BENITA, INA

(Janina Ferow-Bułhak, 1912-1944)

The blond femme fatale of prewar Polish cinema who gained popularity appearing in two films:The Vagabond(1933), directed byJan Nowina-Przybylski, andDark Eyes(Hanka, akaOczy czarne, 1934), directed by her husband, Jerzy Dal-Atan. Benita is, however, better known for her films made in the late 1930s, such asMother's Heart(1938,Michał Waszyński),Dr. Murek(1939,Juliusz Gardan), andWhat We Don't Talk About(1939,Mieczysław Krawicz). Her best screen performance is arguably the role as a river barge captain's daughter inThe People of the Vistula(1938), directed byAleksander Fordand Jerzy Zarzycki. The war interrupted her burgeoning career. She died during the Warsaw Uprising in the city's underground canals while trying to escape the fighting with her baby son.