Top 10 Films: Hedy Lamarr
Updated: 6 days ago
Hedy Lamarr was commonly known as “the most beautiful woman in the world.” When the Viennese actress made her US debut in the movie Algiers, it's been said that audiences actually gasped when they first saw her face. Before that, she had gained international attention by scandalously appearing nude in the controversial Austrian film Ecstasy. Most likely because of this early controversy, Hedy became best known for playing femme fatales and exotic beauties. At the height of her fame, she was considered to be the epitome of glamour and it has even been claimed that the designs of Disney’s Snow White and DC's Catwoman were both inspired by her.
Unbeknownst to the general public at the time, Hedy Lamarr was a lot more than a pretty face. Today she has become known not only for her work as an actress, but also for her work as a brilliant (and largely self-taught) inventor. Privately, Hedy was constantly dabbling in the sciences and considered inventing her hobby. She even helped Howard Hughes redesign his airplanes to be more aerodynamic while the two were dating.
Hedy’s most pivotal invention was the idea that is known as frequency-hopping spread spectrum. This game-changing technology was developed by Lamarr alongside composer George Antheil with the intention of it being used for Allied torpedoes during World War II. However, her invention ended up having a much bigger impact, laying the groundwork for GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi technology. Later in life, Hedy was finally recognized for her scientific achievements, by which time she had mostly retreated from public life. Lamarr passed away on January 19, 2000 at the age of 85. In 2014, she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Indeed, it seems the full impact of Hedy’s influence on modern technology is only now being fully realized and if hearing about her legacy as an inventor has made you curious about her legacy as an actress, you should definitely check out one of her films. But, which Hedy Lamarr movies still remain the most popular in 2026...??
10. Dishonored Lady (1947)
Based on the 1930 play by Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes, Dishonored Lady stars Hedy Lamarr as Madeleine Damien, an editor at a successful New York City magazine with a party girl reputation. After a nervous breakdown leads to a serendipitous meeting with a psychiatrist, Madeleine realizes how unhappy she is and that she’s turned into a person she doesn’t want to be. So, in a sudden and drastic move, Madeleine cuts all ties from her current life and starts fresh by working as a painter in a small apartment under the name “Madeleine Dixon.” Madeleine falls in love with her new quieter life and even starts a relationship with her handsome scientist neighbor, David Cousins. But, Madeleine can’t hide from her old life forever and when it returns in violent fashion, it’s unclear whether her relationship with David can survive the fallout.
Dishonored Lady, actually, marks the one and only time Hedy was given the chance to work opposite her then-husband, John Loder, who plays the role of Madeleine’s sleazy former paramour, Felix Courtland. The final filmed version of this movie ended up being wildly different from the play on which it was based and even the original first draft of the script.
Many plot lines and scenes had to be omitted at the request of the Hays Office, which means that many of Madeleine’s party girl antics end up being only vaguely referenced. The story originally included another lover named Moreno, an affair in Mexico City, and even “unsavory” references to Madeleine’s family.
9. Tortilla Flat (1942)
Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat centers around a small community in Monterey, California, where most of the residents are direct descendants of the European/Spanish immigrants who had originally settled the area. Within this community there exists what the locals call “paisanos” (literally meaning “countrymen”). The “paisanos,” in this case, are effectively gypsies, living off the land with no property or major possessions.
When one particular paisano, Danny (John Garfield), unexpectedly inherits two houses from his grandfather, it doesn’t take long for his opportunistic friend Pilon (Spencer Tracy) to take advantage. Pilon soon convinces/guilts Danny into letting their fellow paisano friends move into his second house. But, when that house accidentally burns down, Danny ends up with more roommates than he ever expected. Meanwhile, Danny has been trying to woo the lovely Dolores “Sweets” Ramirez (Hedy Lamarr), a local girl working at the cannery. But, Dolores is not a fan of Danny’s freeloading friends and Pilon is most certainly not a fan of her.
Directed by Victor Fleming, this film version of Tortilla Flat varies a bit from the original novel, which is a little more episodic in nature. (Steinbeck actually,took his inspiration from the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.) The film takes the novel’s multiple plots and adapts them into something more cohesive and with a more straightforward story arc. Surprisingly, the biggest standout in Tortilla Flat is an unrecognizable Frank Morgan who gives an endearingly moving performance in his Oscar nominated role as the Pirate. The Pirate is an elderly paisano who lives with a pack of loyal dogs. The other paisanos know that he's been earning money for years, but mysteriously never spending it. The real story of what the Pirate has been doing with his money is unlike anything the other paisanos could have ever guessed.
