Proudly Presents a Tribute to...

Laura La Plante

It was with great sadness to hear about the death of 91 year old Laura La Plante on 15th October 1996.
Although she is best remembered as one of the silent screen's leading comediennes, she had appeared in two films directed by the brilliant German emigre Paul Leni.
The Cat and the Canary (1927) made by Universal Studios where Laura remained from 1924 - 1930, featured her as Annabelle West, the sole heir to the fortune of eccentric millionaire Cyrus West. The film is thankfully still in existence today for audiences to appreciate and is testament not only to Laura's ability, but also as an example of Leni's creativity and visual flair. The film is now deservedly looked upon as the prototype of all old-dark-house thrillers.
The Last Warning (1929) gave Laura top billing in a moody film depicting a series of hauntings at a rundown Broadway Theatre. The formula was much the same as her previous genre appearance with the horrific elements blending well with the comedy. Although this film is also still in existance it is unfortunately rarely ever screened as most festivals or special television seasons tend to utilise The Cat and the Canary as the best example of the era.
In addition, Laura can be seen during a ballet sequence in Universal's Flash Gordon of 1936 when scenes from 1926's THE MIDNIGHT SUN directed by Dimitri Buchowerzski were borrowed for the serial.

It was in 1929 that Laura La Plante made her debut in the talkies with Universal's SCANDAL followed closely by the first version of SHOWBOAT for the same studio. After appearing in the lavish Technicolor production, THE KING OF JAZZ in 1930, Laura left Universal to work for other Hollywood studios, but soon decided to relinquish her star status and make only sporadic film appearances thereafter.
In 1932 she divorced her husband, director William Seiter who featured her in many of his films, and two years later married Irving Asher, production chief for Warner Bros'. First National films in Britain. Residing in England, Laura made five films, only three of them survive today: THE CHURCH MOUSE (1934), THE MAN OF THE MOMENT (1935) and WIDOWS MIGHT (1935).
Laura's two children Tony and Jill who were both born in England have since made themselves a name in the world of advertising.
The Ashers returned to Beverly Hills in California during the mid-Forties where they lived in comfort and Laura took up the art of sculpting while only making a few appearances on television and the silver screen. Irving Asher passed away in 1985.
Laura's final screen appearance was in 1957 with SPRING REUNION as the mother of Betty Hutton's character.

As time marches on, inevitably we have to lose those we cherish from a bygone age. Therefore it is with deep-felt sorrow that we must part company with yet another casualty of time, but her passing makes it even more important to record and remember her achievments, just like the many other contributors to the history of the cinema that deserve continued recognition.

Filmography

Poster and lobby card stills courtesy of Ronald V. Borst