Monty Banks was a short, stocky but somehow debonair Italian-born comic actor, later also writer and director. In the US from 1914, he first appeared on stage in musical comedy and cabaret. By 1917 he was working as a dancer in New York's Dominguez Cafe. After this he turned to films, acting and doing stunt work at Keystone, Universal and for Al Christie. Changing his name from Mario Bianchi to Monty Banks may have been prompted by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as a passing reference to his playing '"montebanks". By 1919 Banks had moved to Vitagraph to play a villain in The Grocery Clerk (1919), foil to star comic Larry Semon. Banks first came to the fore in his own right as star of the "Welcome Comedies" made by Warner Brothers. He spent the early 1920s at Fox and Grand Asher, graduating to writing and directing two-reel comedies with himself as the star. Most noteworthy entries in regard to inventive sight gags and Mack Sennett--style madcap plots are Pay or Move (1924) and The Golf Bug (1924). The success of this series prompted Banks to create an independent production company, the Monty Banks Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with writer/director Howard Estabrook. He made several feature-length films for Pathe, including Play Safe (1927)) (generally considered his best work), which featured a climactic runaway train sequence. This style of fast-action slapstick made it inevitable that Banks suffered more than his fair share of injuries, especially since he continued to do many of his own stunts. From the late 1920s Banks worked in England and made several appearances in sound films. However, his accent proved to be something of an obstacle. He therefore decided, after 1930, to concentrate on directing and producing. He helmed four features starring the popular entertainer Gracie Fields, who became his second wife in 1940. In 1935 he directed a well-received George Formby comedy, No Limit (1935), about the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man, which were shot on location there. With the outbreak of World War II Banks--being an Italian citizen--would have faced internment in England as an enemy alien. He therefore deemed it necessary to flee to Canada, and from there to the neutral United States. He eventually obtained American citizenship, for which he had applied years earlier, but had forgotten to submit the necessary paperwork. Back in Hollywood he ended up at 20th Century-Fox, directing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Great Guns (1941), arguably one of their lesser efforts. Banks died of a heart attack during a trip through Italy in January 1950, aged just 52. Sadly, the majority of his one- and two-reelers are now considered lost films. As a result, his status as a leading comic of the silent screen may have somewhat diminished--except, perhaps, in his home town of Cesena, where a foundation was established in his honor (the "Aula Didattica Monty Banks"), offering students "practical courses on experimental aspects of video production".
Monty Banks was a short, stocky but somehow debonair Italian-born comic actor, later also writer and director. In the US from 1914, he first appeared on stage in musical comedy and cabaret. By 1917 he was working as a dancer in New York's Dominguez Cafe. After this he turned to films, acting and doing stunt work at Keystone, Universal and for Al Christie. Changing his name from Mario Bianchi to Monty Banks may have been prompted by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as a passing reference to his playing '"montebanks". By 1919 Banks had moved to Vitagraph to play a villain in The Grocery Clerk (1919), foil to star comic Larry Semon. Banks first came to the fore in his own right as star of the "Welcome Comedies" made by Warner Brothers. He spent the early 1920s at Fox and Grand Asher, graduating to writing and directing two-reel comedies with himself as the star. Most noteworthy entries in regard to inventive sight gags and Mack Sennett--style madcap plots are Pay or Move (1924) and The Golf Bug (1924). The success of this series prompted Banks to create an independent production company, the Monty Banks Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with writer/director Howard Estabrook. He made several feature-length films for Pathe, including Play Safe (1927)) (generally considered his best work), which featured a climactic runaway train sequence. This style of fast-action slapstick made it inevitable that Banks suffered more than his fair share of injuries, especially since he continued to do many of his own stunts. From the late 1920s Banks worked in England and made several appearances in sound films. However, his accent proved to be something of an obstacle. He therefore decided, after 1930, to concentrate on directing and producing. He helmed four features starring the popular entertainer Gracie Fields, who became his second wife in 1940. In 1935 he directed a well-received George Formby comedy, No Limit (1935), about the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man, which were shot on location there. With the outbreak of World War II Banks--being an Italian citizen--would have faced internment in England as an enemy alien. He therefore deemed it necessary to flee to Canada, and from there to the neutral United States. He eventually obtained American citizenship, for which he had applied years earlier, but had forgotten to submit the necessary paperwork. Back in Hollywood he ended up at 20th Century-Fox, directing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Great Guns (1941), arguably one of their lesser efforts. Banks died of a heart attack during a trip through Italy in January 1950, aged just 52. Sadly, the majority of his one- and two-reelers are now considered lost films. As a result, his status as a leading comic of the silent screen may have somewhat diminished--except, perhaps, in his home town of Cesena, where a foundation was established in his honor (the "Aula Didattica Monty Banks"), offering students "practical courses on experimental aspects of video production".
