WCW: Lillie Langtry

I’m kind of surprised that Lillie Langtry (1853-1929), English “professional beauty,” socialite, actress, and producer, hasn’t been on screen more than she has! But knowing she (and other fashionable women of her era) are coming are the only thing keeping me watching Edward the King. So as a tide-me-over, I thought I’d take a look at Lillie (or Lily) to cleanse my palette.

Langtry grew up (famously) on the island of Jersey, the daughter of a pastor. Recognized as a beauty from a young age, she caught the attention of London society after she moved there with her new husband. She became an artists’ model and entered high society, eventually becoming one of future King Edward VII‘s mistresses. Beginning in 1881, she began appearing on the stage, first in West End and later American plays, and then created a vaudeville troupe. For a while, she lived in rural northern California. Weirdly, she shows up in a TON of Western films, but it’s not because she actually lived there or toured there much; it’s because there was a judge in Texas who was obsessed with her and named a town after her, which she did eventually end up visiting. I don’t know, people are weird!

She eventually divorced her husband and settled in the US, then married a much younger man, Hugo de Bathe, the son of an Anglo-Irish baronet. She lived her final years in Monaco.

There’s only one production for which I can’t find images of the actress playing Langtry: apparently Brooke Shields plays her in Legends of the West (1992), which seems to be a weird, Jack Palance-hosted sort-of documentary, sort-of clip fiesta of Western movies.

 

Lilian Bond in The Westerner (1940)

The first film that involve the judge (Roy Bean) who was obsessed with Langtry, and the first of her MANY “Old West” fictional appearances. Set in 1882 and focused on Bean and various gunfighters. Eventually Langtry shows up to visit the town named for her, as she did in real life.

 

Francine York in Death Valley Days: “Picture of a Lady” (1952)

A TV series set in California’s Death Valley in the 19th century. This episode is randomly about the obsessive judge, who I must remind you, lived in Texas.

 

Naomi Chance in The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)

A feature film about the libel trial of author Oscar Wilde. I’m guessing Langtry shows up in some party scenes?

 

Ava Gardner in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)

A comedy-drama feature film all about the obsessive judge!

 

Francesca Annis in Edward the King (1975)

A TV bio-series about Edward VII, from conception to death. Langtry shows up as one of his many mistresses.

 

Francesca Annis in Lillie (1978)

Annis reprised her role as Langtry for this TV bio-series totally focused on Langtry. We’ve done a deep-dive review, because it has All The Bustle Gowns!

 

Madlyn Rhue in Fantasy Island: “The Perfect Gentleman/Legend” (1982)

Apparently a singer with stage fright wants to get over it by performing for the “toughest” audience around, which is Judge Roy Bean.

 

Dixie Carter in Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994)

Alight, so there were FIVE films with singer Kenny Rogers playing an “old west” gambler, all inspired by Rogers’s hit song. In the fifth, they got Dixie Carter from Designing Women to play Langtry.

 

Jenny Seagrove in Incident at Victoria Falls (1991)

A Sherlock Holmes TV film. Holmes is sent to South Africa and encounters various historical figures on the boat there, including Langtry.

 

What’s your favorite portrayal of Lillie Langtry on screen, and why is it Francesca Annis?