Happy birthday Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks was born on this day in 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas. She never felt loved by many, though she was. In fact, she kept those who did or would love her at a distance. Perhaps that was because she never thought much of herself. In later years she wrote in a letter to her brother,

I have been taking stock of my 50 years since I left Wichita in 1922 at the age of 15 to become a dancer with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. How I have existed fills me with horror. For I have failed in everything — spelling, arithmetic, riding, tennis, golf; dancing, singing, acting; wife, mistress, whore, friend. Even cooking. And I do not excuse myself with the usual escape of ‘not trying.’ I tried with all my heart.

Louise Brooks, where ever you are, know that you are loved and admired by many.

And don't forget, starting today the Kino Ponrepo in Prague launches a month-long series highlighting the actress' best films. The Ponrepo is the National Film Archive of the Czech Republic, and they're set to show Pandora's Box / Pandořina skříňka (November 14th), Diary of a Lost Girl / Deník ztracené (November 21st), A Girl in Every Port / Všude jiné děvče (November 26th), Beggars of Life / Žebráci života (December 3rd), and The Canary Murder Case / Případ zavražděného kanárka (December 10th).