Barbara Kent (née Cloutman; December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011) was a Canadian film actress, prominent from the silent film era to the early talkies of the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Barbara Kent won the Miss Hollywood Beauty Pageant.

Barbara Kent
Kent in 1924
Born
Barbara Cloutman

(1907-12-16)December 16, 1907
DiedOctober 13, 2011(2011-10-13) (aged 103)
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1925–1941
Spouses
Harry E. Edington
(m. 1932; died 1949)
Jack Monroe
(m. 1954; died 1998)

Career

edit

Barbara Cloutman was born on December 16, 1907, in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada, to Lily Louise Kent and Jullion Curtis Cloutman.[1] Sources differ on surname as Klowtmann or Cloutman and birth year as 1907 or 1906.[2] In 1925, she graduated from Hollywood High School and went on to win the Miss Hollywood Pageant.[3][4] It was also the year in which she began her Hollywood career with a small role for Universal Studios, which signed her to a contract.[4] A petite brunette who stood less than five feet tall, Kent became popular as a comedian opposite such stars as Reginald Denny. She made a strong impression as the heroine pitted against Greta Garbo's femme fatale in Flesh and the Devil in 1926 after Universal had lent the actress to MGM to make the film.[4]

Kent then attracted the attention of audiences and censors in the 1927 production No Man's Law by appearing to swim nude. She actually wore a flesh-colored moleskin bathing suit in scenes that were considered very daring at the time.[5] The popularity of that film led to her selection as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars for 1927. She made a smooth transition into talking pictures opposite Harold Lloyd in the 1929 comedy Welcome Danger.[5] Kent was also featured with Lloyd in his iconic Feet First.[4] Over the next few years, she remained popular and received critical praise in 1933 for her role in the film version of Oliver Twist.[5]

In 1932 she starred in "The Perfect Alibi," based on a play by A. A. Milne, at the Harold Lloyd co-founded Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals.[6] Kent married talent agent Harry Edington in Yuma, Arizona later that same year, on December 16, 1932 — her 25th birthday.[7]

Personal life

edit

Kent had a great love for the outdoors. Always active, she enjoyed golf, fly fishing, hunting, and gardening. She was a longtime member of Marakkesh, Sunland, and Thunderbird Country Clubs. She was known as a talented cook and loved entertaining friends and family.[citation needed]

Following the death of her husband Harry in 1949, Kent retreated from public life.[citation needed]

She married again in 1954, to Jack Monroe,[8] a Lockheed aircraft engineer.[9][5] Her second husband gave her flying lessons,[9] and Kent continued to fly light aircraft until her 85th birthday,[8] and was still playing golf well into her mid-90s.[10] The couple resided initially in Sun Valley, Idaho, but later relocated to Palm Desert, California. There Kent lived until her death, at the age of 103, on October 13, 2011.[5]

Filmography

edit
Film
Year Film Role Notes
1926 Flesh and the Devil Hertha
Prowlers of the Night Anita Parsons Lost film
1927 The Peace Deputy Short film
The Lone Eagle Mimi Lost film
No Man's Law Toby Belcher [11]
The Small Bachelor Molly Waddington
The Drop Kick Cecily Graves
Stop That Man! Muriel Crawford Lost film
1928 Modern Mothers Mildred Lost film
That's My Daddy Molly Moran
His Destiny Betty Baker
Lonesome Mary  [12]
Fun in the Clouds Self Short film, cameo, uncredited
1929 Welcome Danger Billie Lee
The Shakedown Marjorie
1930 Night Ride Ruth Kearns Lost film
Dumbbells in Ermine Faith Corey Lost film
Feet First Barbara
What Men Want Betty 'Babs' Joyce
1931 Freighters of Destiny Ruth Mercer
Chinatown After Dark Lotus
Grief Street Jean Royce  [13]
Indiscreet Joan Trent  [14]
1932 Self Defense Nona Devoux
Emma Gypsy
The Pride of the Legion Martha Tully  [15]
No Living Witness Carol Everett
Beauty Parlor Sally Dale
Vanity Fair Amelia Sedley
Exposed Ruth
1933 Marriage on Approval Beth MacDougall
Her Forgotten Past Doris Maynard
Oliver Twist Rose Maylie
1935 Swellhead Mary Malone
Guard That Girl Jeanne Martin
Old Man Rhythm Edith Warren
1941 Under Age Jackie
1970 4 Clowns Toby Belcher from No Man's Law Archive Footage, uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2011 TCM Remembers Self Archive Footage, posthumously release

References

edit
  1. ^ "From the Bigknife to the Battle: Gadsby and area". Our Roots. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  2. ^ "Barbara Kent". HeraldScotland. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ^ Ankerich, Michael G. (13 September 2012). "Barbara Kent: My Last Silent Film Interview". Closeups and Canvases.
  4. ^ a b c d "Barbara Kent: Silent film star was also in talkies". Los Angeles Times: AA5. October 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e Weber, Bruce (October 19, 2011). "Barbara Kent, Star of Silent Movies, Dies at 103". New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  6. ^ Carroll, Harrison (16 May 1932). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The San Mateo Times and Daily News Leader. p. 12.
  7. ^ "Barbara Kent, Actress, Wed". New York Times: 22. December 17, 1932.
  8. ^ a b "Barbara Kent obituary". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Barbara Kent, 103, of Flesh and the Devil (1926); Welcome Danger (1929)". Immortal Ephemera. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Barbara Kent Interview". Western Clippings. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  11. ^ Excerpt from No Man's Law on YouTube featuring Barbara Kent swimming
  12. ^ "Lonesome". archive.org. 30 September 1928. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Grief Street". archive.org. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  14. ^ Indiscreet (1931) at Internet Archive; starred Gloria Swanson, Monroe Owsley, and Kent
  15. ^ Pride of the Legion (1932) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

Further reading

edit
edit
Public domain films