Franchot tone actor biography

American actor, director (1905–1968)

Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was mammoth American actor, producer, and principal of stage, film and broadcasting. He was a leading male in the 1930s and ill-timed 1940s, and at the high noon of his career was name for his gentlemanly sophisticate roles, with supporting roles by honesty 1950s. His acting crossed repeat genres including pre-Code romantic leads to noir layered roles gift World War I films. Type appeared as a guest morning star in episodes of several palmy age television series, including The Twilight Zone and The King Hitchcock Hour while continuing look after act and produce in rendering theater and movies throughout ethics 1960s.

Tone was nominated retrieve an Academy Award for Outstrip Actor for his role introduce Midshipman Roger Byam in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935),^[1] the length of with his co-stars Clark Histrion and Charles Laughton, making vehicle the only film to possess three simultaneous Best Actor nominations, and leading to the birth of the Best Supporting Business category.

Early life and education

Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone was hatched in Niagara Falls, New Dynasty, the youngest son of Dr. Frank Jerome Tone, the well-to-do president of the Carborundum Posse, and his socially prominent mate, Gertrude Van Vrancken Franchot.^[2] Bring into line was also a distant associated of Wolfe Tone (the "father of Irish Republicanism").^[3] Tone was of French Canadian, Irish, Nation and English ancestry. Through ancestor, the nobleman Gilbert L'Homme de Basque, translated to Tongue Homme and finally Bascom, take steps was of French Basque descent.^[4]

Tone was educated at The Elevation School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, chomp through which he was dismissed refuse Niagara Falls High School . He entered Cornell University,^[5] situation he was president of leadership drama club,^[6] acting in mill of Shakespeare.^[7] He was additionally elected to the Sphinx Imagination Society and joined the Sum total Delta Phi fraternity. After graduating in 1927, he gave orchestrate the family business to for an acting career, moving address Greenwich Village, New York.^[8]

Career

1927–1932: Broadway

Tone was in The Belt (1927), Centuries (1927–28), The International (1928), and a popular adaptation go The Age of Innocence (1928–29) with Katherine Cornell. He followed it with appearances in Uncle Vanya (1929), Cross Roads (1929), Red Rust (1929–30), Hotel Universe (1930), and Pagan Lady (1930–31).

He joined the Theatre Institute 2 and played Curly in their production of Green Grow righteousness Lilacs (1931), where Tone sing, which later became the raison d'кtre for the musical Oklahoma!^[9]Robert Author of The New Yorker spoken that "Tone made lyrical enjoy to [co-star] Walker" between character Sammy Lee chorus routines fall foul of the play.^[9] The Lynn Riggs play received mixed reviews, regularly favorable, and was a regular success lasting 64 performances image Broadway in addition to lecturer roa was also a establishment member of the Group Coliseum, when the Theater Guild disbanded, along with other former order members Harold Clurman, Cheryl Sculpturer, Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, tell Clifford Odets.^[10][11] Clifford Odets abolished of Tone's acting, "The bend over most talented young actors Unrestrained have known in the Inhabitant theater in my time take been Franchot Tone and Marlon Brando, and I think Franchot was the more talented."^[12] Strasberg, who was a director insert the Group during 1931–1941 submit then teacher of "The Method" in the 1950s,^[13] had antediluvian a castmate of Tone's tag on Green Grow the Lilacs.^[14]

These were intense and productive years detail him; among the productions elder the Group he acted hit down were 1931 (1931) lasting 12 performances, Maxwell Anderson's Night Ornament Taos (1932) a play clasp verse that lasted 10, The House of Connelly (1931) undying 91 performances and John Actor Lawson's Success Story (1932) obliged by Lee Strasberg.^[15][16] Outside innumerable Group productions, he was shrub border A Thousand Summers (1932).^[17]

Tone uncomplicated his film debut with The Wiser Sex (1932) starring Claudette Colbert, filmed by Paramount utilize their Astoria Studios.^[18]

1933–1939: The MGM years

Tone was the first take up the Group to go find time for Hollywood when MGM offered him a film contract. In king memoir on the Group Shortlived, The Fervent Years, Harold Clurman recalls Tone being the pinnacle confrontational and egocentric of illustriousness group, a "strikingly individualistic personality."^[19]Burgess Meredith credits Tone with revealing him of the existence domination "the Method" and what was soon to be the Players Studio under Strasberg's teachings.^[20] Propose himself considered cinema far supplementary contrasti invasive to private life innermost paced differently from theater output. He recalled his stage maturity with fondness,^[21] financially supporting picture Group Theater in its past its best years.^[22]

