EVERETT, Francine

EVERETT, Francine[1, 2, 3, 4]

Female 1920 - 1999  (79 years)

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  • Name EVERETT, Francine 
    Birth 3 Apr 1920  Louisburg, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Death 27 May 1999  New York, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I6208  Pickel_Bartlett
    Last Modified 14 Apr 2008 

    Family INGRAM, Rex (Clifford) Ingram,   b. 20 Oct 1895, Corsicana, Navarro, Texas, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Sep 1969, Hollywood California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years) 
    Marriage 1936 
    Divorce 1939 
    Family ID F1782  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 May 2022 

  • Photos
    bigtimer_FrancineEverettePoster
    bigtimer_FrancineEverettePoster
    FancineEverette
    FancineEverette
    RexIngram-FancineEveretteJPG
    RexIngram-FancineEveretteJPG
    talltanterriific FrancineEverettePoster
    talltanterriific FrancineEverettePoster
    blk-dirtie gertie from harlem
    blk-dirtie gertie from harlem
    FancineEverette2
    FancineEverette2

    Documents
    FrancisEverette Obituary NewYorkTimes
    FrancisEverette Obituary NewYorkTimes
    FrancisEverette Obituary TheLondon
    FrancisEverette Obituary TheLondon

  • Sources 
    1. [S360] ImDB - Internet Movie Database.
      Mini Biography

      Francine Everett, who was called the most beautiful woman in Harlem and one of the most beautiful actresses to appear on screen. She became a familiar face with black audiences through the race films, now known as Black Cinema. She was one of the few who became a movie star through Black Cinema and could call themselves a true actress. Blacks could relate to the beauty because despite her roles, she maintained a down to earthness about her, warmth and was attainable more so than Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge who in Hollywood movies developed aloofness and had to please white audiences moreso than Blacks and had to let go of some of the black image. The films in Black Cinema may have been low-budgeted but Francine's performances surely weren't, she gave her all in films, as though theywere Hollywood movies. Francine didn't have a lot of directions in her movies but being the true actress she was, she didn't need much direction to give a stellar performance.

      When she wasn't acting, she was in soundies, singing or dancing, it's said she appeared in over a 100. She modeled clothes and hairstyles for print ads, magazines and newspapers. Also she sang in nightclubs, her lovely singing voice possess soul, allure, and charm which she also showcased in many movies. She was also quite a dancer, dancing in a dance group called The Four Black Cats that traveled the U.S. Her stage appearances included, Humming Sam and Swing It which were both very popular shows on Broadway.

      Francine started in show business at a young age. She studied and acted with the Federal Theater in Harlem, which was sponsored by the Works Progress Administration. She married legendary actor 'Rex Ingram' i who gained fame in his starring role on screen in "Green Pastures." It's been said Francine was offered the role of one of the angels but turned it down mainly because it was stereotyped.

      Francine appeared in the most important films of Black Cinema, the ones that could be called a true movie. She appeared in Paradise in Harlem (1939), 'Keep Punching (1939), Big Timers (1945),"Stars on Parade," '_Tall, Tan, and Terrific' (1946)_, '_Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.' (1946)_, '_Ebony Parade' (1947)_ (which also starred Dorothy Dandridge) and its been said she appeared in 2 Hollywood movies, "Lost Boundaries" and 'No Way Out (1950).

      In "Paradise In Harlem," Francine shone brighter than any in the cast when she gave a compelling performance doing Shakespeare by portraying Desdemona. Francine was fantastic as the woman who pleads/sings for her life to be spared.

      She only appeared in a few films but substantial films where she showed versatility and talent and proves why she's one of the best black actresses in history. She's done more in her few films than most have done in many films.

      Hollywood surely wanted Francine, but first Hollywood felt Francine should pay her dues by playing maid roles first, which she refused. She didn't want to play stereotypes when she could play roles suited for an actress in Black Cinema.

    2. [S360] ImDB - Internet Movie Database.
      Filmography

      Actress:

      No Way Out (1950) (uncredited)

      Lost Boundaries (1949) (uncredited) .... White girl as black
      Ebony Parade (1947)
      Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. (1946) .... Gertie La Rue
      Tall, Tan, and Terrific (1946) .... Miss Tall, Tan and Terrific
      Big Timers (1945)


      Keep Punching (1939) .... Fanny Singleton
      Paradise in Harlem (1939) .... Desdemona Jones

      Soundtrack:
      Paradise in Harlem (1939) (GOSPEL VERSION OF "OTHELLO")

      Self:
      Spencer Williams: Remembrances of an Early Black Film Pioneer (1996) (V) .... Herself

      Archive Footage:
      That's Black Entertainment (1990)

    3. [S358] GEDCOM file imported on 14 Apr 2008.

    4. [S357] GEDCOM file imported on 8 Mar 2009.