Montagu Love

Montagu Love
Born
Harry Montague Love

(1877-03-15)15 March 1877
Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Died17 May 1943(1943-05-17) (aged 66)
Beverly Hills, California United States
Other namesMontague Love [1]
Occupations
Years active1914–1943
SpouseMarjorie Hollis Love

Harry Montague Love (15 March 1877 – 17 May 1943), known professionally as Montagu Love, was a British screen and stage actor and illustrator.[1][2][3][4]

Early years

Redvers Buller's VC action, painted by H. Montagu Love (1905) for the "How He Won the Victoria Cross" postcard series produced by Raphael Tuck & Sons

Harry Montague Love was born on 15 March 1877 in Southsea, Portsmouth, to Harry Love, an accountant, and Fanny Louisa Love (née Poad).[1][5][6]

Career

Educated in Great Britain, Love began his career as an artist, with his first important job as an illustrator for The Illustrated Daily News in London.[7]

Love's acting debut came with an American company in a production in the Isle of Wight.[7] His Broadway debut occurred in The Second in Command (1913). He was typically cast in heartless villain roles. In the 1920s, he played with Rudolph Valentino in The Son of the Sheik, opposite John Barrymore in Don Juan, and appeared with Lillian Gish in 1928's The Wind. He also portrayed 'Colonel Ibbetson' in Forever (1921), the silent film version of Peter Ibbetson. Love was one of the more successful villains in silent films.

One of Love's first sound films was the part-talkie The Mysterious Island co-starring Lionel Barrymore. In 1937, he played Henry VIII in the first talking film version of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, with Errol Flynn. Love played the bigoted Bishop of the Black Canons in The Adventures of Robin Hood, also starring Flynn. However, he also played gruff authoritarian figures, such as Monsieur Cavaignac, who, contrary to history, demands the resignation of those responsible for the Dreyfus cover-up, in The Life of Emile Zola (1937), as well as Don Alejandro de la Vega, whose son appears to be a fop but is actually Zorro, in the 1940 version of The Mark of Zorro, starring Tyrone Power.

In 1941, he played a doctor in Shining Victory. In 1939's Gunga Din, Montagu Love reads the final stanza of Rudyard Kipling's original poem over the body of the slain Din.

Love's last film to be released, Devotion, was released three years after his death aged 66 in 1943. He was interred at Chapel of the Pines Crematory. His last acting performance was in Wings Over the Pacific (1943).

Personal life and death

On 3 April 1929, Love married Marjorie Love (née Hollis), a stage actress, in Los Angeles.[3][8]

Besides acting, Montague had a keen interest in drawing and painting. He became very proficient in caricatures of cast mates and also military paintings, primarily those of British military uniforms.[9]

Death

On 17 May 1943, Love died aged 67 at his home in Beverly Hills, California.[1][3][9]

Filmography

Silent films

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref(s)
1914 The Suicide Club Prince Florizel Maurice Elvey Film debut [10]
1915 Hearts in Exile Count Nicolai James Young Credited as Montague Love [11][12]
The Face in the Moonlight Ambrose Albert Capellani Credited as Montague Love [13]
Sunday Henry Brinthorpe George Lederer [14]
A Royal Family Crown Prince of Kurland William Nigh Credited as Montague Love [15]
The Greater Will Stuart Watson Harley Knoles Credited as Montague Love [16]
1916 The Devil's Toy Wilfred Barsley Harley Knoles [17]
A Woman's Way Oliver Whitney Barry O'Neil [18]
Husband and Wife Patrick Alliston Barry O'Neil [19]
Friday the 13th Count Varneloff Émile Chautard Lost film [20]
The Gilded Cage Baron Stefano Harley Knowles [21]
The Hidden Scar Henry Dalton Barry O'Neil [22]
The Scarlet Oath Nicholas Savaroff Frank Powell and Travers Vale [23]
Bought and Paid For Robert Stafford Harley Knoles [24]
The Men She Married Jerry Trainer Harley Knoles [25]
The Challenge Quarrier Donald McKenzie [26]
1917 The Brand of Satan Jacques Cordet George Archainbaud [27]
The Guardian James Rokeby Arthur Ashley Lost film [28]
The Dancer's Peril Michael Pavloff Travers Vale [29]
Rasputin, The Black Monk Gregory Novik, later known as Rasputin Arthur Ashley Lost film [30]
The Awakening Jacques Revilly George Archainbaud [31]
Forget-Me-Not Gabriel Barrato/Benedetto Barrato Émile Chautard Lost film [32]
The Dormant Power Maurice Maxwell Travers Vale [33]
Yankee Pluck Baron Wootchi George Archainbaud [34]
The Volunteer Himself Harley Knoles Credited as Montague Love [35]

