Alex D'Arcy

Egyptian actor Alex D'Arcy made his first film in Europe in 1928, and shortly thereafter appeared in Hitchcock's Champagne (1928). Frequently cast as urbane gentleman or smooth rogues, D'Arcy appeared prominently in such French films as A Nous a Liberte (1931) and Carnival in Flanders (1937) before crossing the ocean to make movies in Hollywood. D'Arcy's best English-speaking screen role of the '30s was as Irene Dunne's amorous music teacher in The Awful Truth (1937), in which he was hilariously beaten to a pulp by jealous husband Cary Grant. After his turn as Marilyn Monroe's "dream husband" in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), D'Arcy's roles lessened in importance; perhaps his gigolo image was out of step with the more down-to-Earth '50s. By 1962, he was more often cast in tiny roles in Hollywood comedies like Jerry Lewis' Way...Way Out (1967) and character parts in such European sleaze as Fanny Hill (1964). He also showed up in horror films, notably It's Hot in Paradise (1962) and in the title role of Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969). Evidently a favorite of such cult directors as Roger Corman, Russ Meyer and Sam Fuller, D'Arcy was given a few shining moments in Corman's St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), Meyer's The Seven Minutes (1971) and Fuller's Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street (1972). Alex D'Arcy was married several times during his long career; one of his wives was '30s leading lady Arleen Whelan.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide