In July 1952, during the filming of His Majesty O’ Keefe, Joan Rice became engaged to Martin Boyce, the manager of an auto parts factory, whom she described as a ‘regular pip of a fellow.’
In a press article she said, “"We went together for a year and three months before he proposed. As I recall it, we held hands after four months, then he kissed me on the sixth month of our meeting each other and things were on a standstill after that, until I got the news I was coming to the States."
But her engagement with Martin Boyce lasted less than 5 months and a recent discovery I have made on the back of a press photograph reveals a little more information on her whirlwind romance with her first husband, David Green.
15th January 1953:
“Miss Joan Rice 22 year old waitress turned film star; photographed last night with her fiancĂ©e; 19 year old Mr. David Green. When she returned from the Fiji Islands two months ago she denied that she had broken her engagement to Martin Boyce – but last night she revealed her engagement to Mr. Green, whom she met at a Christmas party. He was a Public Schools Heavyweight Champion before leaving Harrow, and is now a film salesman travelling for a Hollywood company in England.”
Joan and David were married at Maidenhead Registry Office a month later, on the 16th February 1953.
There are now over 56 pages of pictures and information about Joan Rice, so to find out more about her fascinating life, please click here.
Joan's Whirlwind Romance
ReplyDeleteMartin Boyce
David Green
Joan Rice
Thats a very interesting snippet of information. We have known that she had met and married David Green in a very short time. I really feel sorry for Martin Boyce though - but it must be said that he does seem to have been his own worst enemy from what we hear - but we shouldn't judge him. These were very different times. I hope he found happiness - maybe we will never know that. This Blog on the film and the stars continues to come up with all sorts of information which is always of interest to us fans I think. Before the Internet days our knowledge of these things would be much the less. Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil.
ReplyDeleteIt's been another interesting year and with your help we have discovered so much more about this wonderful film.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
David Green was younger than Joan Rice by about 3 years which at that age is quite a lot. I didn't know that or maybe hadn't realised it. Her marriage did seem to signal the end of her career - which in those different days it could well have done. Plus she had a baby very quickly afterwards. Walt Disney never gave her another part even though she did so well for him in The Story of Robin Hood - I wish he had done. Clement, we will spend the next years speculating about Joan Rice and finding out little bits more - but really never getting at the answer to the question I have been posing for the past 60 years - Whatever happened to Joan Rice ? Thanks to you we do now know much more of an answer but not the total answer.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought - Joan Rice married David Green just ONE week after the death of the King and therefore the accession of Queen Elizabeth 11 to the throne.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing - Joan Rice must have been living in Maidenhead - where she married - and at that time Richard Todd was resident at
ReplyDeleteWayside House, Pinckneys Green just outside of the town. Each quite close to Denham Film Studios.
Richard Todd then moved to Haileywood House Shiplake where he became a dairy farmer - and that is close by. Lovely area to live though.
Fascinating times Neil and in my opinion a golden era in movie making.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and all my regular readers!