cantor’s lavish Technicolor musical Whoopee! (1930). Not long afterwards, she was signed by Warner Bros. and her name was changed to Marian Marsh. In 1931, Marsh landed one of her most important roles in Svengali opposite John Barrymore. Marsh was chosen by Barrymore, himself, for the role of “Trilby”. Barrymore coached her performance throughout the picture’s filming. Miss Marsh was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1931. And, with the critical praise and the audience’s approval of Svengali, she continued in a string of successful films for Warner Bros. including Five Star Final (1931) with Edward G. Robinson, The Mad Genius (1931) with Barrymore, The Road to Singapore (1931) with William Powell, the charming Beauty and the Boss (1932) with Warren William, and Under 18 (again with William). In 1935, Marsh signed a two-year pact with Columbia Pictures. During this time, she starred in such films as Josef von Sternberg’s classic Crime and Punishment (1935) with Peter Lorre, The Black Room (1935) regarded as one of Boris Karloff’s best horror films of the decade, and “The Man Who Lived Twice” (1936) with Ralph Bellamy. When her contract expired in 1936, Marsh once again freelanced; appearing steadily in movies for RKO Radio Pictures. In her last screen appearance, Marsh portrayed the daughter in House of Errors (1942) which starred veteran silent film actor, Harry Langdon. On 29 March 1938, Marsh married a stock broker named Albert Scott and had two children with him. After Scott’s death, Marsh married Cliff Henderson, an aviation pioneer and entrepreneur and moved to Palm Desert, California, a town Henderson founded in the 1940s. In the 1960s Marian founded Desert Beautiful, a non-profit, all volunteer conservation organization to promote environmental and beautification programs. She remained in Palm Desert and continued her work in conservation until her death at age 93. This Tumblr was launched on her birthday, October 17th, in her honor, with love.Tumblr (3.0; @heckyesmarianmarsh)http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc21f5M4MU1qehzu2o1_250.png"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc21f5M4MU1qehzu2o2_250.png"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc21f5M4MU1qehzu2o3_250.png"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc21f5M4MU1qehzu2o4_250.png"/><br/> <br/><blockquote> <p><strong><small> Happy Birthday Marian Marsh!</small></strong> <span class="st"><small>(October 17, 1913 – November 9, 2006)</small></span></p> </blockquote>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33997135071http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33997135071Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:32:41 -0400marian marsh1930sactressvintage<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc0rjz24xh1qbbjxvo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://the-asphalt-jungle.tumblr.com/post/33756292876/marian-marsh-and-john-barrymore-svengali">the-asphalt-jungle</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Marian Marsh and John Barrymore - “Svengali” (1931)</p> <p>Despite appearances in 30 short films starring James Gleason and a small part in Hell’s Angels (1930), Marian’s career seemed headed to oblivion when she won the role of her life in Svengali(1931), Warners’ film remake of George Du Maurier’s 1894 novel “Trilby”; the tragic tale of an artists’ model who becomes a great singing diva under the hypnotic tutelage of the malevolent Svengali (charismatically portrayed by John Barrymore). According to Miss Marsh, she was tested for the plum role several times before being selected by Barrymore, apparently because she resembled his wife, Dolores Costello.<br/><br/>The immense critical and financial success of the film combined with young Miss Marsh’s rave reviews to raise her Hollywood stock. Selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1931, she became one of filmdom’s top up-and-coming actresses.</p> </blockquote>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33756869597http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33756869597Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:21:10 -0400marian marshjohn barrymore1931svengalipre codefilmvintage<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc0qonAUNO1qbrdf3o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://mothgirlwings.tumblr.com/post/33755298378/richard-cromwell-october-17th-birthday-girl">mothgirlwings</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Richard Cromwell, October 17th birthday girl Marian Marsh and a simian friend see, speak and hear no evil - 1935</p> </blockquote>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33755447996http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33755447996Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:53:35 -0400marian marshmonkeyrichard cromwell1935an unknown womanfilm<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc0pouP0Bf1qbbjxvo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://the-asphalt-jungle.tumblr.com/post/33754057853/happy-birthday-marian-marsh-october-17th-1913">the-asphalt-jungle</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Happy Birthday, Marian Marsh  (October 17th, 1913 - November 9th, 2006)</p> <p><span><span>“She (Jean, Marian’s Sister) was determined that I should crash the studio gates, and with that end in view, spent weeks haunting casting offices, telling them all about ‘little sister,’ even forgetting her own career. I finally did get a chance to make a test at Pathe. We waited for six hours before I received any attention. My makeup had to be done over and my hair dressed. When the big moment arrived, I was so tired, I really didn’t care whether I stepped before the camera or not. The director, supervising the test, told me to cry-it was exactly what I wanted to do. I cried all over the place, and he thought it was great acting. I got the contract.” </span></span></p> </blockquote>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33754511464http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/33754511464Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:36:49 -0400marian marshthe mad genius1931filmpre codepin upactresshappy birthday<p>Much love to you - I hope to update this Tumblr more regularly - I ran out of new images for the lovely Miss Marsh awhile ago, and haven&#8217;t been able to post much of late - but I&#8217;m keeping my fingers crossed I can sleuth out some new things and share them with you.  xoxo</p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32688101345http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32688101345Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:14:00 -0400marian marshthank you new