Edwina Booth

Edwina Booth was born September 13, 1909, as Josephine Constance Woodruff in Provo, Utah. Entering films in 1928, she made only seven pictures before her career was cut short through illness contracted during shooting Trader Horn (1931), her hoped for breakthrough film.

Filming for Trader Horn took place on location in East Africa. The crew was not experienced filming in such a challenging environment, and problems were magnified by MGM's last-minute decision to shoot the film with sound. Director W.S. Van Dyke and many of the crew contracted malaria and were treated with quinine. Two fatal mishaps occurred during the filming: a native crewman fell into the river and was eaten by a crocodile, and a native boy was killed by a charging rhino - this mishap appears in the film. Other misfortunes also plagued the production, including flash floods, sunstroke, swarming locusts, and tse-tse fly and ant attacks.

Booth herself, only 21 at the time, contracted malaria during shooting. Her role in the film as Nina Trent, "The White Goddess", required that she be very scantily clad, probably increasing her susceptibility. Additionally, production went on for several months longer than anticipated.

Despite all the problems, Trader Horn was a success, garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Edwina, however, fared much worse, taking six years to fully recover physically. She sued MGM for over a million dollars, claiming she had been provided with inadequate protection and inadequate clothing during the African shoot. She also claimed she had been forced to sunbathe nude for extended periods during filming. The case was eventually settled out of court, the terms not disclosed. By the way, her salary for Trader Horn was $75.00 per week.

Although she appeared in a few subsequent serials, Booth's acting career never recovered. She withdrew completely from the public eye. There were many false rumors and reports of her demise until her death in 1991.

Since Edwina never got the chance to prove herself, I've included a good number of images to pay homage to this actress. Click on them for a larger view.

The New Movie Album 1931 - Published in April, two months
before Trader Horn was released.

Trader Horn publicity still

German tobacco card - Edwina and friend with a large egg.

Edwina and local Trader Horn extras

Frame captures from our copy of The Vanishing Legion (12 chapter serial), starring Edwina and her Trader Horn co-star Harry Carey. This serial released just ten days after Trader Horn. I'm guessing it was shot before Trader Horn, but I can't verify that.

From a photo shoot with the famous photographer George Hurrell -
more evidence that Edwina was being groomed for a successful career.

Publicity Still

The phonograph that was taken on location when filming Trader Horn.

Edwina Booth- what do you think- Allure?

Courtesy of Operator99.