Louise Brooks as a lost girl

Louise Brooks in a scene from Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), directed to G.W. Pabst. She awaits tomorrow's shocking post here on the Louise Brooks Society blog.

Louise Rutkowski, Diary of a Lost Girl

A new album by Louise Rutkowski titled Diary of a Lost Girl was released on Jock Records in February of 2014.

Recently, I emailed the Scottish singer songwriter and asked if her new album of ethereal electro pop had any relationship to Louise Brooks. She wrote back, "There is indeed a relation between my new album title and Louise Brooks.  I have been a fan since I was a teenager."

Diary of a Lost Girl is the first solo album from Rutkowski,  former vocalist with This Mortal Coil and The Hope Blister.  Rutkowski signed with CBS Records at age 19, recording three singles and an album with soul producer Pete Wingfield. However, it's her work with cult independent label 4AD and the above named bands for which she is best known.

Funded through the direct-to-fan platform PledgeMusic, Diary of a Lost Girl has been described by supporters as "A truly haunting and beautiful album," and "Beautiful, stirring, and alive with emotion." The Daily Express called it "a gorgeous and simple album that highlights her powerful voice." The Scotsman said it was "immaculately produced" and "elegantly accomplished." The Louise Brooks Society agrees.

Louise Rutkowski in 1996

Produced by Irvin Duguid, the album includes mixes by Calum Malcolm (The Blue Nile), and Steve Orchard; it also marks Rutkowski's return to writing original material – her first compositions since her music career began with the soul-influenced band Sunset Gun.

Rutkowski went on to note: "I first came across Louise Brooks when I was in my early 20s and in my first band.  I saw a photograph of her and was totally enchanted by her look.  I collected many photographs (two of which are still on my walls at home), I read Barry Paris’ biography, and went to see her films at the Scala in London (now a music venue).  Sadly, my book and photograph collection got destroyed in a house fire, but I still have a few things left.  One is the Diary of a Lost Girl poster, which hangs in my flat. I also remember watching an interview with her when she was older?  I have Kenneth Tynan in my head but not sure if that’s correct."

"I also had my hair in a bob for many years! I was, and still am, inspired by her.  It wasn’t just her look, it was her acting and who she was as a person – so feisty and witty."

"As for the album title, I had been searching for a while for a suitable one, and found myself staring at the poster one night, realising 'that was it'!  I chose it as it fitted perfectly with the feeling behind the songs as a collection.  This is a very personal album, written mostly around the time of my mother’s death (also a huge film fan and admirer of LB), and the word 'lost' rather fitted at that point. It has such a beautiful ring to it in any event."

Louise Rutkowski in 2014

The Louise Brooks Society encourages everyone to check out Louise Rutkowski's new album, Diary of a Lost Girl.

It's the Old Army Game - A round-up of reviews

It's the Old Army Game, Louise Brooks' fourth film, was officially released on this day in 1926. The film is a comedy about a small town druggist who gets involved with a Florida real estate scam. This silent film is extant and can be found on unofficial VHS and DVD releases.

The film stars W.C. Fields as Elmer Prettywillie (the small town druggist), Louise Brooks as Mildred Marshall (his assistant), Blanche Ring as Tessie Overholt, and William Gaxton as George Parker. This Famous Players-Lasky Corporation film, based on the screenplay by Thomas J. Geraghty and J. Clarkson Miller, was directed by Edward Sutherland (Brooks' future husband, and Blanche Ring's nephew).

The film received generally positive reviews, though some criticized its "thin plot." The film proved somewhat popular while playing all over the United States. Many critics praised Fields, and just as many noticed Brooks, especially when she wore her bathing suit. Here is a round up of magazine and newspaper reviews and articles drawn from the Louise Brooks Society archive.

Eddie Sutherland and Louise Brooks on the set of It's the Old Army Game (1926)

anonymous. "W.C. Fields, Comedian Howard Film Star." Atlanta Constitution, May 23, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks, a little lady who promises to create nothing short of a sensation because of her portrayal as the girl Fields would like to marry, gives a mighty fine performance."

anonymous. "Pictures Playing Atlanta This Week." Weekly Film Review, May 26, 1926.
--- review; "There was considerable good acting on the part of the star, who was ably supported by Louise Brooks and William Gaxton."

Helm, Carl. "Army Game is Amusing Picture." San Francisco Examiner, May 31, 1926.
--- ". . . and the gloriously-wrought Louise Brooks . . . Miss Brooks has nothing much to do but look lovely in a swimming suit, no difficult task for her."

anonymous. "Hilarious Comedy Is Featured at Strand." Modesto News-Herald, June 1, 1926.
--- "Then there is the piquant pert little Louise Brooks featured along with Mr. Fields. She contributes a performance second only to that given by the star."