Sound films

Stage

Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref(s)
1913 The Second in Command Performer Robert Marshall Wallack's Theatre [36]
The Ghost of Jerry Bundler Performer Charles Rock and W. W. Jacobs Wallack's Theatre [37]
Beauty and the Barge Performer W. W. Jacobs Wallack's Theatre [38]
Grumpy Performer Horace Hodges and T. Wigney Percyval Wallack's Theatre [39]
1915 The Adventure of Lady Ursula Performer Anthony Hope Maxine Elliott's Theatre [40]
You Never Can Tell Mr. Bohun (Replacement) George Bernard Shaw Garrick Theatre [41]
Arms and the Man Major Sergius Saranoff (Replacement) George Bernard Shaw Garrick Theatre [42]
Candida The Reverend James Mavor Morell (Replacement) George Bernard Shaw Garrick Theatre [43]
Search Me Performer Augustin MacHugh Gaiety Theatre [44]
Husband and Wife Performer Charles Kenyon 48th Street Theatre [45]
The Ware Case Performer George Pleydell Bancroft Maxine Elliott's Theatre [46]
1916 The Great Pursuit Performer C. Haddon Chambers Shubert Theatre [47]
1921 The Survival of the Fittest John Webster George Atkinson Greenwich Village Theatre [48]
1930 A Kiss of Importance Gilbert Laurent Courcel Arthur Hornblow Jr. Fulton Theatre [49]
1932 Firebird Police Commissioner Szentesi Lajos Zilahy Empire Theatre [50]
1933 Hangman's Whip Prin Norman Reilly Raine, Frank Butler St. James Theatre [51]
Birthright Jakob Eisner Richard Maibaum 49th Street Theatre [52]
1934 The Wooden Slipper Otto Zigurny Ritz Theatre Samson Raphaelson [53]
Richard of Bordeaux Earl of Arundel Gordon Daviot Empire Theatre [54]


References

  1. ^ a b c d "Love, Montagu, 1877-1943". Library of Congress Name Authority File. Washington, D.C. 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  2. ^ Playbill. "Montagu Love (Performer)". Playbill: Person. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Montagu Love, Film Actor, Dies BEVERLY HILLS. May 18". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. 18 May 1943. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Montagu Love Dies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Vol. 16, no. 230. 19 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Harry Montague Love". 1901 England Census. Class: RG13, Piece: 990, Folio: 40. Kew, Surrey: The National Archives: 28. 1901.
  6. ^ "Harry Love". 1881 England Census. Class: RG11, Piece: 1161, Folio: 91, GSU roll: 1341284. Kew, Surrey: The National Archive: 15. 1881.
  7. ^ a b "Montagu Love refused to be a minister". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. 29 September 1921. p. 13. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Eby, Carl P. (2006). "Wake Up Alone and Like It!: Dorothy Hollis, Marjorie Hillis, and To Have and Have Not". The Hemingway Review. 26 (1). The Hemingway Foundation and Society: 96–105. doi:10.1353/hem.2006.0045. ISSN 1548-4815. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b Vivian, L. (19 May 1943). "Obituary: Montagu Love". Daily News. New York City. Associated Press. p. 469. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  10. ^ BFI. "The Suicide Club". BFI Collections Search. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  11. ^ de Groat, Greta (2011). "Hearts in Exile (1915)". Clara Kimball Young. Stanford, California: Stanford University. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  12. ^ AFI. "Hearts in Exile (1915)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  13. ^ AFI. "The Face in the Moonlight (1915)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  14. ^ AFI. "Sunday (1915)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  15. ^ AFI. "A Royal Family (1915)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  16. ^ AFI. "The Greater Will (1915)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  17. ^ AFI. "The Devil's Toy (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  18. ^ AFI. "A Woman's Way (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  19. ^ AFI. "Husband and Wife (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  20. ^ AFI. "Friday the 13th (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  21. ^ BFI. "The Gilded Cage". BFI Collections Search. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  22. ^ BFI. "The Hidden Scar". BFI Collections Search. London: British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  23. ^ AFI. "The Scarlet Oath (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  24. ^ AFI. "Bought and Paid For (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  25. ^ AFI. "The Men She Married (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  26. ^ AFI. "The Challenge (1916)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  27. ^ AFI. "The Brand of Satan (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  28. ^ AFI. "The Guardian (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  29. ^ AFI. "The Dancer's Peril] (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  30. ^ AFI. "Rasputin, The Black Monk". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  31. ^ AFI. "The Awakening (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  32. ^ AFI. "Forget-Me-Not (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  33. ^ AFI. "The Dormant Power (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  34. ^ AFI. "Yankee Pluck (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  35. ^ AFI. "The Volunteer (1917)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  36. ^ IBDB. "The Second in Command". Internet Broadway Database. New York City: The Broadway League. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  37. ^ IBDB. "The Ghost of Jerry Bundler". Internet Broadway Database. New York City: The Broadway League. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  38. ^ IBDB. "Beauty and the Barge". Internet Broadway Database. New York City: The Broadway League. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  39. ^ IBDB. "Grumpy". Internet Broadway Database. New York City: The Broadway League. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  40. ^ Playbill. "The Adventure of Lady Ursula". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  41. ^ Playbill. "You Never Can Tell". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  42. ^ Playbill. "Arms and the Man". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  43. ^ Playbill. "Candida". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  44. ^ Playbill. "Search Me". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  45. ^ Playbill. "Husband and Wife". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  46. ^ Playbill. "The Ware Case". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  47. ^ Playbill. "The Great Pursuit". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  48. ^ Playbill. "The Survival of the Fittest". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  49. ^ Playbill. "A Kiss of Importance". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  50. ^ Playbill. "Firebird". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  51. ^ Playbill. "Hangman's Whip". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  52. ^ Playbill. "Birthright". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  53. ^ Playbill. "The Wooden Slipper". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  54. ^ Playbill. "Richard of Bordeaux". Production. New York City: Playbill. Retrieved 1 November 2025.