Muriel Angelus

The memories are vague when it comes to recalling this London-born leading lady, but 'Muriel Angelus' (qv) did have her moments. She managed to appear in a few classic Broadway musical shows and Hollywood films before her early retirement in the mid-1940s.Of Scottish parentage and the daughter of a chemist, the former Muriel Findlay was born on March 10,1909. Developing a sweet-voiced soprano at an early, Muriel made her singing debut at 12, eventually changing her last name and becoming a popular music hall performer. She made her West End debut in the musical production of "The Vagabond King" in 1927.Muriel entered films toward the end of the silent era with _The Ringer (1928)_ (qv), the first of three movie versions of the 'Edgar Wallace' (qv) play. Her second film _Sailors Don't Care (1928)_ (qv) (1928) was important only in that she met her first husband, Scots-born actor 'John Stuart' (qv). Her part was excised from the film. Other silents included _The Infamous Lady (1928)_ (qv) and the German film _Mascots (1929)_ (qv).Muriel moved into leading femme parts in sound pictures with _Night Birds (1930)_ (qv) in which she got to sing a number, but most of her films would not usurp her musical talents. The sweet-natured actress who played both ingenues and 'other woman' roles, went on to co-star with her husband in the romantic comedy _No Exit (1930)_ (qv), and appeared opposite others in the 'Edgar Wallace' (qv) crimer _Red Aces (1930)_ (qv), the comedies _Let's Love and Laugh (1931)_ (qv) and _The Wife's Family (1931)_ (qv), again with her husband in _Hindle Wakes (1931)_ (qv). After co-starring in the crime stories _Detective Lloyd (1932)_ (qv) and _Blind Spot (1932)_ (qv) and the comedy _Don't Be a Dummy (1932)_ (qv), she co-starred with British star 'Monty Banks' (qv) in one of his farcical comedies _So You Won't Talk (1935)_ (qv).Muriel received a career lift with the glossy musical London stage hit "Balalaika" and a chain of events happened with its success. It led to her securing the pivotal role of Adriana in "The Boys From Syracuse" and, in turn, a contract with Paramount Pictures. Divorced from Stuart by this time, Muriel settled in Hollywood and made her best known films while there. She was quite touching as girlfriend to blind painter 'Ronald Colman' (qv) in _The Light That Failed (1939)_ (qv), a second remake of the 'Rudyard Kipling' (qv) novel, and appeared to great advantage as a con-artist in _The Way of All Flesh (1940)_ (qv). She was given the second lead in the romantic adventure _Safari (1940)_ (qv) and appeared in her last film, 'Preston Sturges' (qv)' classic satire _The Great McGinty (1940)_ (qv), as 'Brian Donlevy' (qv)'s secretary.After scoring another long-running Broadway hit with "Early To Bed" in 1943, Muriel met Radio City Music Hall orchestra conductor 'Paul Lavalle' (qv) while appearing on radio in New York and married him in 1946. She retired to raise a family in New England. They had a daughter, Suzanne, who later worked for NBC. Muriel pretty much stayed out of the limelight for the remainder of her life.Muriel died at age 95 in a Virginia nursing home in August 22, 2004, some seven years after her husband's death.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net