Frances Gifford

Actor

7 de diciembre de 1920 — 15 de enero de 1994 (73 años)
Frances Gifford had a somewhat unorthodox introduction to the movie business. Born and raised in Long Beach, California, she had no ambition to be an actress, and in fact had applied to UCLA when, at age 16, she and a friend got to visit the Samuel Goldwyn Studios, where they watched a movie being shot. A studio exec saw her and asked if she would take a screen test. She did, the studio was impressed with the result and put her under contract. Nothing much came of it, however, other than bit parts, and she moved to RKO. Nothing much happened there, either. She had married actor James Dunn and decided to retire, which she did, in 1938. Off the screen for almost two years, she got a small part in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and her career began to revive. She was signed by Paramount, which soon loaned her to Republic, where she made the film she is probably most remembered for: the serial Jungle Girl (1941), based on an Edgar Rice Burroughs story.

Unfortunately, her career never really took off, and she bounced around among several studios. In 1948 she was involved in an auto accident in which she received severe head injuries. Although she seemed to recover physically, her career took a nosedive, and she made her last film in 1953. In 1958 newspaper stories reported that as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident, she was admitted to a California state mental hospital. Nothing further was heard from her or about her until 1983, when a writer for a film magazine found her in Pasadena. She had apparently fully overcome her physical and mental problems and was working for the city library. She died of emphysema in Pasadena in 1994.

Películas y series en Plex

  • American Empire
    American Empire1942

Conocido por

  • El dragón chiflado
    El dragón chiflado1941
  • La llave de cristal
    La llave de cristal1942
  • El triunfo de Tarzán
    El triunfo de Tarzán1943
  • El sol sale mañana
    El sol sale mañana1945
  • Juego de pasiones
    Juego de pasiones1945
  • Cry 'Havoc'
    Cry 'Havoc'1943
  • The Arnelo Affair
    The Arnelo Affair1947
  • Adorable coqueta
    Adorable coqueta1948
  • Lo quiso la suerte
    Lo quiso la suerte1950
  • Marriage Is a Private Affair
    Marriage Is a Private Affair1944
  • Hold That Woman!
    Hold That Woman!1940
  • American Empire
    American Empire1942
  • Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour
    Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour1943
  • Border Vigilantes
    Border Vigilantes1941

Filmography

2004
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6 · as Doris (voice) (archive Sound) (uncredited)
1953
1953
Sky Commando · as Jo Mcwethy
1953
General Electric Theater · as Evelyn Crewes
1951
1950
Riding High · as Margaret Higgins
1949
Fireside Theatre · as Margaret
1948
Luxury Liner · as Laura Dene
1947
The Arnelo Affair · as Anne Parkson
1946
Little Mister Jim · as Jean Tukker
1945
Thrill of a Romance · as Maude Bancroft
1945
She Went to the Races · as Dr. Ann Wotters
1945
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes · as Viola Johnson
1944
Marriage Is a Private Affair · as Sissy Mortimer
1943
Cry 'Havoc' · as Helen
1943
Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour · as Hilary Dane
1943
Tarzan Triumphs · as Zandra
1942
American Empire · as Abigail 'abby' Taylor, Dan's SisterEn Plex
1942
Star Spangled Rhythm · as Frances Gifford (uncredited)
1942
Beyond the Blue Horizon · as Charlotte (uncredited)
1942
My Heart Belongs to Daddy · as Grace Saunders
1942
The Glass Key · as Nurse
1942
1942
The Remarkable Andrew · as Miss Halsey
1941
Louisiana Purchase · as Salesgirl
1941
Jungle Girl · as Nyoka Meredith
1941
West Point Widow · as Daphne
1941
1941
Border Vigilantes · as Helen Forbes
1940
Hold That Woman! · as Mary Mulvaney
1940
Forty Little Mothers · as Granville Girl
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington · as Hopper Girl (uncredited)
1938
Sky Giant · as Stewardess
1938
Having Wonderful Time · as Salesgirl (uncredited)
1938
Maid's Night Out · as Ticket Seller - Octopus Concession (uncredited)
1938
Night Spot · as Nightclub Patron
1938
Bringing Up Baby · as Minor Role
1937
Living on Love · as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
1937
There Goes the Groom · as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1937
Stage Door · as Mary Mcguire (uncredited)
1937
The Big Shot · as Bertram's Secretary
1937
New Faces of 1937 · as Showgirl