Starr, Jimmy. "New Comedy In Old Army Game." Los Angeles Record, June 5, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks is evidently very proud of her comely figure. This is the third picture in which she has worn that black bathing suit. However, Louise is a clever little actress."

Craig, Betty. "Many Attractions Are Booked For the Week." Denver Post, June 6, 1926.
--- "In the meantime the young fellow from the big town has fallen in love with the lovely creature that serves as the store's only clerk, who is none other than the captivating Louise Brooks."

S., W. R. "Views and Reviews." Film Mercury, June 11, 1926.
--- "A new actress has broken into pictures in the name of Louise Brooks, she shines like a gem in the rough."

Irvin. "Fine Comedy Film Showing at Palace." Washington Herald, June 21, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks played in Ziegfeld's Follies when Fields was running wild with Ray Dooley, et all. In this picture she has the feminine lead, and she surely confirms all promises of being the movie 'find' of the season."

McCormick, Ella H. "Reel Players." Detroit Free Press, June 21, 1926.
--- "Fields scored a splendid triumph in this picture. A great part of the success of the offering, however, is due to Louise Brooks, who takes the lead feminine part."

Marsh, Ward W. "Fields Whole Show in Allen." Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 21, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks and William Gaxton carry what is generaly known as the necessary love interest. Gaxton amounts to nothing, but Miss Brooks parades the personal magnetism to the limit, and late in the story is found wandering around in a bathing suit - for no sound reason except to display a form which assuredly needs not bathing suit to set it off. There is no complaint, however, on the appearance in the bathing suit."

Adams, Carl B. "Photoplay Reviews." Cincinnati Enquirer, June 28, 1926.
--- "Next to Fields, the chief attration of It's the Old Army Game is Louise Brooks, one of the most promising finds of the season. All that she has to do to make a hit is wear a bathing suit, which she does in this picture."

Patton, Peggy. "Fields Pleases in Comedy Film." Wisconsin News, June 28, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks, Blanche Ring and Rose Elliot are the featured players. Each contributes a very good bit of acting."

Service, T.O. "Service Talks." Exhibitor's Herald, July 3, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks is the other important person in the picture and, as insinuated rather bluntly on the occasion of her first appearance - in The American Venus - she's important. Miss Brooks isn't like anybody else. Nor has she a distinguishing characteristic which may be singled out for purposes of identification. She's just a very definite personality. She doesn't do much, perhaps becuase there isn't much to do but probably because she hits hardest when doing nothing, but nobody looks away when she's on screen. If Miss Glyn should say that Miss Brooks has 'it,' more people would know what Miss Glyn is raving about. But in that case she would not be raving. "

Hall, Mordaunt. "A Clattering Farce." New York Times, July 5, 1926.
--- "Mr. Fields's clever and energetic performance is helped along by the attractive Louise Brooks."

McGowen, Roscoe. "Fields-Brooks Picture Lacks Real Sunshine." Daily News, July 5, 1926.
--- "The picture is worth going to see just to look at Louise Brooks, one of the most ornamental young persons we have on the screen."

anonymous. "It's the Old Army Game." Variety, July 7, 1926.
--- ". . . a chance for Louise Brooks to strut her stuff. Miss Brooks photographs like a million dollars and shows a screen personality that's 'there.' This girl is going to land right at the top in the picture racket and is a real bet at this time."

anonymous. "W. C. Fields and Pole Film at Mosque." Newark Star-Eagle, July 12, 1926.
--- "This picture not only affords a good deal of typical Fields comedy in a suitable story frame, but also reveals the possibilities of Louise Brooks, Follies girl who is making decidely good in the cinema. . . . All told, Fields need not regret his first Paramount production. Louise Brooks, with a touch of piquancy, a good range of registration, and the conception of restriant, is pleasing as the heroine."

Sherwood, Robert E. "The Silent Drama." Life, July 29, 1926.
--- "Mr. Fields has to carry the entire production on his shoulders, with some slight assistance from the sparkling Louise Brooks . . . ."

anonymous. "W.C. Fields, Comedian, Aids The Old Army Game." Portland Oregonian, August 16, 1926.
--- "Louise Brooks, the pert young woman who will be remembered for her work in The American Venus and A Social Celebrity, the latter with Adolphe Menjou, has the lead role opposite Fields. She poses a bit. An excuse was found to get her into a bathing suit too, which wasn't a bad move, on the whole. . . . By the way, Edward Sutherland, who directed the picture, has just married Louise Brooks." 

