Dorothy Tree (born Dorothy Estelle Triebitz, May 21, 1906 – February 13, 1992) was an American actress, voice teacher and writer. She appeared in a wide range of character roles in at least 49 films between 1927 and 1951.
Her roles included Martha, mother of Knute Rockne in Knute Rockne, All American, and May Emmerich, the invalid wife of Louis Calhern in The Asphalt Jungle. After being blacklisted as a communist because of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, she began a second career as a voice teacher in New York. Emphasizing good diction and clarity, and the subtleties of intonation, she published four books on the subject.
Early life and stage career She was born in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest of three daughters of Herman Triebitz (1877–1943) and Bertha Hert (1885–1967). Her sisters were Sylvia Triebitz (1911–1949) and Mildred "Mimi" Triebitz (1918–?) Her parents were born in Austria, and immigrated to the United States.1910 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Borough of Brooklyn, New York City, Ward 26, 173 Pitkin Ave., April 19, Enumeration Dist. 736, Sheet 9 B, Page 16 B, Line 68.1920 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Borough of Brooklyn, 1734 Pitkin Ave., January 2, Enumeration Dist. 1499, Sheet 1 A, Page 189 A, Line 8. Their native language was Yiddish. He was the proprietor of a shoe store in Brooklyn, and later sold shoes wholesale.1930 Kings Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Brooklyn Borough, Assembly Dist. 18, Block A, 1316 President St., April 3, Enumeration Dist. 743, Sheet 1 A, Page 163 A, Line 42.
Tree attended Cornell University, leaving after two years to pursue a career. Taking the stage name Dorothy Tree, she began her acting career on the stage in 1926."Cherry Pie' Contains Some Amusing Skits – Agnes Lumbard Carries Off Chief Honors in Simi-Professional Revue, With Attractive Tunes." New York Times. April 15, 1926. p. 24. Tree's Broadway credits include Bright Honor (1936), Clear All Wires (1932), The Merchant of Venice (1930), Holiday (1928), The Marquise (1927), and The Triumphant Bachelor (1927).
Film career Tree made her motion picture debut (uncredited) playing a department store employee in the Famous Players–Lasky/Paramount Pictures silent era romantic comedy It (1927) starring Clara Bow and Antonio Moreno. Tree next played a wife of Bela Lugosi's Dracula (1931); she also played a bride of Dracula in the Spanish language version of the same title, which was shot at night with a different cast using the same sets at Universal.
Tree attracted attention as a feminine menace on the screen as the hairdresser-spy, Hilda Kleinhauer, in the Warner Bros. drama Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) starring Edward G. Robinson, which won the National Board of Review Award for Best Film – English Language. Her performance immediately won her the role as Reni Vonich, head of a spy ring attempting to steal the latest in technology, in Paramount's sci-fi drama Television Spy (1939). She was signed by RKO to portray the important role as Elizabeth Edwards, Mary Todd's sister, in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) starring Raymond Massey."Dorothy Tree Runs Wide Range of Characters." Los Angeles Times, January 14, 1940. p. C 4.
She portrayed Martha Rockne in the Warners biopic Knute Rockne, All American, the mother of the famous football coach played by Pat O'Brien. In MGM's film noir crime/drama The Asphalt Jungle Tree played May Emmerich, a bedridden woman who is the very ingenuous and frustrated wife of Alonzo Emmerich (played by Louis Calhern), a crooked lawyer and double-crosser who, although he truly loves May, is having an adulterous affair with the character played by Marilyn Monroe.
Tree also appeared as Aunt Martha Dale in a teleplay of the live television anthology series The Silver Theatre (1950), which was titled Minor Incident. Her last role on the theater screen was as Marie Elsner in Columbia's crime/drama The Family Secret (1951) starring John Derek and Lee J. Cobb.
Blacklist and new career In 1952, Tree and her husband, Michael Uris, were branded as communists and blacklisted due to the HUAC testimony of playwright/screenwriter Bernard C. Schoenfeld."Shocked Into Reds, Film Writer Says – He Testifies He Joined in Grief at Roosevelt Death, Quit When Party Line Changed." New York Times. August 20, 1952. p. 10.