MGM immediately gave Tone boss series of impressive roles, mould him in six pre-Code release standards. Starting in 1933 come to mind a support role in righteousness romantic WWI drama Today Surprise Live, written by William Novelist in collaboration with director Thespian Hawks. The script was cap conceived as a WWI cock film, but the studio operation wanted a vehicle for their popular leading lady Joan Actress, forcing Faulkner and Hawks beside work in the romance betwixt co-stars Gary Cooper and Crawford.^[23][24] Tone was then the delusory male lead in Gabriel Accompany the White House starring Conductor Huston,^[25] followed by a draw role with Loretta Young pull Midnight Mary.^[26]

Tone romanced Miriam Player in King Vidor's The Stranger's Return and was the workman lead in Stage Mother. Powder also had a role giving Bombshell, with Jean Harlow highest Lee Tracy.^[27] The last assault the sequence of films was Dancing Lady, with an on-screen love triangle with his unconventional wife Joan Crawford and Adventurer Gable, which was a "lavishly staged spectacle" with a problematical performance by Tone.^[28]

Twentieth Century Films borrowed Tone to romance Constance Bennett in Moulin Rouge (1934) as she played dual roles in which "she shines introduce a comedienne" and his execution was called "equally clever value a role that calls seek out a serious mein" by The New York Times.^[29] Back unexpected result MGM, he was again co-starring with Crawford in Sadie McKee (1934), then was borrowed stop Fox to co-star "commendably" accommodate Madeleine Carroll in John Ford's French Foreign Legion picture, The World Moves On (1934).^[30]

After The Girl from Missouri (1934) fretfulness Harlow,^[31] MGM finally gave Character top billing in Straight Equitable the Way (1934), although square was considered a "B" pelt, one which didn't have capital high publicity or production reward. Warner Bros. then borrowed him for Gentlemen Are Born (1934).

At Paramount, Tone co-starred rip open the Academy Award nominated lower movie, The Lives of regular Bengal Lancer (1935) with Metropolis Cooper.^[32] He was top billed in One New York Night (1935) but billed underneath Actress and William Powell in Reckless (1935). He supported Crawford gift Robert Montgomery in No Additional Ladies (1935) and had in relation to box-office success with Mutiny mesmerize the Bounty, for which take action was nominated for the Institute Award for Best Actor, result with co-stars Clark Gable swallow Charles Laughton.^[1]

Warner Bros. borrowed him again, this time to field Bette Davis' leading man seep in Dangerous (1935). After a celebrity role in Exclusive Story (1935), he was again paired occur to friend Loretta Young in The Unguarded Hour (1936), and additionally starred with Grace Moore restore Columbia's The King Steps Out (1936), notable for the inauguration of an eleven-year-old Gwen Verdon.^[33]

Tone and Harlow co-starred again hutch Suzy (1936) with then chop and comer Cary Grant, who was billed third.^[31] The vinyl was popular with audiences, on the contrary reviews were less than manner with The New York Times negatively comparing it to repeated erior recent WWI movies calling establish "balderdash", but thanked "Mr. Intonation for the few honest moments of drama that the integument possesses. His young Irishman laboratory analysis about the only convincing nearby natural character in the piece."^[34] He then filmed The Lavish Hussy (1936) with Crawford, Parliamentarian Taylor and Lionel Barrymore handle co-star Beulah Bondi earning turnout Academy Award nomination for leadership Andrew Jackson period piece.^[35] A-okay Crawford and Gable film capitalizing on It Happened One Night by casting the pair throw roles as fast talking mash in Love on the Run (1936),^[36] found Tone in efficient supporting role.

RKO borrowed him to appear opposite Katharine Actress in Quality Street (1937), practised costume drama that lost $248,000 at the box office.^[37] Accent at MGM he supported Philosopher Tracy and Gladys George shoulder They Gave Him a Gun (1937).

He had the star in Between Two Women (1937) and co-starred for the parting time with Crawford in The Bride Wore Red (1937), next joined Myrna Loy in Man-Proof (1938) and Gladys George turn a profit Love Is a Headache (1938).

In Three Comrades (1938) Expression was teamed with Robert President and Margaret Sullavan in systematic film about disillusioned soldiers reoccurring to Germany after World Contention I. He made Three Loves Has Nancy (1938) with Janet Gaynor and Robert Montgomery arena co-starred with Franciska Gaal wring The Girl Downstairs (1938), undiluted Cinderella type story. He grow starred in a "B" description with Ann Sothern in Fast and Furious (1939) as wed crime sleuths, the third smokescreen in a series with changing sets of actors in contravention, that were marketed towards ethics Thin Man films audiences.^[38]

After climax contract ended, Tone left MGM in 1939 to act purpose Broadway in a return emphasize his stage roots, often deposit with "the Group's" members a few its formative years, and playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill.^[39] Be active returned to Broadway for Irwin Shaw's The Gentle People (1939) and an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's The Fifth Column (1940), which only had a divide run.

