Recent references in the Mexican press

A follow-up to yesterday clippings from the British press. Here are some recent references to the actress from the Mexican press.

From "Contrastes de temporada"” by Fernando Toledo - Palabra  1/13/2005
--- "A traves de la historia, hay mujeres que han dado al color negro otro significado al transferirle diversas cargas de sensualidad, sobriedad y estilo. A continuacion, algunas de estas bellezas. . . . Louise Brooks. Diva del cine mudo que hizo de sus amplios vestidos negros su imagen. Los acompañaba con largos collares, guantes y una melena tambien muy negra." [ This article goes on to discuss Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, and Sophia Loren. ] 

From "Sugieren autoanalisis 'Mitos transgenicos'" by Karol Garcia - Reforma  6/17/2004
--- "Del cine, tomo a David Silva en su personaje de Kid Terranova; a Natacha Rambova, esposa del prototipo de latin lover Rodolfo Valentino, famoso por su homosexualidad, y a Louise Brooks, actriz que se revelo ante Hollywood después de rodar La Caja de Pandora."

From "Cine en su Casa / Seres de otro mundo" by Roberto Villarreal - El Norte  5/28/2004
--- these are, seemingly, television listings for "Cable de la decadencia moral"

"La Caja de Pandora (Die Büchse der Pandora) 1929. Alemania. Dir.: G.W. Pabst. Con Louise Brooks y Fritz Kortner. Basada en varios relatos de Franz Wedekind, tenemos la historia de una frivola muchacha que tiene amantes, trabaja como bailarina, desprecia a quienes la aman y finalmente, cuando decide prostituirse a cambio de dinero, cae en brazos del famoso Jack el destripador... Pabst nos ofrece imágenes de una bella presencia llamada Louise Brooks, a quien dirigio en dos cintas silentes, ya clasicas (ver adelante). // Canal 41 (IPN)"

"Diario de Una Muchacha Perdida  (Das Tagebuch einer Verlorenen) 1929. Alemania. Dir.: G.W. Pabst. Con Louise Brooks y Andre Roanne. Una muchacha trabaja en la farmacia de su padre donde es acosada por un asistente quien la viola y deja embarazada. Para salvaguardar su honor, luego de dar a luz es enviada a un internado donde sufre otro tipo de desgracias que la llevaran a escapar para trabajar en un burdel... Segunda cinta del maestro Pabst con la norteamericana Brooks donde vuelve a interpretar a una joven victima de las ironias del destino... // Canal 41 (IPN)"

Recent references in the Mexican press

A follow-up to yesterday clippings from the British press. Here are some recent references to the actress from the Mexican press.

From "Contrastes de temporada"” by Fernando Toledo - Palabra  1/13/2005
--- "A traves de la historia, hay mujeres que han dado al color negro otro significado al transferirle diversas cargas de sensualidad, sobriedad y estilo. A continuacion, algunas de estas bellezas. . . . Louise Brooks. Diva del cine mudo que hizo de sus amplios vestidos negros su imagen. Los acompañaba con largos collares, guantes y una melena tambien muy negra." [ This article goes on to discuss Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, and Sophia Loren. ] 

From "Sugieren autoanalisis 'Mitos transgenicos'" by Karol Garcia - Reforma  6/17/2004
--- "Del cine, tomo a David Silva en su personaje de Kid Terranova; a Natacha Rambova, esposa del prototipo de latin lover Rodolfo Valentino, famoso por su homosexualidad, y a Louise Brooks, actriz que se revelo ante Hollywood después de rodar La Caja de Pandora."

From "Cine en su Casa / Seres de otro mundo" by Roberto Villarreal - El Norte  5/28/2004
--- these are, seemingly, television listings for "Cable de la decadencia moral"

"La Caja de Pandora (Die Büchse der Pandora) 1929. Alemania. Dir.: G.W. Pabst. Con Louise Brooks y Fritz Kortner. Basada en varios relatos de Franz Wedekind, tenemos la historia de una frivola muchacha que tiene amantes, trabaja como bailarina, desprecia a quienes la aman y finalmente, cuando decide prostituirse a cambio de dinero, cae en brazos del famoso Jack el destripador... Pabst nos ofrece imágenes de una bella presencia llamada Louise Brooks, a quien dirigio en dos cintas silentes, ya clasicas (ver adelante). // Canal 41 (IPN)"

"Diario de Una Muchacha Perdida  (Das Tagebuch einer Verlorenen) 1929. Alemania. Dir.: G.W. Pabst. Con Louise Brooks y Andre Roanne. Una muchacha trabaja en la farmacia de su padre donde es acosada por un asistente quien la viola y deja embarazada. Para salvaguardar su honor, luego de dar a luz es enviada a un internado donde sufre otro tipo de desgracias que la llevaran a escapar para trabajar en un burdel... Segunda cinta del maestro Pabst con la norteamericana Brooks donde vuelve a interpretar a una joven victima de las ironias del destino... // Canal 41 (IPN)"

Recent references in the British press

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.