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0052217
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q712314
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Filmography (Movies)
Days of Thrills and Laughter
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/03/1961
Elstree Story
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/01/1952
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:23/03/1951
A Bell for Adano
Character:Giuseppe
Release Date:21/06/1945
Blood and Sand
Character:Antonio Lopez
Release Date:30/05/1941
Olympic Honeymoon
Character:Orban
Release Date:21/06/1940
Shipyard Sally
Character:
Release Date:30/09/1939
Queen of Hearts
Character:Montague Banking
Release Date:04/10/1936
Man of the Moment
Character:Doctor
Release Date:01/09/1935
So You Won't Talk
Character:Tony
Release Date:01/03/1935
The Church Mouse
Character:Harry Blump, the Window Washer (uncredited)
Release Date:10/12/1934
Falling in Love
Character:Film Director
Release Date:04/09/1934
The Girl in Possession
Character:Caruso
Release Date:16/07/1934
You Made Me Love You
Character:Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Release Date:01/10/1933
Heads We Go
Character:Chauffeur
Release Date:28/07/1933
Leave It to Me
Character:
Release Date:01/04/1933
For the Love of Mike
Character:Chef
Release Date:01/12/1932
Tonight's the Night - Pass It On
Character:Convict
Release Date:26/12/1931
Atlantic
Character:Dandy
Release Date:15/11/1929
The Compulsory Husband
Character:Monty
Release Date:13/11/1929
Week-End Wives
Character:Max Ammon
Release Date:14/05/1929
Adam's Apple
Character:Monty Adams
Release Date:03/09/1928
A Perfect Gentleman
Character:Monty Brooks
Release Date:15/01/1928
Flying Luck
Character:The Boy
Release Date:04/12/1927
Chasing Choo Choos
Character:Monty
Release Date:21/06/1927
Horse Shoes
Character:Monty Milde
Release Date:17/04/1927
Play Safe
Character:The Boy
Release Date:30/01/1927
Atta Boy
Character:Monty Milde
Release Date:10/10/1926
Africa F.O.B.
Character:Monty Banks, the Stranger
Release Date:15/09/1925
Keep Smiling
Character:The Boy
Release Date:06/09/1925
Home Cooking
Character:
Release Date:15/07/1924
The Golf Bug
Character:Monty
Release Date:08/07/1924
A Wild Goose Chase
Character:Monty
Release Date:02/06/1924
Pay or Move
Character:Monty
Release Date:17/03/1924
Wedding Bells
Character:The Groom
Release Date:16/03/1924
Hot Sands
Character:
Release Date:29/02/1924
Taxi Please
Character:The Taxi Driver
Release Date:30/11/1923
The Covered Schooner
Character:The Boy
Release Date:29/09/1923
Paging Love
Character:The Encyclopedia Salesman
Release Date:26/07/1923
Love's Handicap
Character:The Watchful Waiter
Release Date:18/05/1923
Oils Well!
Character:Monty, the Office Force
Release Date:13/02/1923
Always Late
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1923
Six A.M.
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1923
Brilliantine the Bull Fighter
Character:Adolph Brilliantino
Release Date:21/11/1922
Derby Day
Character:
Release Date:23/06/1922
Cleaned and Dry
Character:The Dry Cleaner Delivery Wagon Driver
Release Date:01/11/1921
Fresh Air
Character:The boy
Release Date:01/10/1921
In and Out
Character:Mr. Newlywed
Release Date:17/07/1921
A Bedroom Scandal
Character:A Husband
Release Date:15/01/1921
Where Is My Wife?
Character:The Jealous Husband
Release Date:15/01/1921
Nearly Married
Character:Count Up / Mac Aroni
Release Date:11/12/1920
A Flivver Wedding
Character:The Boy
Release Date:01/09/1920
The Garage
Character:Man with Dog (uncredited)
Release Date:11/01/1920
The Grocery Clerk
Character:The Tow Gusher, a 'He Vamp'
Release Date:01/12/1919
Too Much Johnson
Character:Leon Dathis
Release Date:01/12/1919
The Head Waiter
Character:Dinning Customer
Release Date:01/12/1919
Don't Park Here
Character:A Rival
Release Date:01/08/1919
One Night Only
Character:
Release Date:01/08/1919
Her First False Hare
Character:Unnamed
Release Date:01/05/1919
Coppers and Scents
Character:Sherlock McNutt
Release Date:01/04/1919
Love
Character:Farmhand
Release Date:01/03/1919
Camping Out
Character:
Release Date:05/01/1919
The Sheriff
Character:
Release Date:24/11/1918
A Scrap of Paper
Character:Soldier
Release Date:13/10/1918
The Belles of Liberty
Character:Harold Hatband (Son) as Frenchie Bianchi
Release Date:10/07/1918
A Blind Pig
Character:French Salesman
Release Date:12/06/1918
Did She Do Wrong?
Character:
Release Date:10/03/1918
The Purple Mask
Character:Jack Elliot & Jacques, Patricia's Butler (as Mario Bianchi)
Release Date:25/12/1916
Cold Hearts and Hot Flames
Character:
Release Date:20/09/1916
Images
