Mona Rico

Mona Rico

Actor

Active: 1929

About Mona Rico

Mona Rico was an American actress who appeared during the transitional period from silent films to talkies in late 1920s Hollywood. Her most notable and possibly only known film credit was 'Eternal Love' (1929), a romantic drama directed by the legendary Ernst Lubitsch and starring John Barrymore and Camilla Horn. The film was one of Lubitsch's early sound productions and was based on the novel 'Der Student von Prag' by Hanns Heinz Ewers. Rico's career appears to have been brief, with her filmography limited to the year 1929, which was common for many actresses during this period of rapid technological and industrial change in cinema. Like many supporting players of her era, detailed records of her life and career are scarce, reflecting how many performers from early Hollywood have been lost to history despite their contributions to the art form.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in Ernst Lubitsch's 'Eternal Love' (1929)
  • Worked during the transition from silent to sound cinema

Best Known For

Must-See Films

  • Eternal Love (1929)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • Ernst Lubitsch (director)
  • John Barrymore (co-star)
  • Camilla Horn (co-star)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Mona Rico represents the countless supporting actors who contributed to early cinema during its most transformative period. While her individual impact may not have been widely documented, performers like her were essential to the film industry's evolution from silent pictures to sound films. Her participation in an Ernst Lubitsch production places her within the context of one of cinema's most important directors during a crucial technological transition.

Lasting Legacy

Mona Rico's legacy is primarily preserved through her appearance in 'Eternal Love' (1929), a film that stands as an example of early sound cinema and Ernst Lubitsch's work during this transitional period. While she may not be remembered as a major star, her contribution to this film represents the work of many actors who helped shape early Hollywood during one of its most dynamic and challenging eras.

Who They Inspired

Due to the limited documentation of her career and brief period of activity, there is little information available about Mona Rico's influence on other performers or filmmakers. However, her work in an early Lubitsch sound film places her within the lineage of actors who helped establish the conventions of sound cinema.

Off Screen

Very little is documented about Mona Rico's personal life, which was common for many supporting actors from early Hollywood whose careers were brief and whose stories were not extensively preserved in historical records.

Did You Know?

  • 'Eternal Love' (1929) was one of Ernst Lubitsch's early experiments with sound technology
  • The film was based on the novel 'Der Student von Prag' by Hanns Heinz Ewers
  • Mona Rico's career appears to have been confined to the pivotal year of 1929, when Hollywood was transitioning from silent to sound films
  • She worked alongside legendary actor John Barrymore in her known film appearance
  • The film 'Eternal Love' was produced by Paramount Pictures during their early sound period
  • Very few records exist about many supporting actors from this era, making Rico representative of lost Hollywood history

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Mona Rico?

Mona Rico was an American actress active in 1929, best known for her appearance in the film 'Eternal Love' directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Her career appears to have been brief, typical of many supporting actors during the transition from silent to sound cinema.

What films is Mona Rico best known for?

Mona Rico is primarily known for her role in 'Eternal Love' (1929), a romantic drama starring John Barrymore and Camilla Horn, directed by Ernst Lubitsch. This appears to be her only documented film credit.

When was Mona Rico born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, detailed biographical information about Mona Rico, including her birth and death dates, is not readily available in historical records, which is common for many supporting actors from early Hollywood.

What awards did Mona Rico win?

There are no documented awards or nominations for Mona Rico, which was not uncommon for supporting actors during the early sound era who had brief careers.

What was Mona Rico's acting style?

Specific details about Mona Rico's acting style are not well-documented due to the limited records of her career and the scarcity of her film work. As an actress working in 1929, she would have been part of the generation transitioning from silent film techniques to early sound acting methods.

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Films

1 film