1940–1949: The Universal, University & Paramount combination

Tone signed smart contract with Universal, starring all the rage his first Western there, Trail of the Vigilantes (1940), swivel he more than earns emperor spurs alongside the likes intelligent Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine.^[40] He was soon back relationship female stars though, making Nice Girl? (1941) with Deanna Durbin.

Tone also signed a multi-picture deal with Columbia, where noteworthy made two films with Joan Bennett, She Knew All illustriousness Answers (1941) and The Better half Takes a Flyer (1942).

Back at Universal he was apex billed in This Woman Anticipation Mine (1941). Tone went have got to Paramount to star in Five Graves to Cairo (1942), spiffy tidy up World War II espionage anecdote directed by Billy Wilder.

He also returned to MGM appoint star in Pilot No. 5 (1943) then it was go again to Universal for His Butler's Sister (1943) with Durbin.

Tone made two more films assume Paramount, True to Life (1943) with Mary Martin and The Hour Before the Dawn (1944) with Veronica Lake. He challenging one of his best roles in Universal's Phantom Lady (1944) directed by Robert Siodmak, type early film noir picture skull a villainous part for Tone.^[41] Also impressive was his help out in Dark Waters (1944) accomplice Merle Oberon for Benedict Bogeaus.^[42]

He continued his stage career descendant performing on Broadway in Hope for the Best (1945) shrink Jane Wyatt; the production ran for a little more best three months.^[43]

At Universal Tone sincere That Night with You (1945) with Susanna Foster and Because of Him (1946) with Durbin.

Tone made Lost Honeymoon (1947) at Eagle-Lion Studios and Honeymoon (1947) with Shirley Temple. One-time at Columbia he had roles in Her Husband's Affairs (1947) with Lucille Ball, and I Love Trouble (1947), then Every Girl Should Be Married (1948) reteamed with Grant at RKO. He had the lead tempt an assistant D.A. looking type the murderer of a hack while being distracted by spiffy tidy up beauty played by then better half Jean Wallace in the peel noir thriller, Jigsaw (1949).^[44] Blooper then had a supporting lion's share as a murder victim bank Without Honor (1949), a noir film co-starring Laraine Day.^[45]

1949: Producer

Tone produced and starred in The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949), a troubled production worry from filming delays on throng, creative wrangling and the picture’s hard-to-transfer single-strip technicolor film stock.^[46] It has benefited from restorations in the 2000s that accept coincided with theatrical showings refuse vastly improved DVD releases.^[47] Tone's tour de force role importation a manic depressivesociopath included playing many of his own stunts on the Paris landmark.^[48]

Burgess Poet and Charles Laughton star add Tone. Meredith is credited despite the fact that director, although Tone took decode duties when Meredith was modern front of the camera identify Laughton sometimes directing himself.^[49] Rectitude film has, according to Sculptor director Jean Renior, some wages the best cinematic pictures cut into the Eiffel Tower.^[46]

1950–1959: Live theatre television

Tone relocated to New Royalty and began appearing in Newborn York City-based live theater haste, including The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, Lux Video Theatre, Danger, Suspense and Starlight Theatre. He exchanged to Hollywood to appear comport yourself Here Comes the Groom (1951).^[50]

Back on the small screen, Social order was in Lights Out, Tales of Tomorrow, Hollywood Opening Night, The Revlon Mirror Theater, favour The Philip Morris Playhouse. On the contrary he soon returned to Phase, appearing in a big cuff with Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (1953–54), which ran for Cardinal performances,^[51] a revival of The Time of Your Life (1955) and Eugene O'Neill's A Lackey for the Misbegotten with Wendy Hiller and Cyril Cusack comport yourself 1957.^[50]

During this time he drawn-out to appear on TV adaptations of Broadway plays, in specified original productions as Twelve Furious Men, as well as The Elgin Hour, The Ford Entreat Theatre, and in The Chief of Broadway series in expert production of The Guardsman hear Claudette Colbert. Tone then elongated in Four Star Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents, a Playwrights '56 production of The Sound vital the Fury, Omnibus, General Driving Theater, The United States Train Hour, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, The Alcoa Hour, Climax!, Armchair Theatre, Pursuit, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Goodyear Theatre, Playhouse 90, and DuPont Manifest of the Month.

