Maria Montez ~ The Tragic Technicolor Queen

Maria Montez was a Dominican actress who was known as The Queen Of Technicolor until 
her untimely death

She was born Maria Africa Antonia Gracia Vidal de Santo Silas on June 6, 1912, in the Domican Republic. Maria grew up in a large family with nine siblings. When her father was appointed to the Spanish consulship they moved to Northern Ireland. She was educated at a Catholic convent in Spain where she learned how to speak English. In 1932 she married William G. McFeeters, a wealthy banker. Their marriage lasted seven years. Maria began her career as a model. A talent scout saw her and she was signed by Universal for $150 a week. The twenty-eight year old made her film debut in the 1940 western Boss Of Bullion City. Throughout her career she would often lie about her age and claim she was eight years younger than she was. She was given small roles in the films That Night In Rio and South Of Tahiti. Then she was cast opposite Sabu in the 1942 adventure Arabian Nights. The movie was a huge hit and made her a star. On July 14, 1943 she married French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont. Maria starred in a series of big budget Technicolor films including White Savage, Cobra Woman, and Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves. She became known for her exotic looks and her sexy performances.

Maria posing semi-nude

Her nickname was "The Queen of Technicolor". Unfortunately her movies often got panned by the critics who complained that she couldn't act. Maria and Jean-Pierre had a daughter named Christina in 1946. Then they costarred in the drama Siren Of Atlantis. She began complaining about the roles she was getting and was suspended when she refused to appear in the western Frontier Gal. In 1947 Universal decided not to renew her contract. Maria and Jean-Pierre moved to France where they formed their own production company. They produced and costarred in the films Wicked City and Revenge Of The Pirates. The couple had a rocky relationship and briefly separated in 1949. She continued to make films like The Thief Of Venice and Love And Blood. Maria also published three books. Tragically on September 7, 1951 she suffered a heart attack and drowned in her bathtub. She was only thirty-nine years old. Maria was buried in the Cimetiere du Montparnasse in Paris, France. Her daughter Tina Aumont later became a successful actress.