A Birthday Tribute to Anita Louise

Charming actress Anita Louise was born in New York City January 9, 1915.

Born Anita Louise Fremault, she began acting in silent films as a young child, dropping her surname in 1929. For the rest of her life she performed under the name Anita Louise.

For most of her career Anita Louise played a mixture of ingenues, leading ladies, and key supporting roles. Some of her most noteworthy parts included Ellie May, who loves Will Rogers' nephew (Tom Brown) in John Ford's JUDGE PRIEST (1934):

She was perfect as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in the magical Warner Bros. production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935):

She played the Princesse de Lamballe, lady in waiting to Norma Shearer's MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938):

She starred with Bette Davis and Jane Bryan as THE SISTERS (1938):

She starred with Richard Greene (seen here) and Shirley Temple in THE LITTLE PRINCESS (1939):

And she was delightful opposite Cornel Wilde in the engaging Technicolor adventure film THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1946):

Anita Louise was married from 1940 to 1960 to producer Buddy Adler (below); her bridesmaids included Ida Lupino and Wendy Barrie. The Adlers had two children. She continued her acting career, including a role in the TV series MY FRIEND FLICKA (1955-56).

Adler, an Oscar winner for producing FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953), sadly passed away in 1960 at the age of 51. 

Two years later Anita Louise married Henry Berger, a marriage which would last until her own untimely passing on April 25, 1970. She was 55 when she suffered a fatal stroke.

Anita Louise is buried alongside her first husband at Forest Lawn Glendale.

Today Anita Louise is not a particularly well-known name, but I'm always glad to see her in a movie's credits. She had a special presence which makes any film in which she appears that much better.

Previously reviewed films with Anita Louise: THE FLORADORA GIRL (1930), MILLIE (1931), OUR BETTERS (1933), JUDGE PRIEST (1934), PERSONAL MAID'S SECRET (1935) (also here), BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT (1936), CALL IT A DAY (1937), THE GO GETTER (1937), FIRST LADY (1937), RENO (1939), THESE GLAMOUR GIRLS (1939), GLAMOUR FOR SALE (1940), HARMON OF MICHIGAN (1941), DANGEROUS BLONDES (1943), and THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1946).

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