msladysoul Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 Dorothy Van Engle has passed away a few weeks ago. Dorothy Van Engle was the star of many Oscar Micheaux films. A very popular star to black audiences since the independent films were made for and by Blacks. Dorothy is still a favorite of audiences of all today. Dorothy was the most beautiful woman to appear on any screen period. Had she been on the Hollywood screen, she would be considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood screen, but nonetheless, she was a rare beauty. On screen Dorothy had a natural, cool, calm, collective, sophisticated, classy screen image, she didn't underact or over-act. Almost in the same fashion of Myrna Loy. Dorothy started out as a model. Dorothy made her own clothes that she wore in films and helped Oscar Micheaux with movie ideas. Many who seen her work fall in love with her beauty and her warm, friendly persona even shows with her acting. The films she appeared in were showed a few times on TCM in the past. Just by her obituary being in major newspapers like New York Times, L.A. Times, many have became interested in her. Dorothy contribution ot films is very recognized and appreciated. If you would like to read her obituary, here is a link below. http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73172164105180&Avis=OS&Dato=20040512&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=205120302&Ref=AR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksontv Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Ms. Van Engle was indeed one of cinema's most beautiful, charming and classy ladies. With no acting coaching or training, she was able to mesmerize viewers of Oscar Micheaux films in the 1930s and was one of his most popular actors. Information about a tribute to her this summer is mentioned at www.blacksontv.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 What are the titles to some of her movies? will look at her obituary after i post. Was she friends with Lena Horne? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 to answer my own question and to let anyone else know she was in Murder in Harlem, Temptation, Girl from Chicago and others. I didn't get anywhere with the web address given but I did go to www.ocala.com and from here I typed in a search for Dorothy Van Engle which lead to info plus there is a picture. She is very beautiful. It also said 3 of her films are available on video Murder in Harlem, Lying Lips, and Girl From Chicago. And yes she was friends with Lena Horne-she and Lena grew up in the same apartment house in Harlem on 145th steet-how about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 I'm gonna try to find some of her movies...I'd like to check 'em out. There's only one picture I can find of her on the web, but she does look beautiful in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msladysoul Posted June 12, 2004 Author Share Posted June 12, 2004 Dorothy Van Engle was in Harlem After Midnight, Murder In Harlem, Swing, and God's Stepchildren, and a few others. Dorothy wasn't in Lying Lips and Girl from Chicago though in was in the obituary. I didn't see her in those films. Her family says she was in others, which probably is true, a lot of actors and actresses in Micheaux films were in the movies but not credited. In God's Stepchildren, Dorothy had a small but important part. When I watched that movie I wasn't expected her in it, but there she was. So there's probably more. I've seen most of Micheaux films but most are lost. But I'll be looking for Dorothy, there's a few Micheaux films I haven't seen. I liked her a lot. Dorothy reminds me a lot of Myrna Loy. Both were classy, sophisticated, natural, kind of had that aloofness. Dorothy was surrounded by stars was good friends with Lena Horne growing up and Jack Johnson lived in the same apartment. Her step-father played in Cab Calloway's band. I dedicated a page for Dorothy at my site http://www.geocities.com/nina_mae_mckinney Another favorite in Micheaux films was Ethel Moses. She passed years ago but she was star in her time and got to tell her story. Ethel was a pretty good actress. Ethel was called one of the most beautiful women in the world. Ethel worked at the famous Cotton Club. Micheaux billed her as the black Jean Harlow. There is sort of a resemblance, she kind of has Harlow lips. Most people who starred in Micheaux films either became stars from it or bigger stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollon209 Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 Donessa (Sug to family) was a great lady. I didn't know her when she was a star, only in her later years. you see, she is my husband's grandmother. she grew up around all the famous musicians of the cotton club like, Duke Ellington,Lena Horne, Cab Callloway. One of her mother's husband's was a musician in Cab Calloway's band (Snuppy Harris). she will be missed dearly!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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