8. My Favorite Spy (1951)
A combination broad comedy and spy thriller, My Favorite Spy is a loose remake of the lesser-known 1942 movie musical of the same name. The film stars Bob Hope as Peanuts White, a burlesque comic who is, unexpectedly, recruited by the U.S. government to impersonate international super-spy Eric Augustine. It turns out that the real Augustine is missing in action and Peanuts just happens to look exactly like him. But, how can Peanuts possibly pass himself off as a suave and sophisticated super-spy? Especially, when an old flame of Augustine’s, Lily Dalbray (Hedy Lamarr), is working for the enemy?
For his part, Bob Hope gives a great dual performance as both the cowardly Peanuts and the coldly confident Augustine. Meanwhile, Hedy gets the rare chance to try her hand at comedy but, she was actually disappointed that her part wasn't even more comedic than it was. She had been looking forward to doing a Bob Hope comedy and would've liked to have played less of a straight-man role.
As bizarre as it may sound, the official “world premiere” of My Favorite Spy actually took place in the living room of ordinary movie fan Anne Kuchinka in Bellaire, Ohio. Ms. Kuchinka was the lucky winner of a letter-writing contest sponsored by Bob Hope’s radio show, in which contestants had to describe why My Favorite Spy's premiere should take place in their home. Before the actual screening, a big parade and radio broadcast featuring various stars was held in Bellaire. The day after the official premiere, a second screening took place at the army hospital at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Corporal Karl K. Diegert from Camp Atterbury had written Bob Hope about adding the second screening for the hospital's wounded soldiers and he readily agreed to make it happen.
7. The Conspirators (1944)
Based on the novel by Frederic Prokosch, this World War II spy drama stars Hedy Lamarr opposite Paul Henried. Henreid plays the role of Vincent Van Der Lyn, “The Flying Dutchman,” a Dutch resistance fighter and saboteur forced to flee to England to escape the Nazis. However, before he can get safely to England, Vincent has to first pass through Lisbon (a neutral country). Unfortunately, the lack of a German exit stamp on his passport immediately arouses suspicion in German agents and Vincent’s fellow resistance fighters suspect there's a traitor in their midst. Hedy plays the role of Irene Von Mohr, a survivor of the Dachau concentration camp who might be a spy herself, but Vincent isn't entirely certain for which side.
Made to capitalize on the success of other wartime films like Casablanca, quite a few cast members from Casablanca made it into the cast of The Conspirators, as well. The film features, not only Paul Henreid, but also Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet in major roles. Originally, even Ingrid Bergman was considered for the role of Irene, but it was Hedy who ultimately won the role. Strangely enough, celebrated author Ayn Rand was actually asked to write some of The Conspirators' love scenes. However, it seems that only a few of her lines, actually, made it into the final film.
6. H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941)
Adapted from the novel by John P. Marquand, H.M. Pulham, Esq. tells the story of Harry Pulham (Robert Young), a born and bred Bostonian who lives a highly regimented life with his wife and children as a respected member of proper New England society. In preparation for his 25-year college reunion, Harry is roped into writing up bios for all of his former classmates. So, he decides to start by writing his own.
But, as Harry looks back at his life since college, he begins to realize that he has become dissatisfied with the predictable and conventional nature of his current life. This train of thought causes him to question whether he has really found true happiness or if he may have unintentionally let it slip by. Is he really living the life he wanted or just living the life he was expected to have? The answer to these questions ultimately hinges on Harry’s feelings towards a former work colleague from New York City: the beautiful and vivacious Marvin Myles (Hedy Lamarr).
At the time H.M. Pulham, Esq. was made, the book it was based on was massively popular, so there was a great deal of pressure to get the story right. Dramatic, romantic, and complicated, this is a movie that gives no straight answers with a plot that never turns out quite the way you expect. The film was written and directed by prolific director King Vidor, who co-wrote the screenplay with his wife, Elizabeth Hill Vidor. Hedy, for her part, gives one of the best performances of her career as the forthright career woman Marvin Myles and her performance was singled out by many reviewers at the time. So, it should come as no surprise that H.M. Pulham, Esq. has often been cited as Hedy’s personal favorite out of her filmography, as well.
