Margaret Mann
Margaret Mann, was a Scottish-American actress.
Early years
Mann was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, one of 10 children in her family. The family moved to South Africa when she was 12 years old. She worked at a variety of jobs, including being a dressmaker. Her first involvement with acting came when she was 50 years old, portraying Martha Washington in a pageant.
Career
Mann worked as an extra in films for 10 years, primarily at Universal and Triangle studios.
She starred in a number of major silent films such as Black Beauty in 1921 and played the lead role in John Ford's 1928 drama Four Sons, one of John Wayne's first films. She often played kind-hearted or suffering motherly roles. With the advent of sound films her roles got notably smaller and she was often uncredited. She portrayed the kindly grandmother Mrs. Mack in two Our Gang comedies in 1931. She also played bit parts in movies like Frankenstein, You Can't Take It With You, Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Her last of over 80 movies was The Remarkable Andrew, released one year after her death.
Personal life
Mann's husband was an invalid, and her earnings from working in films helped to cover the family's expenses. He was an accountant, and they met and married in South Africa. Mann died of cancer in 1941, aged 72. Not much about her private life is known, although a press release of 1928 said that Mann lived through many tragedies and hardships in her life. Her spouse was James F. Smythe.
Selected filmography
The Skylight Room - Miss LongneckerThe Heart of Humanity - Widow PatriciaThe Right to Happiness - Mother HardyThe Red Lane - Minor RoleOnce to Every Woman - Mother MeredithBlack Beauty - Mrs. BlomefieldMan, Woman & Marriage - The MotherThe Smart Sex - Mrs. HaskinsDesert Blossoms - Mrs. ThorntonThe Millionaire - GrandmotherThe New Disciple - Marion FanningThe Call of Home - Gerry's MotherDon't Write Letters - Aunt JaneLove in the Dark - Mrs. HortonOfficer 444 - Senior NurseThe Scarlet Letter - Townswoman Upstream - Theatre Audience Spectator Annie Laurie - Second Midwife Four Sons - Mother BernleThe Wind - Townswoman at Shindig The River - Widow ThompsonDisraeli - Queen Victoria Romance - Opera Audience Member Men of the North - Mother Macheney Helping Grandma - Mrs. Margaret Mack Born to Love - White Haired Mother at Train Station Fly My Kite - Margaret 'Grandma' MannFive and Ten - Weeping Woman Broadminded - Huntington Hotel Guest The Brat - HousekeeperExpensive Women - Flower Seller Bad Company - Kingston Hotel Resident Frankenstein - Mourner West of Broadway - Justice of Peace's Wife Husband's Holiday - The Cook Secret Menace - Mrs. JenkinsForbidden - Hospital Visitor Hotel Continental - Hotel Guest Stranger in Town - Mrs. Robinson If I Had a Million - Idylwood Resident Uptown New York - Elderly Woman Bachelor Mother - Mrs. PriceRasputin and the Empress - One of the Czarevetch's Nurse The Mysterious Rider - Mrs. Morgan Mystery of the Wax Museum - Wax Figure of Queen Victoria Pilgrimage - Mrs. Quincannon Torch Singer - Miss Thomas, Little Sally's Nanny Fugitive Lovers - Blind Man's Wife Beloved - Countess von BrandenburgGuilty Parents - Juror I Hate Women - MaThe World Moves On - Housekeeper One More River - Old Lady at Grave Pursued - Tourist Charlie Chan in London - Housemaid Judge Priest - Governess Love Time - Housemaid The Painted Veil - Mother Superior Little Men - The Nurse The Gay Bride - $100 Recipient The Man Who Reclaimed His Head - Granny Life Returns - Flower Vendor Kentucky Blue Streak - Mrs. Martha BradleyThe Murder Man - Investor Bonnie Scotland - Housekeeper The Bohemian Girl - Arnheim's Mother Song and Dance Man - Old Theatrical Woman The Country Doctor - Townswoman Florida Special - Old Lady The Law Rides - Mrs. LewisThe Phantom Rider - Homesteader's Wife Hollywood Boulevard - Old Woman in Casting Office Undercover Man - Mrs. Grady Theodora Goes Wild - Grandma - Townswoman at Train Station Pennies from Heaven - White-Haired Woman Conflict - Ma BlakeLet Them Live - Gun Lords of Stirrup Basin - Aunt Hattie You Can't Take It with You - Neighbor Federal Man-Hunt - Mrs. GanterCharlie Chan at Treasure Island - Airplane Passenger Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Nun with Cheering Orphan Boys Gone with the Wind - Woman Writing Letter at Atlanta Church Hospital The Remarkable Andrew -