Inez Palange
Inez Palange, also written as Ines Palange, was an Italian-born American actress and singer who was best known for her role as Mrs. Camonte in the 1932 film Scarface.
Early life
She was born in Roccasicura, Italy on June 13, 1889.
Music career
Prior to her film career she was part of Les Iris Palange, a comedy and singing duo with Alberto Palange. At least two of their recordings on Victor records from 1917 are part of the Library of Congress catalogue. They performed in Italian. A bit about her experience as an immigrant along with others is noted in a book on Italian immigrants.
Film career
Palange performed in the first Italian language dialogue film, Sei tu l'amore?, released in 1930.
Palange played the mother of a gangster in Scarface (1932). Her dialogue with the character of her American-born daughter in which she warns against her son's character has been described as portraying two conflicting character traits, her Old World wisdom in seeing through her son's facade but expressed in halting, non-standard English, underlining her status in the New World as an unassimilated and uneducated immigrant, signifying her inability to relate her insights to her daughter.
Palange had a variety of supporting, minor, and bit roles in various Hollywood films.
Personal life
She died October 16, 1962, in Los Angeles, California.
Selected filmography
Sei tu l'amore? - The modisteAlways Goodbye - Italian Maid Frankenstein - Villager Scarface - Mrs. Camonte, Tony's MotherSpeak Easily - Rosa - Tony's Wife Tiger Shark - Mike's Neighbor Men of America - Mrs. Garboni Grand Slam - Woman at Wedding Party The White Sister - Italian Mother The Mind Reader - Cleaning Lady Heroes for Sale - Mrs. Bonicelli Pilgrimage - Mrs. Carlucci Mary Stevens, M.D. - Tony's Wife Night Flight - Simone's Maid Fugitive Lovers - Maria Bedside - Italian Mother I've Got Your Number - Italian Lady Merry Wives of Reno - Italian Woman - Proprietress The Age of Innocence - Natasia Society Doctor - Mrs. Esposito Enchanted April - Castle Servant After Office Hours - Diner Owner's Wife Black Fury - Mrs. Morova Dinky - Junkman's Wife Break of Hearts - Violin Student's Mother The Flame Within - Bar and Flophouse Manager Case of the Missing Man - Italian MotherThe Melody Lingers On - LouisaA Night at the Opera - Maid It Had to Happen - Italian Mother Robin Hood of El Dorado - Nurse with Madre Women Are Trouble - Italian Mother His Brother's Wife - Native Mother Dodsworth - Teresa - Edith's Housekeeper Libeled Lady - Fortune Teller A Woman Rebels - Signora Grassi Once a Doctor - Mrs. Rossi Man of the People - Italian Woman Sea Devils - Mrs. Palange - Italian Woman Song of the City - Mrs. 'Mama' RomandiYou Can't Have Everything - Mrs. Romano The Firefly - Flower Woman Portia on Trial - Mrs. GannowEbb Tide - Native Woman Wise Girl - Italian Hat Customer Change of Heart - Italian Cook Little Miss Roughneck - Mercedes OrozcoThe Black Doll - Rosita, the housekeeperThe Baroness and the Butler - Gypsy Fortune-Teller Penrod and His Twin Brother - Foreign Woman King of the Newsboys - Neighbor Yellow Jack - Dr. Finlay's Housekeeper Speed to Burn - Mama GambiniMarie Antoinette - Fish Wife Flirting with Fate - Señora LopezRoad Demon - Mama GambiniWinner Take All - Mama GambiniThe Lady and the Mob - Mrs. Angela Zambrogio Only Angels Have Wings - Lily's Aunt Chicken Wagon Family - Mrs. BuzziThe Grapes of Wrath - Woman in Camp Viva Cisco Kid - Maria One Million B.C. - TohanaI Was an Adventuress - Fisherman's WifeOn Their Own - Mrs. Galentoni Behind the News - Almedo's Landlady Romance of the Rio Grande - Mama LopezCaught in the Act - Mary RipportellaFlight from Destiny - Mrs. Moraciagos Under Fiesta Stars - Mrs. RomeroBeyond the Blue Horizon - Native Nurse The Gay Sisters - Italian Woman Going to Court Life Begins at Eight-Thirty - Mrs. Spano Out of This World - Mrs. Palukas A Bell for Adano - Italian Woman Murder in the Music Hall - Mrs. Aldine The Homestretch - Gypsy Woman Unconquered - Squaw The Loves of Carmen - Woman in Crowd The Snake Pit - Italian Patient Captain Carey, U.S.A. - Villager September Affair - Concierge The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima - Townswoman Cry of the Hunted - Old Woman Monster from the Ocean Floor - TulaHot Blood - Gypsy The Ten Commandments - Slave