~ How Did YOU Become a Nancy Carroll Fan ? ~

JUST ONE LOOK ...

that's all it took!
The Eyes Have It!!

Bette Davis Eyes ? Ha! Had Nancy been given the plum roles she so richly deserved, Jackie DeShannon and Kim Carnes may have had a different title for their popular song -- " She's Got Nancy Carroll Eyes ". The eyes have it, and this array of Nancy's eyes in various stages of expression, prove it! No wonder she was an immediate success in silent movies! Without having to utter a word, her eyes and body language told the story. The first time I saw a Nancy Carroll photograph, I knew there was something very special and magical about her. I was captivated by her dreamy looks, and her gorgeous eyes. Ah, yes, them there eyes! For years, before I had ever seen a Nancy Carroll movie, I wondered how it was that I could be so taken with an actress I had never seen perform. Apparently, I am not alone. So many others have written to tell me Nancy had the same effect on them. And we are not alone.

I recently stumbled upon a book entitled, " People Will Talk " by John Kobal(Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y. 1985). It seems John Kobal, a writer, interviewer and leading Hollywood film archivist, also at one time, hadn't seen any of her movies, but had fallen in love with her just the same. One day John was standing in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, when he spotted her. I'll let Mr. Kobal tell you in his own words from his book, how this encounter with Nancy was indirectly responsible for leading him to Hollywood.

"Excuse me, you're Nancy Carroll, aren't you?" I was standing in front of St. Pat's Cathedral, thinking of going in, when she walked past with the rush-hour mob. " Why, yes, how did you know?" " Because you haven't changed. I'd recognize you anywhere. I've got hundreds of portraits of you and I adore you. Can we do an interview?" Both of us were swept along by surprise. I had never seen her in a movie, just knew that she'd been in them. Later at her apartment she brought out scrapbooks. I did, to my eternal regret, a totally terrible, stupid interview, all generalities which even she, with all her goodwill, couldn't salvage and tie into a sensible bundle. I wanted to know about everything, all of it, her films, all the items, all at once. Nancy sat there across from me, waiting her turn. She had worked with her daughter in summer stock and on TV. Her daughter now worked with an agency. The agency handled Tallulah Bankhead. That's how I got the number, and Nancy said, " Call her, you'd like her." You wonder sometimes. For instance, if I hadn't agreed to do an interview with nightclub comics Martin and Rossi to put Hy Smith in the mood to let me go through the drawer of yet one more filing cabinet outside his office, which is the one that contained the pictures of Nancy Carroll that turned me on to photography because I found myself fascinated by a woman I'd not yet even seen in a film, and if I hadn't met her, would I have ever gotten to meet Tallulah Bankhead? And it was Tallulah who unlocked Hollywood for me." -- John Kobal

So there you have it -- how photographs of Nancy shaped Kobal's interest in Hollywood photography, and furthermore, how a chance meeting with Ms. Carroll was ultimately responsible for helping him land an interview with Tallulah Bankhead -- a life changing interview!

This page is dedicated to telling how you became a Nancy Carroll fan or first learned of her. My sincere thanks to all of Nancy's fans who have shared their story. Use the convenient form below to send your story to me.



I saw photos of her in a Hollywood book years ago and always wanted to know more about her. I found this site recently and have been pouring through it ever since. -- Sharon 6/13/01.



" My story is simple. A few years ago my father found a picture of Nancy Carroll in a pile of "junque". He gave it to me for a gift since my name is Nancy Carroll. I have since become a BIG fan of my "namesake". -- Nancy Carroll 6/6/00.



I am so glad to finally be able to see Nancy Carroll. My mother named me after her when I was born in 1941. I always wanted to see her and to know about her. Thanks -- Nancy 6/4/00


" It happened by accident. I was reading an old movie book when I ran across a picture of Nancy from "The Shopworn Angel" My first thought was,"My God, who is this beautiful woman"? It was then I had to find out more about her. I have two of her movies on video;"Scarlett Dawn", and "The Dance Of Life". I hope to find more soon. There's something amazing about her, she has that look that makes you want to find out what's going on behind those perfect eyes. I just wish all of her movies were available on video, I would love to see them all. It's also nice to know that she's not forgotten, thanks to web sites like these. Thank you for your time, and thank you for keeping the memory of Nancy alive. " -- JOE 5/20/00.

"I am a movie buff and am fan of many old movie stats. I first came across Nancy via the book "the films of ". At that stage I had not seen any off her films. They are not shown on British TV. In the early 90s I saw her in Hot Saturday and was very impressed. Since then I have tried to see as many of her films as possible. I particularly liked her performance in Child Star of Manhattan. " -- 7/31/02 jeffrey neave


Share Your Story by e-mailing me via this convenient form. Would you like to remain anonymous ? No problem, just use a pseudonym or only your first name.


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