Belita
Acting
Biography
Belita Jepson-Turner (21 October 1923-18 December 2005), known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress.
Born: October 21, 1923
Place of Birth: Garlogs, Nether Wallop, England, UK
Known For
Suspense
The proprietor of an ice-skating revue promotes a peanut-vendor to a management position based on suggestions he made to improve the act of the show's star, who also happens to be the owner's wife. However, he soon begins to notice that his new manager is paying more attention to his wife than he believes is appropriate.
The Key
In wartime England, circa 1941, poorly-armed tugs are sent into "U-Boat Alley" to rescue damaged Allied ships. An American named David Ross arrives to captain one of these tugs. He's given a key by a fellow tugboat-man -- a key to an apartment and its pretty female resident. Should something happen to the friend, Ross can use the key.
Invitation to the Dance
Three completely different stories are told through dance.
Never Let Me Go
An American reporter falls in love with a Russian ballet dancer.
Ice-Capades
Bob Clemens is a cameraman for newsreels. Assigned to shoot the Swiss ice skater Karen Vadja, he arrives too late, so decides to film a woman skating on a different New York rink and pass her off as Karen. The scheme backfires when promoter Larry Herman takes a look at Bob's film and decides to make the skater a star. Unfortunately, it's actually amateur (and illegal immigrant) Marie Bergin in the newsreel footage, not the great figure skater from Switzerland. Chaos ensues as Bob tries to straighten everybody out.
The Hunted
A cop investigating a jewel robbery finds that all trails lead to his girlfriend - but she claims she's being framed.
The Gangster
Based on the novel Low Company. One of the most peculiar film noirs of the 1940s stars Barry Sullivan as a small-time hood who suffers a mental breakdown as his big plans begin to crumble. Beautiful Belita is his singer girlfriend who only fuels his paranoia.
The Man on the Eiffel Tower
A down-and-out student is hired to kill a wealthy woman. When someone else is suspected of the crime, the student taunts police until they realize that they may have to wrong man.
Lady, Let's Dance
Singing, dancing, and ice skating are featured in this musical that focuses on ice-skating sensation Belita. The story begins as she travels to a California resort where she has been hired as a replacement for a dance team. The resort is run by a handsome fellow. As a result of the gig, the skater becomes a national star while the resort manager gets fired and becomes a drifter until he ends up in the Army. The Oscar nominated score includes the following songs: "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams", "Dream of Dreams", "Rio", "In the Days of Beau Brummel", "Lady, Let's Dance", "Happy Hearts", "Ten Million Men and a Girl", and the rhumba standard "Esperanza".
Silver Skates
The management of touring ice show faces mounting debts.
Filmography
as Canteen Hostess (uncredited)
as The Femme Fatale
as Valentina Alexandrovna
as Gisella Heurtin
as Laura Mead
as Nancy Starr
as Roberta Leonard, aka Roberta Elva
as Belita
as Belita
as Ice Capades Skater