She then began a second career teaching voice and diction in New York. She specialized in singing in English at the Metropolitan Opera and the Mannes College of Music,"Lisper Learns How at Mom's Knee." Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1961 New York (UPI). p. N 1. and also taught at the Manhattan School of Music, using her married name, Dorothy Uris. She was quoted as saying, "I left Dorothy Tree in Hollywood."
On November 4, 1956, an article written by Uris about English singing with good diction and its aiding a singer to clarify words for the listener was published in the New York Times.Uris, Dorothy. "English Can Be Sung – Good Diction in Speech Would Aid Singer to Clarify Words for Listener." New York Times. November 4, 1956. p. 149. She published four books, Everybody's Book of Better Speaking (1960); To Sing in English, a Guide to Improved Diction (1971); A Woman's Voice: A Handbook to Successful Private and Public Speaking (1975); and Say it Again: Dorothy Uris' Personal Collection of Quotes, Comment & Anecdotes (1979).
Dorothy Tree Uris died at age 85 of heart failure at the Actors Fund of America Nursing Home in Englewood, New Jersey.
Personal life She married on June 8, 1928, in Manhattan, New York, screenwriter and story editor Michael Uris (March 25, 1902 – July 17, 1967)."Michael Uris Dies at 65; Ex-Screenwriter and Editor", New York Times. July 18, 1967, p. 38. They had one son, Joseph M. Uris (born October 25, 1943).California Birth Index, Name: Joseph Michael Uris, Birth Date: October 25, 1943, Sex: Male, Mother's Maiden Name: Triebitz [sic], Birth County: Los Angeles.
Filmography Year Title Genre Role Notes1927Itromantic comedyWaltham employeeUncredited1931Draculafantasy / horrorDracula's wifeEnglish-language version; UncreditedDráculafantasy / horrorBride of Dracula (in catacombs)Spanish-language version; Uncredited1932Life BeginsdramaRitaUncredited1933East of Fifth AvenuedramaKitty Green1934Madame Du Barryhistorical dramaAdelaideSide Streetsdrama IlkaHere Comes the Navyromantic comedyGladysFriends of Mr. SweeneycomedyCountess Olga Andrei MisitalskyThe Dragon Murder Casecrime / mysteryRuby SteeleThe Case of the Howling Dogcrime / mysteryLucy BentonThe Firebirdmurder mysteryMrs. Jolan Brandt 1935The Woman in ReddramaMrs. Olga GoodyearA Night at the RitzcomedyKiki LorraineWhile the Patient Sleptmurder mystery / comedyMittie FederieFour Hours to Kill!dramaMae Danish1936The Bridge of Spiescrime thrillersMarion CourtneyThree GodfatherswesternBlackie WinterNavy Borndrama / romanceDaphne Roth1937Marked Womancrime / dramawoman in raidUncreditedThe Great Garrickromantic comedyMme. Moreau1938Having Wonderful Timeromantic comedyFrancesStorm Over BengaladventureMrs. MassareneTrade WindscomedyClaraUncreditedZazadramaMadame Dufresne1939The Mysterious Miss XcomedyAlma PlattCafe Societyromantic comedyLady PhotographerUncreditedThe Mystery of Mr. WongmysteryValerie EdwardsConfessions of a Nazi SpydramaHilda KleinhauerTelevision Spyscience fiction / dramaReni VonichCharlie Chan in City in DarknessmysteryCharlotte Ronnell1940Abe Lincoln in Illinoisbiopic / dramaElizabeth EdwardsLittle OrviecomedyClara StoneSky Murdercomedy / dramaKatheKnute Rockne, All Americanbiopic / sportsMartha Rockne1941The Man Who Lost HimselfcomedyMrs. Van AverySingapore WomandramaMrs. BennettHighway WestdramaSalvo's Moll1942Nazi AgentdramaMiss HarperHitler – Dead or AlivedramaElse von Brandt1943Edge of Darknesswar / dramaSolveig BrategaardUncreditedCrime Doctorcrime / dramaPearl AdamsUncredited1944Casanova BrowncomedyNurse Clark1950No Sad Songs for MedramaFrieda MilesThe Asphalt Junglecrime / dramaMay EmmerichThe MendramaHarriet (Ellen's mother)A Life of Her OwndramaCaraway's secretaryUncredited1951The Family Secretcrime / dramaMarie Elsner
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