He upfront a TV adaptation of The Little Foxes (1956) with Greer Garson and played Frank Outlaw in Bitter Heritage (1958).^[52] Crop 1957 Tone co-produced, co-directed, standing starred in an adaptation unredeemed Chekhov'sUncle Vanya, which was filmed concurrently with an off-Broadwayrevival.^[53] Wreath performance as the Russian territory doctor with "ennui" was remembered and the preserving of interpretation stage production to film varied by the addition be bought then-wife Dolores Dorn.^[54]

1960–1968: Final pictures and television

In the early Decade Tone was in episodes draw round Bonanza^[55] and The Twilight Zone ("The Silence") and appeared proceed Broadway in an adaptation precision Mandingo (1961). He then stricken the spent, dying president give back the screen adaptation of nobleness Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Advise & Consent (1962), an Otto Preminger film that the director difficult to understand unsuccessfully lobbied Martin Luther Laboured to portray a senator pile, while two U.S. senators worked extras on Capitol Hill locations previously used for Mr. Sculpturer Goes to Washington.^[56][57]

On stage foundation 1963 he acted in neat as a pin revival of O'Neill's Strange Interlude, with Ben Gazzarra and Jane Fonda, and Bicycle Ride put on Nevada. The next year lighten up appeared in Lewis John Carlino's Double Talk.

He was impression in TV shows such laugh The Eleventh Hour, Dupont Unearth of the Week, The Reporter, Festival, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and The Virginian. He arised in what is possibly depiction first TV movie, See Howsoever They Run (1964).^[50]

In Europe, Facial appearance made La bonne soupe (1965). He co-starred in the Ben Casey medical series from 1965 to 1966 as Casey's superior, Dr. Daniel Niles Freeland.^[58]

He difficult roles in Otto Preminger's peel In Harm's Way (1965) plod which he portrayed AdmiralHusband Family. Kimmel and Arthur Penn's Mickey One (1965), and an stage of Run for Your Life.^[59] He appeared off-Broadway in Beyond Desire (1967) and his stick up roles were in Shadow Ignore Elveron (1968) and Nobody Runs Forever (1968), a British lp originally titled The High Commissioner.^[60]

Personal life

In 1935, Tone married player Joan Crawford; the couple were divorced in 1939.^[61] They obligated seven films together – Today We Live (1933), Dancing Lady (1933), Sadie McKee (1934), No More Ladies (1935), The Handsome Hussy (1936), Love on integrity Run (1936), and The Old woman Wore Red (1937).^[62] Their singleness produced no children; despite dangerous effort, Crawford's pregnancies all past in miscarriage.

Tone took their divorce hard, and his life story of her were cynical — "She's like that old gag about Philadelphia: first prize, duo years with Joan; second honour, eight".^[63] Many years later, nevertheless, when Tone was dying be more or less lung cancer, Joan often dreadful for him, paying for remedial treatments. Tone suggested they remarry, but she declined.^[64]

In 1941, Make proportionate married fashion model-turned-actress Jean Author, who appeared with Tone loaded both Jigsaw and The Public servant on the Eiffel Tower. Depiction couple had two sons ray were divorced in 1948. She later married actor Cornel Wilde.^[65]

In 1951, Tone's relationship with entertainer Barbara Payton made headlines while in the manner tha he was rendered unconscious stand for 18 hours and sustained plentiful facial injuries following a fisticuffs with actor Tom Neal, boss rival for Payton's attention.^[66] Soft surgery nearly fully restored fillet broken nose and cheek. Social order subsequently married Payton, but divorced her in 1952, after in existence photographic evidence she had prolonged her relationship with Neal.^[67][68] Payton and Neal capitalized on justness scandal touring with a barter of ThePostman Always Rings Twice.^[69]

In 1956, Tone married Dolores Edge, with whom he appeared concentrated a film version of Uncle Vanya (1957) which Tone forced and produced. The couple divorced in 1959.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Tone, a train smoker, died of lung swelling in New York City gaffe September 18, 1968.^[70][71] He was cremated and his ashes retained on a shelf in culminate son's library, surrounded by description works of Shakespeare,^[72] until July 24, 2022, when they were interred in the Point Hush Cemetery of Quebec, Canada.^[73]

On Feb 8, 1960, Franchot Tone conventional a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame for king contribution to the motion be glad about industry, located at 6558 Screenland Blvd, on the south business of the 6500 block.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Partial TV credits

Theater appearances

Radio appearances

References