Tanis Chandler

Tanis Chandler (born August 29, 1924)[1] was a French-born American former film actress. She was perhaps best known for masquerading as a male to gain a role in a film.

Chandler in According to Mrs. Hoyle

Early years

Chandler was born in Nantes, France. Her father was musician Chandler Goldthwaite, who was billed as Rex Chandler for his performances of popular music. Her mother was Leon Lorfray De Rousier. Chandler was educated initially by private tutors in Paris and, after the family moved to the United States in 1936, at the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles. After her father's illness interrupted his work on radio programs, she became a model to help with finances.[1]

Acting

In 1940, Chandler acted in a production of Prison Without Bars at the Troupers theater. Her film debut came in Devotion (1943),[1] and she appeared in Cinderella Jones (1946),[2] George White's Scandals and Wanderer of the Wasteland. She also used her fluency in French and Spanish to dub parts for foreign versions of approximately 30 films.[1]

Chandler pulled off a hoax on film executives when she obtained a part in The Desert Song (1943) by pretending to be a male, Robert Archer. A wire-service news story distributed nationwide explained, "She was aided in the deception by the fact that she and most of the other players were clad in flowing robes and burnooses ..."[3] Her success was such that the casting office sent Archer for work in another film, My Reputation (1946). That venture ended, however, when a scene called for being shirtless while mowing a lawn. At that point, Chandler admitted to being a female, ending her male-impersonation efforts. Her explanation for the hoax was that studio executives frequently complained about a lack of men, and she hoped for a better opportunity for roles in films.[3]

Described as an "up-and-coming Hollywood starlet", Chandler was featured on the cover of Parade magazine's April 7, 1946, issue.[4]

Other work

Chandler worked for a stock brokerage firm for a year, and she and her mother operated a kindergarten in which she taught when she was not working in films.[1]

Personal life

In October 1949, Chandler married Paul Mills.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1943Higher and HigherDebutanteUncredited
1944JanieHigh School GirlUncredited
1944Music for MillionsOrchestra MemberUncredited
1945Wanderer of the WastelandChito's FriendUncredited
1945George White's ScandalsShowgirlUncredited
1945CorneredAirline HostessUncredited
1945Dick TracyMiss StanleyUncredited
1946The Madonna's SecretSingerUncredited
1946Cinderella JonesWaitressUncredited
1946DevotionFrench StudentUncredited
1946Ding Dong WilliamsHostessUncredited
1946The Catman of ParisYvette
1946Shadows Over ChinatownMary Conover
1946The Big SleepWaitressUncredited
1946Spook BustersMignon Moreno
1946Affairs of GeraldineLiza Jane Dennis
1946The TrapAdelaide
1947LuredLucy Barnard
1947The Spirit of West PointMildred
194816 Fathoms DeepSimi
1949Return to LifeCapitaine Betty(segment 2 : "Le retour d'Antoine")
1951According to Mrs. HoyleAngela Brown
1952At Sword's PointMimiUncredited, (final film role)
gollark: Sorry, alkanes.
gollark: (butane does not have a cool name)
gollark: Buy other alkenes instead.
gollark: We've been through this. Probably.
gollark: Besides, so does plankton.

References
  1. "'Oh Teacher' and Tanis Are One and the Same Miss Chandler". The Des Moines Register. Iowa, Des Moines. July 8, 1945. p. Magazine - 3. Retrieved November 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Girl Who Masqueraded Way Into Pictures As Male Signs Contract". Freeport Journal-Standard. Illinois, Freeport. United Press. February 4, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Cast to Mow Lawn, Girl Posing as Man, Reveals Her Identity". The Boston Globe. lbg. Associated Press. January 26, 1944. p. 12. Retrieved November 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "The Face on the Cover". The Indianapolis Star. Indiana, Indianapolis. Parade magazine. April 7, 1946. p. Parade 20. Retrieved November 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Tanis Chandler Weds". The Eugene Guard. Oregon, Eugene. United Press. October 16, 1949. p. 37. Retrieved November 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
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