Another Louise Brooks inspired novel

Valentina is an erotic novel based on the Valentia comix  by Guido Crepax, which were inspired by Louise Brooks. Pictured here is the Italian edition (along with descriptive text in Italian). The book, which is part of a trilogy, has been issued in various countries, and the covers vary accordingly. For more on these books and their author's take on the Valentina character and Louise Brooks, see Evie Blake's "Valentina's World."

Valentina
Noëlle Harrison (writing as Evie Blake)
January 1, 2012
Editora Europa - Publisher

Criada pelo célebre artista gráfico italiano Guido Crepax, a jovem fotógrafa de moda Valentina Rosselli é uma das mais emblemáticas heroínas de graphic novels de todos os tempos. Com seus cabelos pretos cortados rente à nuca, inspirados na artista de cinema dos anos 1920 Louise Brooks, ela é a essência da sofisticação europeia. No seu íntimo, vive uma mulher apaixonada e excitante, que não pensa duas vezes para mergulhar em mundos desconhecidos e experimentar seus desejos mais secretos. Neste romance, Valentina vive em Milão com seu amante Théo e recebe dele um presente inusitado: um álbum de fotos antigas, com negativos enigmáticos, cujas imagens, à primeira vista, são indecifráveis. Adepta do processo fotográfico tradicional, ela amplia os negativos em sua câmara escura e, ao montar o quebra-cabeça, descobre que se tratam de closes de uma mulher retratada em poses eróticas.

Ao mesmo tempo, Valentina recebe uma proposta de trabalho igualmente inusitada: criar uma série de fotos artísticas e eróticas em um clube de sadomasoquismo. Inicialmente avessa ao tema, acaba acreditando que suas incursões nesse mundo podem ajudá-la a descobrir quem é a mulher retratada nos negativos. E também qual a relação dela com a sua vida.

Louise Brzezinska, por sua vez, vive em Veneza no ano da Grande Depressão, 1929. Presa num casamento infeliz com um poderoso homem de negócios, certa vez é confundida com uma prostituta e resolve viver a experiência. Ao ver aflorar toda a sua sensualidade e desejo reprimidos, passa a levar uma vida dupla, alternando a recatada vida de socialite com seu alter ego, Belle, a cortesã mais famosa de Veneza.

Mesmo separadas por décadas, Valentina e Belle têm uma relação atemporal entre elas: ambas estão em busca de sua verdadeira identidade. Belle acredita que só o amor pode ser libertador, enquanto Valentina mergulha em uma viagem erótica que vai revelar traços de sua personalidade que ela jamais pensou existir.

1933 Italian crossword puzzle with Louise Brooks

Here is a page from a famous weekly Italian puzzle magazine, published in Italy and distributed in other European countries. This special number, with an image of Louise Brooks, dates from 1933. The first issue of La Settimana Enigmistica was published in January 1932, and featured the Mexican actress Lupe Vélez on the front cover. The magazine is still published to this day. [Special thanks to Gianluca for finding this treasured item.]

New Zealand premiere of silent Prix de beauté

The New Zealand International Film Festival have announced they will screen the rarely shown silent version of Prix de beauté, the 1930 French sound film starring Louise Brooks. The film was initially shot as a silent, and was then adapted to sound. The sound version, with dubbed dialogue and music, was released as "talkies" were beginning to dominate the film world. The silent version quietly faded away. This special screening on August 3, 2014 features Marc Taddei conducting the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in a single performance of Timothy Brock’s recent original score. More information on this event can be found at http://www.nziff.co.nz/2014/auckland/prix-de-beaute/.

New Zealand Truth: In dreams invention we bestow to change

New Zealand Truth, October 10, 1929

Must watch: Andy McCluskey introduces Louise Brooks on the big screen at an OMD concert

Here is another must watch video of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) performing their hit song "Pandora's Box (It's a long, long way)" live in concert, with images of Louise Brooks projected on the screen behind the band. YouTube has a number of similar videos.What I love about this particular video is the song's introduction given by OMD singer and big-time Louise Brooks fan Andy McCluskey.

 Yesterday, the Huffington Post ran my article on Louise Brooks and popular music. The article, "Natalie Merchant's 'Lulu' Latest Pop Tribute to Silent Film Icon Louise Brooks," features an OMD concert video, and a slideshow of album covers related to the silent film star. Check it out.

Huffington Post article on Louise Brooks and popular music

Today, the Huffington Post ran my article on Louise Brooks and popular music. The article, "Natalie Merchant's 'Lulu' Latest Pop Tribute to Silent Film Icon Louise Brooks," features a couple of videos and a slideshow of album covers related to the silent film star. Like this one from The Freeze, a little known Scottish punk group (think The Buzzcocks meet The Cure). This 1980 single is in all likelihood the first rock tribute to the actress. Vocalist Gordon Sharp went on to work with the Cocteau Twins.