Fear, Talkies, & The End

After the completion of Two Lovers co-starring Vilma and Ronald Colman, Goldwyn decided to end the pairing of the two. Soon afterward, Goldwyn cast Vilma in The Awakening, a story of war set in the village of Alsace.

She was paired with Walter Byron, but Vilma received top billing. Critics were not too pleased with this film though the fans loved it. One review voiced its opinion that though Vilma was terribly lovely as the distraught peasant girl, she just was not "exciting" enough to be a major film star. Goldwyn was frustrated at this outcome, but insisted on trying one more time. It was also at this time that Vilma was simply becoming disenchanted with fame and stardom. Film magazines began commenting that she was threatening to retire. Also in 1928, Vilma requested leave from the studio to make a trip home. She had not visited her family since she had left in 1925. Rod later joined her in Hungary to meet her family. Upon their arrival in Budapest, the train station was crowded with their adoring fans.

Before long Vilma began work on This Is Heaven, her first talkie in 1929. Vilma had been preparing for this, taking voice and English lessons. Despite this, when the price for her lessons was too high, Vilma insisted that Goldwyn pay for them. Goldwyn, angry at this, paid off Vilma's remaining money on the contract and released her. Fans clamored to see Vilma's talking debut when This Is Heaven premiered on May 26, 1929. New York Times kindly said of her, "...Whether she is silent - or talking - Miss Banky is always radiant." It was also during this month that Vilma became an American citizen. Vilma then went to MGM, where she was to star with Edward G. Robinson in A Lady to Love in 1930. Vilma was not very enthusiastic about making this film, although her performance is still charming.

The film was deemed a disaster and made little impact at the theaters. In 1931, producer Archie Selwyn asked Rod and Vilma to star in a play, "Cherries are Ripe", written by Anita Loos. Vilma played Sybil Stereny, incindentally, the play took place in Hungary. Vilma brought all of the lovely designer gowns she chose to wear from Paris. Mr. Selwyn asked Rod and Vilma to continue in the play. Rod left the decision up to Vilma and she decided that the play was not strong enough fare. (Read more about the play) Rod and Vilma then travelled to Germany together to make Vilma's last movie The Rebel, a Napoleonic-era costume drama set in the Tyrol, in 1933 while Rod worked on another film. Vilma wanted no more than to just be known as Mrs. Rod la Rocque as she had grown tired of making movies. Vilma retired from films and lived with her love, Rod, in their house in Beverly Hills.

Rod & Vilma & Her Death

While Rod continued working in films, Vilma was always right by his side assisting him in his latest projects. Rod and Vilma enjoyed beneficial gains from their wise investments in real estate. They enjoyed vacationing, fishing, and other outdoorsy types of recreation. Before Sunset Boulevard was released in 1950, Rod and Vilma were contacted by the studio and asked if they could use their names in the film. (There is a line in the film that mentions Rod and Vilma swimming in the pool.) Rod said that it made Vilma laugh because she could not swim a stroke. Also in the early '50s, Vilma reigned as the champion in women's golf tournaments. They avoided the limelight as much as they could, prefering each other's company. The two were happily married for forty-two years until Rod died in 1969. Vilma lived her remaining life in solitude, rarely making a public appearance after Rod died. Vilma was extremely active right until she became ill in the latter part of the 1980s.

She enjoyed keeping in shape by regularly playing golf. Friends encouraged her to play professionally, but she wished to remain out of the spotlight. Vilma was terribly upset that the public did not pay attention to her when she became ill. She wondered how the world could simply forget a talented, graceful silent star like herself?