5. Experiment Perilous (1944)
One of my personal favorites of Hedy Lamarr’s career, this gothic drama is based on the novel by Margaret Carpenter and directed by Jacques Tourneur (best known for his work on the atmospheric horror film Cat People). Set in 1903, the film stars George Brent as Dr. Huntington Bailey, a psychiatrist traveling to NYC by train. He strikes up a conversation with a sweet, older woman named Cissie Bederaux, traveling to stay with her wealthy younger brother, Nick (Paul Lukas), and his wife Allida (Hedy). Cissie mentions that she is secretly writing a biography about her brother and shows some concern about how Allida has been doing in her absence. She’s also oddly insistent that she doesn’t actually want to stay in her brother’s home, so Bailey suggests she get a room at the hotel where he's staying. Once they arrive in New York, the two train companions part ways with the expectation that they might see each other at the hotel later. However, it’s not long before Bailey hears that Cissie died suddenly of a heart attack shortly after arriving at her brother’s house. Naturally, Bailey is suspicious and once he meets Nick and the fragile Allida, he's pulled even deeper into this gothic mystery.
The always beautiful Hedy has never looked more lovely than in this stunning period piece and after becoming known for playing sophisticates and femme fatales, the delicate character of Allida is a welcome departure. The film’s title is actually taken from a line attributed to Hippocrates: “Life is short, art is long, decision difficult, and experiment perilous.” One of the more memorable visuals of Experiment Perilous is the very distinctive row of aquariums Nick keeps in his home. In the film, it prompts a character to say “it looks like something out of Jules Verne.” In a hilarious coincidence, Paul Lukas would actually end up starring in the definitive film version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ten years later.
4. Algiers (1938)
Hedy Lamarr’s very first American film was also the movie that made her into an instant star. An American remake of the French film Pepe Le Moko (based on the novel of the same name by Henri La Barthe), Algiers tells the story of international jewel thief Pepe Le Moko (Charles Boyer). He has taken up residence in a labyrinthian section of Algiers known as “the Casbah,” where the lawlessness and maze-like streets have kept Pepe protected from the authorities (even when they know he’s there). However, when Pepe finds a kindred spirit in the beautiful Gaby (Hedy), a visiting tourist and fellow French native, the Casbah starts to feel less like a sanctuary and more like a prison.
Very successful when it was first released, Algiers had a big influence on the screenwriters of Casablanca. The leading role of Ilsa in Casablanca was even written with Hedy in mind, but when MGM refused to loan her to Warner Bros for filming, Ingrid Bergman was cast instead. Hedy’s costar in Algiers, Charles Boyer was actually instrumental in getting her cast as his leading lady. After meeting her at an industry party and listening to her worries about never being cast in anything, he lobbied heavily for her to be cast in the role of Gaby. When production started, Hedy was quite inexperienced (and still struggling with her English), so she depended very much on Boyer and director John Cromwell to help her through. Watching the finished film, you would never know.
3. The Strange Woman (1946)
Based on the novel by Ben Ames Williams, this film noir period piece was produced by Hedy Lamarr, herself. Set in 1820s Bangor, Maine, The Strange Woman stars Hedy as Jenny Hagen, a strong-willed, manipulative woman from the wrong side of the tracks. Raised by an abusive and alcoholic father, Jenny seeks sanctuary at the home of wealthy older man Isaiah Poster, after a particularly brutal beating leads to her father dying of a heart attack. Both smitten by her beauty and sympathetic to her plight, Isaiah offers to marry Jenny to provide her with a better life. Jenny happily accepts since this had secretly been her hope when she chose to run to Isaiah’s home in the first place.
However, Isaiah’s college-aged son, Ephraim, used to be Jenny’s childhood sweetheart, and when he returns home from college, she actually encourages the flirtation between them to continue, even after her marriage to his father. Then, Jenny meets John Evered (George Sanders), the foreman of her husband’s timber business and the fiancé of her friend, Meg. Jenny falls for John immediately, but with a husband and a lover already in play, this new attraction could lead to complete disaster for everyone involved, including Jenny.
Without a doubt, playing complicated femme fatale Jenny Hagen provided Hedy with one of the best roles she ever had, resulting in one of her strongest performances. It is also a treat to see the usually villainous (or at least, sardonic) George Sanders have the rare opportunity to appear as a more sympathetic leading man. It was actually their performances in this film that convinced director Cecil B. DeMille to cast both of them in his film, Samson and Delilah.
2. Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
This entertaining musical drama was intended as a spiritual sequel to the Oscar-winning 1936 film The Great Ziegfeld. Ziegfeld Girl actually incorporates footage from The Great Ziegfeld, connecting it even more firmly into the universe of that earlier film. While The Great Ziegfeld told the life story of Florenz Ziegfeld himself, Ziegfeld Girl focuses on the girls that were so iconic and essential to Ziegfeld’s variety shows. Hedy Lamarr specifically requested to be cast in Ziegfeld Girl because she believed it would be a refreshing change of pace from the steamy dramas she usually worked on.