Louise Brooks film in the works

 January 23rd article in the English newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph, states that a film centering on the relationship between critic and playwright Kenneth Tynan and silent film star Louise Brooks is in the works. According to the article, "Matthew [ Tynan ], a screenwriter and producer, is at last seeing through to production his mother's screenplay about his father's (seriously reciprocated) obsession with the silent-film actress Louise Brooks. Shirley MacLaine, one of Tynan's greatest Hollywood friends, will play the old diva; Jeremy Irons is slated as the hedonistic critic."

The article, by Michael Coveney, focusses on a new stage play about Tynan in which Corin Redgrave will play the famed critic. The article goes on to say, "Tynan will be then thrice-embodied, for Redgrave's performance follows that of Peter Eyre who four years ago played a more epicene Tynan in a play by Janet Munsil, Smoking with Lulu, that reworked the real-life encounter between Tynan and Brooks as a magnetic fantasy, poised between an older Louise and her younger, sexually mysterious self."

Tynan - a one man show based on the diaries of Kenneth Tynan - opens at the Royal Shakespeare Company Arts Theatre in London on February 21st. The production runs through March 26th. If anyone attends, please pick up an extra flier or program for the LBS.

Dance on tape

Over the course of the last week, I watched three Denishawn tapes I borrowed from the library. Normally, I am not very keen on modern dance, or ballet. That's why I was surprised at how much I liked these videos.

Denishawn: The Birth of Modern Dance (1988) and Denishawn Dances On (2002) were largely composed of short documentary passages (narration over photographs along with brief film clips) interspersed with contemporary recreations of Denishawn dance routines. Louise Brooks, I believe, could be spotted in group photographs in each film.

Apparently, there is very little vintage film of Denishawn - or at least none available to those who put together these two titles. Most interesting for me, then, among the contemporary recreations, were those dances performed by Denishawn while Brooks was a member of the company. I have a hard time visualizing dance (especially when it is described in a book), that's why it was good to see a couple of the Brooks-era dances recreated. I also really, really, really enjoyed a Ted Shawn dance, "Gnosienne," done to music by Erik Satie. Wow, that was amazing!

The third tape I watched, The Men Who Danced: The Story of Ted Shawn's Male Dancers, 1933 - 1940  (1986), though it had nothing to do with Denishawn, was also quite interesting and enjoyable. It featured interviews with some of Shawn's original dancers. And once again, I believe, Brooks could be seen in a group photograph in the film.

[ Note to the world: someone needs to put together an PBS-style "American Masters" program on Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. It would be revelatory.]

Camille

Just finished watching Camille (1921) on TCM. The film stars Alla Nazimova and Rudolph Valentino. Each were quite good. I especially enjoyed watching Nazimova, who I have seen very little of on screen. I love the way she held her body, the way she moved her hands. Also quite extraordinary were the art deco costumes and sets by Natasha Rambova. All together, it is a worthwhile film - should you have a chance to see it.

Some Philippine advice

Yesterday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran an article entitled, "STARS' WISE WORDS OF ADVICE FOR SHOW BIZ HOPEFULS." The article quotes Louise Brooks: "Every actor has a natural animosity toward every other actor, present or absent, living or dead!"

Copyright Office Asking for Comments on Orphan Works

The Copyright Office is asking for comments about orphan works, which it defines as "copyrighted works whose owners are difficult or even impossible to locate."

From their announcement: "The Office is seeking comments on whether there are compelling concerns raised by orphan works that merit a legislative, regulatory or other solution, and what type of solution could effectively address these concerns without conflicting with the legitimate interests of authors and right holders." The announcement and instructions on providing feedback are at http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2005/70fr3739.html

New Rudolph Valentino book

There is an interesting new book by Allan R. Ellenberger called The Valentino Mystique (McFarland). Ellenberger, who I have had the pleasure to meet some five years ago, is the author of an earlier book on Ramon Novarro, as well as a guide to the gravesites of celebrities in Los Angeless area cemeteries.

The Valentino Mystique looks at the death and afterlife of the silent film idol. According to the publisher, "The first part examines every moment of the last days of Rudolph Valentino, his illness and operation, the reactions of such intimates as Pola Negri, and all controversy such as riots, suicides, and fights over his funeral and estate. Part two gives tours of Valentino-related sites in New York, Hollywood and West Hollywood, downtown and suburban Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills, explaining each site's part in Valentino's history, giving quotes from the star and his associates about the place, and describing its present state. Part three consists of eleven appendices giving such information as the infamous "Pink Powder Puff" editorial and Valentino's responses, the medical diagnosis, operation on and treatment of the idol, tributes and eulogies, the list of mourners attending his funerals, his last will and testament, the summation of his estate, quotes about his death, references from newspapers, and a complete filmography."

Louise Brooks only appearance in this new book is in the list of mourners attending his New York City funeral. According to an article about the funeral mass in the August 31, 1926 issue of the New York Morning Telegraph, "Louise Brooks cried unashamed."

In The Valentino Mystique, Ellenberger has done a good job in bringing together all kinds of information surrounding the death of Valentino, one of the great stars of the silent film era.