Biography for
Maria Montez More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

6 June 1912, Barahona, Dominican Republic

Date of Death

7 September 1951, Paris, France (drowned)

Birth Name

Maria Africa Antonia Gracia Vidal de Santo Silas

Nickname

The Queen of Technicolor
The Caribbean Cyclone

Height

5' 7" (1.70 m)

Mini Biography

In a world weary of war and dispirited by the ravages of the Great Depression, Hollywood at the turn of the 1940's concocted a wildly popular, effective lot of escapist fare (though often cheaply made) to to regale the sick at heart worldwide. Universal Pictures, more often than not, led in producing such films.

We know about the monster movies: wolf men, invisible men -- and invisible women too, for that matter. We know about Sherlock Holmes chasing not killer hounds in 1890 but chasing killer Nazis a half- century later. Such were among typical Universal "B" productions. Enter Maria de Santo Silas -- Maria Montez. This daughter of a Spanish diplomat traveled extensively after being educated in the Canary Islands and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to establish herself as a stage actress in Europe. In 1940 she found herself in New York City, a model. Her screen career began in 1941, with Universal casting her in bit parts. On account of her strikingly exotic looks and her exotic accent, the studio soon paired her with other "exotics" (Sabu and Turhan Bey), and usually with a more "home-style" hero (Jon Hall), in a series of low-budget adventures, filmed in Technicolor and situated in fantasy lands, with Montez herself often situated in revealing dress. With Montez threatened by all manner of nastiness -- from evil caliphs to man-eating sharks to her own cobra-worshipping twin sister (!) -- her pictures soon became immensely popular, even though she could not really act, could not dance and could not sing. Audiences flocked to see her films, just to witness the trials and endurance of an alluring beauty in distress (as well, perhaps, as to glimpse some scantily clad, beauteous flesh). The Depression having long since passed, the end of World War II meant also the end of flying carpets and sand dunes and deadly reptiles as potential subjects for attracting moviegoers. That bit of history, plus a bit of girth added to Montez's frame, led her and her husband, the actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, to abandon Hollywood for Europe, where she would appear in a handful of French and Italian adventure films. On 7 September 1951 Maria Montez was discovered drowned in her bath, possibly having first suffered a heart attack.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs

Mini Biography

Maria Montez, also known as The Carribean Cyclone, was born Maria Africa Vidal de Santo Silas, on June 6 1917 in Barahona, Dominican Republic, to a Spanish consul and his wife. After a stint with modeling, she made an attempt at Hollywood. Maria's unusal beauty landed her a contract in the movie colony. Her first film was as Marie in THE INVISIBLE WOMAN in 1941. Five more movies with five more bit roles followed and the movie moguls decided to do something more with the beautiful Miss Montez. They gave her a sizable role in THE BOSS OF BULLION CITY in 1941. That was followed the next year by ARABIAN NIGHTS. It was these sand and sandal epics of the forties that kept Maria employed and moviegoers enthralled. The US was still trying to get out from under The Great Depression. And they were also tired of the world war that was spreading throughout Europe and Asia. Hollywood turned to fantasy movies for the public. Maria turned out to be immensly popular with the public. Her acting skills may not have been appreciated by some critics, but the public didn't seem to mind. They liked Maria and the dangers she faced in these cheaply made adventure flicks. Each desert film attracted droves of Montez fans to the box-office. As the Depression eased and the war ended, fans became bored with her films. After her Hollywood career faded, she moved to Europe with her second husband Jean-Pierre Aumont. She appeared in a number of German, French, and Italian productions. Her final film was a German movie entitled SCHATTEN UBER NEAPAL (CAMORRA) in 1951. On September 7 of that year, Maria was discovered dead of a heart attack. She was only 34 and had appeared in only 27 movies. But her legacy lives on in the colorful characterizations that she left on film. She is still a much loved figure in movie history.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson

Spouse

Jean-Pierre Aumont	(13 July 1943 - 7 September 1951) (her death) 1 child
William McFeeters	(28 November 1932 - 1939)

Trivia

Mother, with Jean-Pierre Aumont, of actress Tina Aumont Aumont (b. 1946, Los Angeles, Calif.).

Humorously portrayed in "Myron" by Gore Vidal (1973)

The international airport at Barahona, Dominican Republic, is named the Maria Montez International Airport in her honor. [1997]

Sister of Julia Andre

Measurements: 36-25-36 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

The second daughter of ten children, her father was a textile exporter and the Honorary Vice Consul of Spain.

For her stage name, Maria chose the last name of Montez in honor of dancer Lola Montes, a favorite of Maria's father.

Accepted Jean-Pierre Aumont's marriage proposal despite the fact that his "duties as a French officer" would call him overseas a few days after the wedding.

Female impersonator/"drag queen" Mario Montez (born Rene Rivera) modeled his drag person (and name) on her.

Was a major iconic figure of gay camp in the 1950s & '60s. In addition to being a character who appears in various Andy Warhol's films of the 1960s (played by Mario Montez, she appeared as a major character in Gore Vidal's 1974 novel "Myron," his sequel to Myra Breckinridge (1970).

Personal Quotes

"When I look at myself, I am so beautiful I scream with joy!" (on viewing Arabian Nights (1942)).

"When I see myself on the screen, I am so beautiful, I jump for joy." - Maria Montez on her film debut in The Invisible Woman (1940).

Salary

Arabian Nights (1942)	$150/week
Raiders of the Desert (1941)	$150/week
That Night in Rio (1941)	$150/week

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