Marion Helen Schilling (December 3, 1910 – November 6, 2004) was an American stage and film actress. She was one of the most famous "B" leading ladies of the 1930s.
Biography Marion Helen Schilling was born in Denver, Colorado in 1910.
Her family moved to St. Louis when she was young. She graduated from Central High School there in 1928. She started her acting career as a stage actress, starring in stage plays such as Miss Lulu Betts and Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. While playing in Dracula on stage with Bela Lugosi, she developed a blood-curdling scream so effective, when she was working in Hollywood, she was asked to dub screams for Constance Bennett and Shilling's idol Pola Negri.Ankerich, Michael G. The Sound of Silence: Conversations with 16 Film and Stage Personalities. McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, NC: 1998. p. 204. In 1929 she received her first screen role in Wise Girls. Shilling had good memories of her director E. Mason Hopper when interviewed in the 90's. "I can still remember some of his early suggestions. 'Keep your head above the tide.' 'Be on your toes.' 'Hold your head high.' 'Act like the queen of the studio.' Those were wonderful words to a new, green girl numbed by all that was suddenly happening to her."Ankerich, Michael G. The Sound of Silence: Conversations with 16 Film and Stage Personalities. McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, NC: 1998. p. 205. After a couple of roles in other films, she starred opposite William Powell in the 1930 crime drama Shadow of the Law. That movie springboarded her into roles as a B-movie heroine.
In 1931 she was one of thirteen girls selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars", a list that included future Hollywood star Marian Marsh. From 1930 to 1936 she starred in forty two films, mostly westerns or mysteries. She often starred opposite Tom Keene and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. In the 1934 film serial, The Red Rider, she starred opposite early western film actor Buck Jones, with a supporting cast that included William Desmond and football player Jim Thorpe.
Recognition In 2002, Shilling received a Golden Boot Award for her contribution to Western films.
Personal life Shilling retired in 1936, to marry and have a family. She was married to Edward Cook from 1937 until his death in 1998. They had two children, Edward and Frances.
Death She never returned to acting, and died from natural causes on November 6, 2004, in a hospital in Torrance, California, aged 93.
Filmography Feature films Year Title Role Notes 1929 Wise Girls Ruth Bence 1930 Lord Byron of Broadway Nancy 1930 The Swellhead Mamie Judd 1930 Free and Easy Singer / dancer Uncredited 1930 Shadow of the Law Edith Wentworth 1930 On Your Back Jeanne Burke 1931 Beyond Victory Ina 1931 Young Donovan's Kid Kitty Costello 1931 The Common Law Stephanie Brown 1931 Sundown Trail Dorothy ′Dottie′ Beals 1931 Forgotten Women Patricia Young 1932 Shop Angel Dorothy Hayes 1932 The County Fair Alice Ainsworth 1932 A Man's Land Peggy Turner 1932 A Parisian Romance Claudette 1932 The Heart Punch Kitty Doyle 1933 Curtain at Eight Anice Cresmer 1934 Fighting to Live Mary Carson 1934 The Red Rider Marie Maxwel 1934 Inside Information Anne Seton 1934 Thunder Over Texas Helen Mason 1934 Elinor Norton Publisher's Staff Uncredited 1934 The Westerner Juanita Barnes 1935 Blazing Guns Betty Lou Rickard (as Marian Shilling) 1935 A Shot in the Dark Jean Coates 1935 Stone of Silver Creek Martha Mason 1935 Gun Smoke Jean Culverson (as Marian Shilling) 1935 Society Fever Victoria Vandergriff 1935 The Keeper of the Bees Louise 1935 Captured in Chinatown Ann Parker 1935 Rio Rattler Mary Adams 1935 Gun Play Madge Holt 1936 I'll Name the Murderer Smitty 1936 The Clutching Hand Verna Gironda 1936 Idaho Kid Ruth Endicott 1936 Romance Rides the Range Carol Marland 1936 Cavalcade of the West Mary Christman (final film role)
Short films Year Title Role Notes 1931 Take 'em and Shake 'em Short 1931 June First Marion Short 1931 Easy to Get Marion Short 1932 Only Men Wanted Short 1932 Rule 'Em and Weep Ramona Short 1932 Gigolettes Marion Short 1932 Niagara Falls Short
References
External links
Marion Shilling, B-movie heroine