The film’s plot follows three of Ziegfeld’s newest showgirls as they navigate the trappings of success, which will eventually lead them to either happiness or despair. Hedy plays the role of Sandra Kolter, a stunning woman married to a talented, but struggling, concert violinist.
While waiting for her husband to finish his audition for the Ziegfeld Follies, Sandra is unexpectedly approached by one of Ziegfeld’s talent scouts. Needless to say, Sandra walks away with a job, but her husband does not, and her newfound career quickly begins to drive a wedge between them.
Meanwhile, Judy Garland plays the role of Susan Gallagher, a second generation vaudevillian who performs in an act with her father and has been actively trying to convince Ziegfeld to let them audition for the Follies. But, Ziegfeld Girl really belongs to Lana Turner, whose breakout role as Sheila Regan marked a turning point for her career. Sheila is discovered by Ziegfeld while working at her job as an elevator operator and her sudden change of fortune soon puts a damper on her relationship with her truck driver boyfriend, Gil (Jimmy Stewart). This film would actually prove to be Jimmy Stewart’s last performance before beginning his decorated military service in World War II. He would not return to acting until his iconic performance in It’s A Wonderful Life five years later.
1. Samson and Delilah (1949)
The single most successful film of Hedy Lamarr’s career, Samson and Delilah continues to be her most recognizable role. Directed by the legendary Cecil B. DeMille, the movie is a lavish retelling of the famous biblical story, with Hedy and Victor Mature in the title roles of Delilah and Samson. The film is also partially based on the historical fiction novel Judge and Fool by Vladimir Jabotinsky, which expanded on the story of Samson and Delilah. One of the novel’s biggest contributions to the movie is the added backstory of Delilah being the sister of Samson’s wife.
DeMille had actually been interested in doing a filmed version of Samson and Delilah since at least 1935—he even had historian/screenwriter Harold Lamb write a film treatment for it—but other film projects kept it on the back burner for over 10 years. For the role of Delilah, DeMille had envisioned an actress who would be a combination of Vivien Leigh, Jean Simmons, and Lana Turner. After seeing Hedy in The Strange Woman, he knew she fit the bill perfectly.
Originally, DeMille wanted Burt Lancaster or bodybuilder Steve Reeves for the part of Samson, but when they both fell through, he chose Victor Mature on the strength of his performance in Kiss of Death. Unfortunately, DeMille did not end up getting along with Mature on set at all. Mature was terrified of many of the film’s special effects (i.e. sword fights, wild animals, wind machines, etc.) and DeMille quickly grew frustrated with the actor’s hesitation. Despite the troubles behind the scenes, the film turned out beautifully, winning well-deserved Oscars for both Art Direction and Costume Design. DeMille had actually intended on filming on location in Israel but, unfortunately, the Arab-Israeli War ended up making that impossible.
Honorable Mention: White Cargo (1942)
For my honorable mention, I chose one of the most successful movies of Hedy Lamarr’s career, featuring one of her most iconic roles. White Cargo is based on the play by Leon Gordon, which was, itself, based on the novel Hell’s Playground by Ida Vera Simonton.
Using flashbacks to 1910, the film tells the story of four men living and working on an isolated rubber plantation deep in the African jungle. These four men consist of the owner of the plantation, Harry Witzel (Walter Pidgeon), a doctor, a missionary, and Harry’s newest employee, Langford, who just arrived for a four-year stint on the plantation.
The three older men are convinced that Langford won’t be able to handle life in the African jungle and Tondelayo (Hedy) just might prove them right. Tondelayo is an infamously amoral local woman who had previously been banned from the plantation grounds, but has recently made a reappearance. She immediately sets her sights on Langford, someone not yet wise to her seductive ways. A triangle of love and hate ensues, creating a dangerous scenario for everyone involved. Tondelayo is the ultimate femme fatale role, a siren bound to doom anyone she zeroes in on. Harry does his best to warn newcomers about her, but it’s useless. They all fall under her spell in the end.
In the original play, Tondelayo is a native African woman, however, the censors would not allow a “mixed race” relationship to be portrayed onscreen. Therefore, Tondelayo was rewritten as a Middle-Eastern woman (specifically Egyptian/Arab) to avoid the controversy. Adapted for the screen by the original playwright, the play White Cargo was originally placed on a “condemned list” that the Production Code maintained designating sources that should not even be considered for film adaptation. Despite eventually being approved by the censors, this film still managed to make the Legion of Decency’s condemned list and was even banned in both Singapore and Trinidad.
To see this list on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/zsRlS
Which Hedy Lamarr Movie Is Your Favorite?
Dishonored Lady
Samson and Delilah
White Cargo
Ziegfeld Girl
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