Girls in Pearls

There is a new book coming out in September called Girls in Pearls. According to the publisher, "This book brings together a fascinating collection of paintings, drawings, prints and photographs of noble women, imperial princesses, society ladies and Hollywood divas wearing their finest pearl tiaras, necklaces, brooches and earrings. Engaging commentaries explain the context in which each image was created and provide glimpses into the life of the artist and his or her model."




I mention it because Louise Brooks appears on the cover, and there is a two page spread inside devoted to the actress. I had a chance to see a copy of the book recently at the bookseller's convention in Washington D.C. It may or may not be a German release, or a bilingual edition. I am not sure. The author is Claudia Lanfranconi, an art historian and author. The publisher is Merrell. 

Needless-to-say, the cover bears a strong resemblance to an earlier release on the same subject, People & Pearls, which was published in 2000. What's better than one book on pearls with Louise Brooks on the cover? Two books!

The Street of Forgotten Men

While visiting the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., I took the oportunity to see The Street of Forgotten Men (1925), the first film in which Louise Brooks had a role. Wow - I really liked it. It is a fine film - and despite the fact that it is incomplete, it is worthy of commercial release. I didn't have any trouble following the story.

The LOC has six of seven reels. The second reel is apparently lost. Brooks single scene takes place in the seventh reel, somewhat near the end of the film. According to the LOC catalog, the library has a 35mm print of The Street of Forgotten Men, which was directed by Herbert Brenon. (Brenon, who the year before directed Peter Pan, would go on to oversee such well regarded silents as Beau Geste, The Great Gatsby, andLaugh, Clown, Laugh.) I was able to view a 16mm copy print. I took a bunch of notes.

Louise Brooks looked dishy in her broad-striped jacket, sleek bob and cloche hat adorned with a question mark pin. (Barry Paris describes it as a question mark feather.) And though she is only on screen for about five minutes, she certainly made an impression. She comes off as cunning, and quick. Brooks is first seen sitting and talking with her con artist companion, Bridgeport White-Eye, a professional beggar who pretends to be blind. They are conspiring to extort money from the character played by Neil Hamilton (the future Police Commissioner Gordon from the 1960's television series, Batman). Brooks and Bridgeport are approached by Easy Money Charlie (played by Percy Marmont), and a fight breaks out between Bridgeport and Charlie. The two slug it out while Brooks is jostled about in the crowd gathered around the two brawlers.

Brooks' role was slight  - she was even not listed in the credits. Nevertheless, her brief appearance was memorable and would draw the attention of at least one reviewer in 1925. The Los Angeles Times singled out the actress when it noted, "And there was a little rowdy, obviously attached to the 'blind' man, who did some vital work during her few short scenes. She was not listed." It would be her first film review. Eighty-one years later, that review and Brooks role still hold up.

Quick LOC research notes

While in Washington D.C., I spent about 25 hours looking through microfilm. I went through dozens of reels, and found numerous film reviews and advertisements (including many on Louise Brooks' films of the 1930's), some articles and reviews of Denishawn performances, a few vintage and a few contemporary articles on the actress, and a bunch of material on the 1925 Miss America beauty contest. I returned home with more than three inches of photocopies - I spent more than $100.00 on photocopies. It was all worth it.

The material I looked through included microfilm of newspapers such as the Wichita Eagle, Rochester Times Union and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (each important to Brooks' story), as well as the New York Morning Telegraph, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and Newark Star-Eagle. I also examined papers from Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany, New York. As well as the Indianapolis News, Minneapolis Journal, Duluth News Tribune, Birmingham Age Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, Hartford Times, Boston Post and Baltimore News. And the Rocky Mountain News,Idaho Daily Statesman and Honolulu Star Bulletin. And Washington Star, Washington Times, and Washington Herald. And Montreal Daily Star (from Canada) and Neues Weiner Journal (from Vienna, Austria).

Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu

On Monday, June 19th Turner Classic Movies will be showing Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu (1998). "Exclusive interviews, rare footage and family photos trace Louise Brooks from Kansas farm girl to silent screen seductress to renowned film historian." Check your local listings for the exact time, which could be late.

At Skywalker Ranch

I am back from Washington D.C. and my trip to the Library of Congress. I'll write more about that later . . . . Last night, I attended a gathering of booksellers at Skywalker Ranch - the Northern California workplace of director and producer George Lucas. The reason for the gathering was the launch of a new book, Cinema by the Bay, by Sheerly Avni and Michael Sragow. The book celebrates the many filmmakers who reside and make films in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The party was good fun, and the house in which it took place quite extraordinary! Lucas has some lovely art - and the research library is mighty impressive. There was a lot to look at, to say the least. A selection of props used in various Lucasfilm productions are on display. I saw the hat and whip used by Indiana Jones, and a light saber from Star Wars. Also on display were a few items dating back to the silent film era. I spotted an autographed photo of Rudolph Valentino from The Eagle, as well as a whip used by the actor in the film! There was also a photograph of the Keystone Cops, and a display box holding their police badges! And next to that was a picture postcard autographed by Mata Hari ! Too cool.

Louise Brooks exhibit

Speaking of the San Francisco Public Library, I have been given the green light to mount a Louise Brooks exhibit at the library later this year. The title will be something like "Homage to Lulu: Celebrating 100 Years of Louise Brooks." I plan to fill the exhibit with many of my treasures, including a number of rare books (naturally), magazines, newspaper clippings (including a rare full page, color Sunday Dixie Dugan comic strip), sheet music, postcards, photographs and more. All kinds of stuff!

This will be the second exhibit I've put on at the library. A few years back - maybe as long ago as 5 years - I put on a show called "Collecting the Stars," which featured all kinds of silent film memorabilia which I had acquired. Of course, Louise Brooks had a prominent part in that show. This time, she will dominate the exhibit. I will post additional information once the details are worked out.

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Go to www.silentfilm.org/ to find out about the screening of a new print of Pandora's Box at this year's San Francisco Silent Film Festival in July. I'll be there !

Polly Glotto Translates & Reads Translations

In searching for new Louise Brooks material, I look at webpages and documents from around the world and in many languages. One tool I use is Babel Fish ( babelfish.yahoo.com ), which can perform rudimentary translations of text or webpages from one language to another. One new nifty tool I've come across is Polly Glotto, which also translates from one language to another and - what's more - reads the translations. Check it out at www.pollyglotto.com.

American silent film

The other day, I finished reading William Everson's American Silent Film. It's an excellent book - and one of the few I know of which surveys silent film in the United States. The book was originally published in 1978, and is still in print. I would recommend it. A few chapters I found quite nearly thrilling. Everson mentions Louise Brooks a few times, and speaks highly of Love Em and Leave Em and Beggars of Life. My next book is James Card's Seductive Cinema. I read parts of it in the past, but have never say down and read the whole thing. And, so far so good. I am about 40 pages in. Card has referenced Brooks a few times already - and it's very opinionated.