Mona Rico (born Enriqueta de Valenzuela; July 15, 1907 — July 15, 1994) was a Mexico-born American actress. Her films include Eternal Love (1929), Shanghai Lady (1929), A Devil With Women (1930), and Zorro Rides Again (1937).
Born Enriqueta de Valenzuela, she came to Hollywood from Mexico City at the age of 19 in April 1928 and secured a five-year acting contract.[1] Her first role of significance came opposite John Barrymore as the third lead in a United Artists motion picture, Eternal Love. It was reported that she was sitting in the casting room of the studio when a girl's hands were needed in a film test being made by Ernst Lubitsch. She was sent to Lubitsch and, after her hands were recorded, he made an entire test of her. The following day she obtained her contract. She was cast as a Spanish dancing girl in Shanghai Lady.[citation needed]
Personal lifeedit
Rico became an American citizen at age 23.[citation needed] She married wealthy sportsman James N. Crofton, part-owner of the Agua Caliente Club resort in Baja, California, on October 19, 1932.[2]
On July 13, 1932, Rico was with Crofton on a plane which crashed near Mexico City. The pilot/airline owner was killed and Rico was injured.[3] Rico filed suit for separate maintenance in March 1933 and asked for a sum of $2,000 monthly from Crofton.
In the action, Rico stated she was a motion picture actress who earned $375 per week before the wedding. However, she was no longer able to make her living as an actress because of facial injuries sustained in the airplane crash.[2] The proceedings were later withdrawn, and a reconciliation was followed by a second honeymoon to Hawaii.
In October 1933 it was rumored that Crofton had established residence in Reno, Nevada to obtain a divorce. He denied this, saying that he was in Reno for a business trip and planned to visit Rico in San Diego, California, afterward.[citation needed]
On October 18, 1933, Rico obtained a divorce decree in San Diego. She charged cruelty and was awarded $500 a month alimony.[4]
^"Another Mexican Actress Wins Way Into Movie Role". The Tulsa Tribune. United Press. September 9, 1928. p. 27. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Mona Rico Will Press Plea for Alimony Today". Los Angeles Times. April 3, 1933. p. 17. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Air crash reveals Crofton marriage". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 15, 1932. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
^"Divorce to Mona Rico. Actress". The New York Times. October 19, 1933. p. 22. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
Sourcesedit
Daily Northwestern, "Hollywood Film Shop", September 8, 1928, p. 12.
Los Angeles Times, "Mona Rico Has Just Finished Third Talkie", October 27, 1929, p. 24.
Los Angeles Times, "Gilpin Dies In Crash", July 14, 1932, p. 1.
Los Angeles Times, "Turfman Accused In Wife's Action", March 25, 1933, p. A1.
Oakland Tribune, "Actress' Mate Denies Divorce", October 11, 1933, p. 9.
Los Angeles Times, "Mona Rico Wins Divorce Decree", October 19, 1933, p. 6.
Los Angeles Times, "She Plans Bid For Citizenship", May 27, 1934, p. 17.
December 18, 2023
mona, rico, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2023, learn, wh. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mona Rico news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mona Rico born Enriqueta de Valenzuela July 15 1907 July 15 1994 was a Mexico born American actress Her films include Eternal Love 1929 Shanghai Lady 1929 A Devil With Women 1930 and Zorro Rides Again 1937 Mona RicoRico in 1928BornEnriqueta de Valenzuela 1907 07 15 July 15 1907Mexico City MexicoDiedJuly 15 1994 1994 07 15 aged 87 Los Angeles California U S OccupationActressSpouseJames N Crofton Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 Filmography 5 References 6 SourcesCareer editBorn Enriqueta de Valenzuela she came to Hollywood from Mexico City at the age of 19 in April 1928 and secured a five year acting contract 1 Her first role of significance came opposite John Barrymore as the third lead in a United Artists motion picture Eternal Love It was reported that she was sitting in the casting room of the studio when a girl s hands were needed in a film test being made by Ernst Lubitsch She was sent to Lubitsch and after her hands were recorded he made an entire test of her The following day she obtained her contract She was cast as a Spanish dancing girl in Shanghai Lady citation needed Personal life editRico became an American citizen at age 23 citation needed She married wealthy sportsman James N Crofton part owner of the Agua Caliente Club resort in Baja California on October 19 1932 2 On July 13 1932 Rico was with Crofton on a plane which crashed near Mexico City The pilot airline owner was killed and Rico was injured 3 Rico filed suit for separate maintenance in March 1933 and asked for a sum of 2 000 monthly from Crofton In the action Rico stated she was a motion picture actress who earned 375 per week before the wedding However she was no longer able to make her living as an actress because of facial injuries sustained in the airplane crash 2 The proceedings were later withdrawn and a reconciliation was followed by a second honeymoon to Hawaii In October 1933 it was rumored that Crofton had established residence in Reno Nevada to obtain a divorce He denied this saying that he was in Reno for a business trip and planned to visit Rico in San Diego California afterward citation needed On October 18 1933 Rico obtained a divorce decree in San Diego She charged cruelty and was awarded 500 a month alimony 4 Death editRico died in Los Angeles California on her 87th birthday July 15 1994 citation needed Filmography editYear Title Role Notes1929 Eternal Love Pia1929 Shanghai Lady Rose1930 Shadows of Glory Helen Williams1930 Alma de Gaucho Elsa1930 A Devil with Women Alicia1930 Big Money Maid1932 Thunder Below Pajarita Uncredited1935 Goin to Town Dolores Lopez1937 Zorro Rides Again Carmelita Serial Chs 1 9 1941 My Life with Caroline Minor Role Uncredited final film role References edit Another Mexican Actress Wins Way Into Movie Role The Tulsa Tribune United Press September 9 1928 p 27 Retrieved May 14 2023 via Newspapers com a b Mona Rico Will Press Plea for Alimony Today Los Angeles Times April 3 1933 p 17 Retrieved May 14 2023 via Newspapers com Air crash reveals Crofton marriage The New York Times Associated Press July 15 1932 p 10 Retrieved May 14 2023 Divorce to Mona Rico Actress The New York Times October 19 1933 p 22 Retrieved May 14 2023 Sources editDaily Northwestern Hollywood Film Shop September 8 1928 p 12 Los Angeles Times Mona Rico Has Just Finished Third Talkie October 27 1929 p 24 Los Angeles Times Gilpin Dies In Crash July 14 1932 p 1 Los Angeles Times Turfman Accused In Wife s Action March 25 1933 p A1 Oakland Tribune Actress Mate Denies Divorce October 11 1933 p 9 Los Angeles Times Mona Rico Wins Divorce Decree October 19 1933 p 6 Los Angeles Times She Plans Bid For Citizenship May 27 1934 p 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mona Rico amp oldid 1175076161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
