It’s been nearly 70 years since her last film, and nearly 20 years since her death - but Louise Brooks - silent film star and 20th century icon - continues to show up in the news. In addition to the January 23rd article in The Sunday Telegraph (mentioned in yesterday's blog), here are some other recent references to the actress from the British press.
From "Books of the Year; Our critics and favourite authors decide" - The Independent 12/26/2004
--- British writer Toby Litt said "The New York Review's reissues series has been impeccable. I'd never heard of Adolfo Bioy-Casares' The Invention of Morel(New York Review of Books pounds 7.99). Initially attracted to it by the beautiful cover photo of silent film actress Louise Brooks, I found it to be an equally beautiful novel of unrequited love and parallel worlds." [ Pandora's Box makes Toby Litt's list of the top ten films of all-time ]
From "Cultural Life: Rebecca Hall, Actress" interview by Charlotte Cripps - The Independent 12/17/2004
--- "Books I have just read Louise Brooks: A Biography by Barry Paris about the silent-film star of Pandora's Box (1929), who had a fascinating life. . . ."
From "Retail Therapy" by Lisa Piddington - Birmingham Post 11/24/2004
--- "Want to shine and stand out from the crowd? Then Helena Rubinstein's Glitterati selection will help you do just that. Inspired by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Louise Brooks, from the colours to the shade names and packaging, everything sparkles in this range fit for a budding starlet."
From "My Secret Life: Anthony Bourdain, chef" - The Independent 11/13/2004
--- "If I wasn't me I'd like to be ... Bootsy Collins playing bass for Parliament / Funkadelic, Larry Graham playing bass for James Brown and anyone who shagged Ava Gardner, Carole Lombard or Louise Brooks." [ blogger's note: This is not the first time Bourdain, the famed chef and bestselling writer, has mentioned the actress in the course of an interview. ]
From "Film: It's a gal thing..." by David Thomson - The Independent 10/31/2004
--- "In the first decades of cinema history, the businessmen and even the artists were a little slow to see just how far the mechanics of film had made ordinary human beauty not just iconic but erotic. In other words, I don't think anyone understood immediately just how sexy the movies were. . . . And then there was the bad girl, the femme fatale, the temptress. That is a tradition that includes Theda Bara - the enchantress women in Cecil B De Mille films - and even Louise Brooks - though Brooks was too candid and carnal for American tastes and only found full expression in Germany, in G W Pabst's Pandora's Box."
From "OH,GOOD GODDESS; Keira is world's sexiest film star" - Daily Record 9/30/2004
--- More than 15,000 people voted for the sexiest film stars of all-time in this poll conducted by this Glasgow, Scotland newspaper. Keira Knightly placed first. Louise Brooks placed 85th, just ahead of Sarah Michelle Geller.
From "Books of the Year; Our critics and favourite authors decide" - The Independent 12/26/2004
--- British writer Toby Litt said "The New York Review's reissues series has been impeccable. I'd never heard of Adolfo Bioy-Casares' The Invention of Morel(New York Review of Books pounds 7.99). Initially attracted to it by the beautiful cover photo of silent film actress Louise Brooks, I found it to be an equally beautiful novel of unrequited love and parallel worlds." [ Pandora's Box makes Toby Litt's list of the top ten films of all-time ]
From "Cultural Life: Rebecca Hall, Actress" interview by Charlotte Cripps - The Independent 12/17/2004
--- "Books I have just read Louise Brooks: A Biography by Barry Paris about the silent-film star of Pandora's Box (1929), who had a fascinating life. . . ."
From "Retail Therapy" by Lisa Piddington - Birmingham Post 11/24/2004
--- "Want to shine and stand out from the crowd? Then Helena Rubinstein's Glitterati selection will help you do just that. Inspired by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Louise Brooks, from the colours to the shade names and packaging, everything sparkles in this range fit for a budding starlet."
From "My Secret Life: Anthony Bourdain, chef" - The Independent 11/13/2004
--- "If I wasn't me I'd like to be ... Bootsy Collins playing bass for Parliament / Funkadelic, Larry Graham playing bass for James Brown and anyone who shagged Ava Gardner, Carole Lombard or Louise Brooks." [ blogger's note: This is not the first time Bourdain, the famed chef and bestselling writer, has mentioned the actress in the course of an interview. ]
From "Film: It's a gal thing..." by David Thomson - The Independent 10/31/2004
--- "In the first decades of cinema history, the businessmen and even the artists were a little slow to see just how far the mechanics of film had made ordinary human beauty not just iconic but erotic. In other words, I don't think anyone understood immediately just how sexy the movies were. . . . And then there was the bad girl, the femme fatale, the temptress. That is a tradition that includes Theda Bara - the enchantress women in Cecil B De Mille films - and even Louise Brooks - though Brooks was too candid and carnal for American tastes and only found full expression in Germany, in G W Pabst's Pandora's Box."
From "OH,GOOD GODDESS; Keira is world's sexiest film star" - Daily Record 9/30/2004
--- More than 15,000 people voted for the sexiest film stars of all-time in this poll conducted by this Glasgow, Scotland newspaper. Keira Knightly placed first. Louise Brooks placed 85th, just ahead of Sarah Michelle Geller.
