Vilma Bánky (born Vilma Koncsics; 9 January 1901 – 18 March 1991) was a Hungarian-American silent film actress. Although her acting career began in Budapest, and she later worked in France, Austria, and Germany, Bánky was best known for her roles in the American films The Eagle and The Son of the Sheik with Rudolph Valentino, and for several romantic teamings with Ronald Colman.
Born in Nagydorog, Tolna County, Hungary, she was registered as Vilma Koncsics. Vilma Bánky is her later stage name, which she adopted at the beginning of her acting career.
She was born to Katalin Ulbert, an actress, and János Koncsics, a civil servant and later police sergeant. When the family moved to Budapest, they first lived in a rented apartment in Práter Street in Józsefváros before settling in the Lónyaytelep area of Pestszentlőrinc on Teleki Street. She completed her early education at the Egressy Street Civic School and later attended a commercial school. After finishing her studies, she worked as a typist.
She was hailed as "The Hungarian Rhapsody" and was an immediate hit with American audiences. The New York Times remarked in its review of her first American film, The Dark Angel (1925), that she "is a young person of rare beauty ... so exquisite that one is not in the least surprised that she is never forgotten by Hillary Trent" (the movie's leading male character who decides to allow his family and fiancée to believe him dead rather than place what he perceives as the burden on them of a life caring for a blinded war veteran).
She appeared opposite silent film star Rudolph Valentino in The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926). Valentino reportedly was fascinated by Vilma, and chose her as the leading lady in the films. She also appeared opposite Ronald Colman in a series of love stories, including The Dark Angel and The Winning of Barbara Worth. It is commonly believed that her thick Hungarian accent led, with the advent of sound, to her career being cut short; however, she began losing interest in films and wanted to settle down with Rod La Rocque and simply be his wife. In 1930, she announced her retirement. She came out of retirement briefly in 1933 to star in The Rebel with Luis Trenker.
Of her 24 films, eight exist in their entirety (Hotel Potemkin, Der Zirkuskönig (The King of the Circus) with Max Linder, The Son of the Sheik, The Eagle, The Winning of Barbara Worth, The Night of Love, A Lady to Love, and The Rebel), and three exist in fragments (Tavaszi szerelem in scattered bits, the first five reels of The Magic Flame, and an incomplete copy of Two Lovers).
She married actor Rod La Rocque in 1927; they remained married until his death in 1969. She became an accomplished golfer, while La Rocque devoted his time to real estate. The couple had no children, but established the Banky-La Rocque Foundation to fund various educational and artistic endeavors, which donated millions well after Bánky died.
Bánky died on 18 March 1991, from cardiopulmonary failure, aged 90, but notice of her death was not made public until the following year. She was reportedly upset that no one had come to visit her in her last years, and directed her lawyer to make no mention of her death. While this is what was reported in the newspapers, she did in fact have many visitors. Her ashes were scattered at sea where her husband's had been consigned.
For her contributions to the film industry, Bánky received a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Her star is located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.
Bánky is mentioned by Mr. Burns in The Simpsons episode "Homer Defined".
William Holden's character Joe Gillis references Bánky in the film Sunset Boulevard.
Bánky is referenced in an episode "Lucy Does the Tango" on I Love Lucy.
Schildgen, Rachel A. More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life & Films of Vilma Banky; ISBN 978-0-9827709-2-4.
Vilma Bánky: Hungarian Rhapsody, vilma-banky.com Archived 2021-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
Information on Vilma Bánky, szineszkonyvtar.hu Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
Photographs of Vilma Bánky, film.virtual-history.com
"Vilma Bánky profile". NYPL Digital Gallery.