Montague (Monty) Banks (18 July 1897 â€" 7 January 1950 born Mario
Bianchi) was an Italian comedian, film actor, director and producer
who achieved success in the United Kingdom and in the US.Banks was
born Mario Bianchi in Cesena, Italy. In 1914, Bianchi emigrated to the
United States. By 1918, he was an actor in Hollywood with the Arbuckle
Company, performing in over 35 silent short comedies by the early
1920s, and then, in such feature-length action comedy-thrillers as
Play Safe (1927). A large excerpt from this movie is included in
Robert Youngson's compilation film Days of Thrills and Laughter
(1961).With the arrival of sound films, Banks's strong Italian accent
forced him to phase out his acting career in favor of working as a
gagman and director. He directed Laurel and Hardy in their film Great
Guns, under the name "Montague Banks".
Bianchi) was an Italian comedian, film actor, director and producer
who achieved success in the United Kingdom and in the US.Banks was
born Mario Bianchi in Cesena, Italy. In 1914, Bianchi emigrated to the
United States. By 1918, he was an actor in Hollywood with the Arbuckle
Company, performing in over 35 silent short comedies by the early
1920s, and then, in such feature-length action comedy-thrillers as
Play Safe (1927). A large excerpt from this movie is included in
Robert Youngson's compilation film Days of Thrills and Laughter
(1961).With the arrival of sound films, Banks's strong Italian accent
forced him to phase out his acting career in favor of working as a
gagman and director. He directed Laurel and Hardy in their film Great
Guns, under the name "Montague Banks".
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