followers<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb8eszWp2x1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh and a snazzy car - c. late 1920s/early 1930s</p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32685887183http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32685887183Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:41:00 -0400marian marsh1920sactressscan1930s<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb7qbyocjb1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh - Portrait c. 1930s</p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32663953969http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32663953969Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:52:46 -0400marian marsh1930sactressportraitvintagefilm<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb7q0f0wB71qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh in a very fancy and feathery hat - c. 1930s</p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32663795571http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/32663795571Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:45:50 -0400marian marsh1930sactressvintagefilmpin up<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3bz71hkZF1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh - c. 1930s</p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/22180752253http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/22180752253Tue, 01 May 2012 02:25:49 -0400Marian Marsh1930sactressvintageold Hollywoodfilmfashionglamour<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2db8e3T4A1qzzxybo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://colettesaintyves.tumblr.com/post/20962038514/peter-lorre-marian-marsh-crime-and-punishment">colettesaintyves</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Peter Lorre & Marian Marsh,<em> Crime and Punishmen</em>t, Josef von Sternberg, 1935.</p> </blockquote>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/21009799930http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/21009799930Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:36:10 -0400Marian MarshPeter LorreCrime and Punishment1935Josef Von Sternberg<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxod78nENT1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Excerpt from a love letter written to Marian Marsh by actor Edmund Lowe in the mid 1930’s</p> <p><em>(Ordinarily I think these things are far too personal to share on the internet, but the words are so lovely and fitting for her, I had to make an exception).</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15715479291http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15715479291Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:37:00 -0500Marian Marsh1930sfilmactressvintagelove letterEdmund Loweold Hollywood<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxobs6wQSC1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh with Henry Wilcoxon in <strong>Prison Nurse <em>(1938)</em></strong></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714799490http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714799490Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:07:18 -0500Marian Marsh1938Prison NursefiilmvintageHenry Wilcoxonsepiapoliceguns<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxobacm4um1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh - <em>c. 1930s</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714533231http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714533231Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:56:36 -0500Marian Marsh1930sactressfilmvintageportrait<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxoarucDnz1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh with Ramon Novarro and Margaret Tallichet - Publicity Photo for <strong>A Desperate Adventure</strong> - <em>(1938)</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714244564http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714244564Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:45:30 -05001938Marian MarshRamon Novarrofilmvintageold HollywoodA Desperate Adventure<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxoahxB5x71qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh with actor Douglas Drumbille - <em>1935 </em></p> <p><em>Photo by A.L. Schafer<br/></em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714086272http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15714086272Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:39:33 -05001935Marian Marshfilmvintageactressold HollywoodsepiaDouglas DrumbilleA L Schafer<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxmbyyYUQF1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Boris Karloff and Marian Marsh - <strong>The Black Room</strong> <em>(1935)</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15659219922http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15659219922Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:16:10 -0500filmMarian MarshBoris KarloffThe Black Roomhorrorvintage1935<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxgmrgebmZ1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh and her snazzy tie - <em>c. Early 1930s</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15487892892http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15487892892Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:23:00 -0500Marian Marsh1930sactressvintagefilmportraitblack and white<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxgmd6AINO1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh - <em>c. 1930s</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15487446597http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/15487446597Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:15:06 -0500Marian Marshactress1930svintagefilmportrait<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwp69gYc6Y1qeqreio1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Marian Marsh - <em>c. 1930s</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/14713636235http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/14713636235Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:32:04 -0500Marian Marsh1930svintageactressfilmsepia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwp62fBrMh1qeqreio1_r2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwp62fBrMh1qeqreio2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Marian Marsh and Peter Lorre in <strong>Crime And Punishment</strong> <em>(1935)</em></p>http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/14713519591http://heckyesmarianmarsh.tumblr.com/post/14713519591Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:27:00 -0500Marian MarshPeter LorreCrime and Punishmentfilm1935filmvintage