Marla English

Acting

Biography

She was born Marleine Gaile English in San Diego, California. As a teenager, she worked as a model and performed locally. English was originally signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures in 1952 after winning a San Diego beauty pageant to be "Fairest of the Fair". She was paid $150 per week to appear in such films as Red Garters (1954) and Rear Window (1954). She was often cut out of these films. Her contract went up to $200 a week. Her breakthrough role came when she was borrowed by Aubrey Schenck to appear in Shield for Murder (1954). She received a major break when she was cast opposite Spencer Tracy in The Mountain, a film which was to be made in France. English was given a smallpox vaccine before leaving to go on location. She quickly developed a raging fever and decided to pull out of the movie. Paramount suspended English and replaced her with Barbara Darrow. Parade Magazine questioned English about her decision in September 1955. She said it was a very dumb move and was unsure why she decided against making The Mountain. A close relative told the publication that English had fallen in love with Paramount actor Larry Pennell. She became enraged when the studio would not give Pennell a role in the film so they could travel to France together. English made mostly B films throughout her career in Hollywood. Some of these include Three Bad Sisters, Runaway Daughters, The She Creature, Flesh and the Spur, and Voodoo Woman. In 1955, she appeared with John Ireland and Pennell in Hell's Horizon.

Filmography Movies

Acting

MOVIE

Shield for Murder

6.7(0.0K)

A crooked police detective masterminds a robbery then fights to keep the stolen money.

The She-Creature

4.1(0.0K)

A mysterious hypnotist reverts his beautiful assistant back into the form of a prehistoric sea monster that she was in a past life.

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The She-Creature

Andrea Talbott / Elizabeth Wetherby

MOVIE

Voodoo Woman

4.8(0.0K)

Deep in the jungles a mad scientist is using the natives' voodoo for his experiments to create an indestructible being to serve his will. When a party of gold seekers stumbles upon his village, the scientist realizes that Marilyn the expedition's evil leader is the perfect subject for his work.

Three Bad Sisters

4.3(0.0K)

Following the death of a wealthy man, his three daughters squabble about who should be the principal heiress.

A Strange Adventure

5.6(0.0K)

A trio of thieves make their getaway by kidnapping a young hot-rodder, and take over a mountain cabin for a hideout after overpowering its occupants.

Desert Sands

5.0(0.0K)

The French Foreign Legion battles rebellious Arabs in North Africa.

Flesh and the Spur

4.9(0.0K)

A young man searches for his brother's killer with the help of a gunfighter, a native woman and a traveling medicine man.

Runaway Daughters

4.3(0.0K)

Three teenagers with troubled families are unable to adjust at home and in high-school. Tempted with an easy, carefree life they soon pass from misdemeanors into serious crime - and will suffer for it. Sometimes, repentance comes too late.

Yankee Pasha

5.3(0.0K)

Tale of an adventurer trying to rescue a damsel kidnapped by pirates.

Casanova's Big Night

6.1(0.0K)

Italy 1757, Pippo Popolino, a lowly tailor, disguises himself as the great Casanova in order to romance the attractive widow Francesca. He little suspects what awaits him... Locked into the incongruous role by the desperation of the real Casanova's creditors, Pippo must journey to Venice on a delicate mission far beyond his capabilities.

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Casanova's Big Night

Girl In Gondola