Isobel Elsom
Isobel Elsom was an English film, theatre, and television actress. She was often cast as aristocrats or upper-class women.
Early years
Born in Chesterton, Cambridge, Elsom attended Howard College, Bedford, England.Career
She debuted on stage in London as a member of the chorus of The Quaker Girl. Gilbert Miller promoted her to stardom in The Outsider.Over the course of three decades, she appeared in 17 Broadway productions, beginning with The Ghost Train. Her best-known stage role was the wealthy murder victim in Ladies in Retirement, a role she repeated in the 1941 film version. Her other theatre credits included The Innocents and Romeo and Juliet. Elsom made her first screen appearance during the silent film era and appeared in nearly 100 films throughout her career.
Elsom appeared as the leading lady for the Elitch Theatre summer season of 1928. At Elitch, she appeared in the role she created in the play The Outsider earlier that year on Broadway. A Denver reviewer of the play wrote:
If there is anybody in this man's town who doubts that Isobel Elsom, leading woman at the Elitch Gardens Theatre, is an actress of the highest rank, let that doubting Thomas see her work in The Outsider... She not only is scoring a brilliant personal triumph, but is demonstrating to local playgoers exactly why she was one of the most popular actresses London ever knew!She met her first husband, director Maurice Elvey, when he cast her in his 1919 film Quinneys. He directed her in eight more films before they divorced. Elsom's other screen credits included The White Cliffs of Dover, The Unseen, Of Human Bondage, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Monsieur Verdoux, The Paradine Case, and The Two Mrs. Carrolls, The Secret Garden, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, Lust for Life and 23 Paces to Baker Street, and The Pleasure Seekers and My Fair Lady.
She appeared opposite Jerry Lewis in four of his late 1950s/early 1960s films. Elsom's television credits included Armstrong Circle Theatre, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Lux Video Theatre, My Three Sons, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Playhouse 90, Hawaiian Eye, Straightaway, and Dr. Kildare.
Personal life
Elsom's second husband was actor Carl Harbord, married from 1947 until his death in 1958. She had no children.Death
Elsom died of heart failure at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, aged 87.Partial filmography
Milestones – Lady MonkhurstThe Way of an Eagle – Mariel RoscoeTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor – Isobel BunterGod Bless Our Red, White and Blue – The WifeThe Man Who Won – Milly CooperOnward Christian Soldiers – The GirlQuinneys – Posy QuinneyLinked by Fate – Nina VernonHope – Jenny NorthcoteEdge O' Beyond – Joyce GreyA Member of Tattersall's – Mary WilmottThe Elder Miss Blossom – Sophie BlossomMrs. Thompson – Enid ThompsonNance – Nance GrayAunt Rachel – RuthFor Her Father's Sake – Lilian ArmitageThe Game of Life – Alice FletcherDick Turpin's Ride to York – Esther BevisA Debt of Honour – Hope CarteretThe Harbour Lights – Dora NelsonThe Wandering Jew – Olalla QuintaneThe Sign of Four – Mary MorstanThe Love Story of Aliette Brunton – Aliette BruntonWho Is the Man? – Genevieve ArnaultThe Last Witness – Letitia BrandLe réveil – Thérèse de MégèeTragedy of a Marriage – Louise Radcliffe- Dance Magic – Selma BundyThe Other Woman – Roxanne PagetStranglehold – BeatriceThe Crooked Lady – Miriam SinclairIllegal – Mrs. Evelyn DeanThe Thirteenth Candle – Lady Sylvia MeetonThe Primrose Path – Brenda DorlandEagle Squadron – Dame Elizabeth WhitbyThe War Against Mrs. Hadley – Mrs. Laura WintersLaugh Your Blues Away – Mrs. WesterlySeven Sweethearts – Miss Abagail RobbinsYou Were Never Lovelier – Mrs. Maria CastroForever and a Day – Lady Trimble-PomfretFirst Comes Courage – Rose LindstromMy Kingdom for a Cook – Lucille ScottThe White Cliffs of Dover – Mrs. Bancroft Between Two Worlds – Genevieve Cliveden-BanksCasanova Brown – Mrs. FerrisThe Unseen – Marian TygarthTwo Sisters from Boston – Aunt JenniferOf Human Bondage – Mrs. Betty AthelnyThe Two Mrs. Carrolls – Mrs. LathamMonsieur Verdoux – Marie GrosnayThe Ghost and Mrs. Muir – Angelica MuirIvy – Charlotte ChattleEscape Me Never – Mrs. MacLeanLove from a Stranger – Auntie Loo-LooThe Paradine Case – InnkeeperSmart Woman – Mrs. RogersAddio Mimí! – Madame GarzinThe Secret Garden – GovernessDésirée – Mme. Clary – Désirée's MotherDeep in My Heart – Mrs. HarrisThe King's Thief – Mrs. BennettLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing – Adeline Palmer-JonesAlfred Hitchcock Presents – Hermione CarpenterOver-Exposed – Mrs. Payton Grange23 Paces to Baker Street – Lady SyrettLust for Life – Mrs. StrickerAlfred Hitchcock Presents – Minnie FindlaterAlfred Hitchcock Presents – Mrs. TaitThe Guns of Fort Petticoat – Mrs. Charlotte OgdenRock-A-Bye Baby – Mrs. Van CleeveThe Young Philadelphians – Mrs. Dewitt Lawrence The Miracle – Mother SuperiorThe Turn of the Screw – Mrs. GroseThe Bellboy – Hotel Guest The Errand Boy – Irma ParamutualThe Second Time Around – Mrs. RogersThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Reverend MotherThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Sister Marie ThereseWho's Minding the Store? – Hazel, a DowagerMy Fair Lady – Mrs. Eynsford-HillThe Pleasure Seekers – Dona Teresa Lacayo