Lillian Hall-Davis (23 June 1898 – 25 October 1933) was an English actress during the
silent film
A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
era, featured in major roles in English film and a number of German, French and Italian films.
Born Lilian Hall Davis, the daughter of a London taxi driver,
her films included a part-colour version of ''
Pagliacci
''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, 'Clowns') is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who mu ...
'' (1923), ''
The Passionate Adventure
''The Passionate Adventure'' is a 1924 British silent drama film directed by Graham Cutts and starring Clive Brook and Alice Joyce. The film was adapted from a novel by Frank Stayton by Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Morton, with Hitchcock al ...
'' (1924), ''
Blighty
"Blighty" is a British English slang term for Great Britain, or often specifically England. Though it was used throughout the 1800s in the Indian subcontinent to mean an English or British visitor, it was first used during the Boer War in the sp ...
'' (1927), ''
The Ring The Ring may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*The Ring (franchise), ''The Ring'' (franchise), a Japanese horror media franchise
Literature
* ''The Ring'', a 1967 novel by Richard Chopping
* ''The Ring'', a 1988 book by Daniel Keys Moran
* ''The R ...
'' (1927) and ''
The Farmer's Wife
''The Farmer's Wife'' is a 1928 British silent romantic comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Jameson Thomas, Lillian Hall-Davis and Gordon Harker.
It is adapted from a 1916 play of the same name by British novelist, poet an ...
'' (1928), the latter two directed by
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
, who at the time considered her his favourite actress.
She had a lead role in a "lavish production" of ''
Quo Vadis
''Quo vadis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you going?". It is commonly translated, quoting the KJV translation of John 13:36, as "Whither goest thou?"
The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Peter's fi ...
'' (1924), an Italian film directed by
Gabriellino D'Annunzio
Gabriele Maria "Gabriellino" D'Annunzio (10 April 1886 – 8 December 1945) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. He was the son of the Italian writer Gabriele D'Annunzio. He adapted the 1921 film '' The Ship'' from a novel by his ...
and
Georg Jacoby
Georg Jacoby (23 July 1882 – 21 February 1964) was a German film director and screenwriter.Profile
, bfi.org.uk; accessed 1 ...
.
Hall-Davis also appeared in ''As We Lie'' (1927), a comedy short film made in the
Lee DeForest #REDIRECT Lee de Forest #REDIRECT Lee de Forest
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.
Hall-Davis did not make the transition to sound films; in 1933 her "sharp career decline and health problems" prompted her to commit suicide by turning on the gas oven and cutting her own throat at home in the
area of London.