Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Louise Brooks shines again this month in Italy

A couple of posts prior I wrote that a four film mini festival of Louise Brooks films taking place in Rome at the House of Cinema at the Villa Borghese in Italy. Now comes word that another of Brooks' films will be shown in Italy, this time on February 22 in Milan at the Fondazione Cineteca Italiana. That film is the silent version of Miss Europa (Prix de Beaute). Musical accompaniment will be provided by Antonio Zambrini. Here is the Italian website description:

Miss Europa (Prix de Beauté) – Copia restaurata



R.: Augusto Genina
Sc.: René Clair, Georg W. Pabst
Int.: Louise Brooks, Georges Charlia, Jean Bradin, Augusto Bandini, André Nicolle, Yves Glad, Gaston Jacquet.
Francia, 1930, b/n, 109’, muto.

Sinossi

Louise Brooks nei panni di una semplice impiegata, Lucienne, che si ritrova proiettata nel dorato mondo dello spettacolo dopo essere stata eletta Miss Europa. Il suo fidanzato è all’oscuro di tutto, ma all’inizio Lucienne resiste alle lusinghe della notorietà, si sposa e accetta di dedicarsi alla casa. Solo che quella vita è troppo dura, e un giorno Lucienne se ne va, torna dal principe che l’aveva corteggiata e grazie al suo aiuto inizia una carriera cinematografica. Il marito, disperato, non smetterà di cercarla e quando alla fine la ritroverà tutto finirà in tragedia.
Accompagnamento dal vivo al pianoforte di Antonio Zambrini.


Monday, February 11, 2013

Louise Brooks influence on contemporary (ac)tresses

Just last week, an article ran on the AfterElton website about the making of Cabaret, the 1972 film based on Christopher Isherwood's The Berlin Stories. The piece included interviews with some of the principals involved in the hit movie. Liza Minelli said this:
Well I was sitting with my dad, who was the quietest man, and he helped me so much with the look of Sally. I had thought that Sally should look like Marlene Dietrich. I thought, that's what the '30s was! But my dad said "No, no" and he showed me pictures of Louise Brooks, Louise Glaum, Theda Bara - so I got interested in it. And I designed the makeup before I went over there.
The influence of Louise Brooks on the look of Sally Bowles (as played by Liza Minelli) has been mentioned before. It is also one of a number of instances where Brooks' look - especially her hair - has affected the appearance and behavior of a movie character. Other widely acknowledged examples include Cyd Charisse in Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Melanie Griffith in Something Wild (1986).

Another instance of Brooks' influence just recently came to my attention. Molly Ringwald hairstyle in Pretty in Pink (1986), apparently, was also based on Brooks' bobbed hair. In her 2010 book, Getting the Pretty Back, Ringwald writes: "I decided that I was not going to be one of those "long hair" girls. . . .  I was better off creating my own look and embracing it. I looked to the past for inspiration. Louise Brooks for the bob in Pretty in Pink. . . . " Later in her book, Brooks is evoked again.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Louise Brooks: Icon of Silent Film in Italy

Louise Brooks is the focus of a series of screenings in Rome, Italy. The series, "Louise Brooks: Icon of Silent Film," features The Show Off (February 9th), The Canary Murder Case (February 16th), Pandora's Box (February 23rd), and Diary of a Lost Girl (March 2nd). The series is being put on by the House of Cinema at the Villa Borghese (Largo Marcello Mastroianni, 1). Here is the Italian description of the event.

Attrice leggendaria, diva affascinante e enigmatica, Louise Brooks è stata una delle donne più belle e celebri di Hollywood. Dal 9 febbraio al 9 marzo la Casa del Cinema omaggia la grande attrice del cinema muto con la proiezioine di una serie di film: “The Show Off”, “La canarina assassinata”, “Lulu” e “Diario di una donna perduta”.
La vita di Louise Brooks fu attraversata da un senso spiccato per la verità, la libertà e la sessualità senza permessi di “buona condotta”. La sua straordinaria e conturbante bellezza, che ne fecero subito il prototipo della donna seduttrice e l’incarnazione del sesso (ispirò il fumettista Guido Crepax per il personaggio di Valentina ), irruppero nel perbenismo di quegli anni.

Mal vista a Hollywood negli anni Trenta per la sua innata incapacità di piegarsi alle richieste dei produttori, dovette accontentarsi di parti minori e di qualche soap opera radiofonica. Lasciò il cinema e la celebrità a solo 36 anni.
Here is a scan of an article, "La diva che uscì dal vaso di Pandora," which appeared in today's Rome edition of Corriere della Sera, Italy's leading newspaper. Thank you Gianluca (Italy's leading Louise Brooks fan/scholar.)


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Cool pic of the day


Cool pic of the day: Louise Brooks dressed for her part in William Wellman's  Beggars of Life (1928).

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Louise Books for sale

Don't forget, there are some rather swell and somewhat unusual Louise Brooks and Jazz Age related books for sale through this blog. Just click on the "For Sale" tab.


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Every woman is potentially a VAMPIRE

This is post number 600 on the new LBS blog: Presented here, a 1925 newspaper advertisement for Motion Picture magazine. It's the battle of the vamps! (Louise Brooks was considered a "Junior Vamp.")


Monday, February 4, 2013

Cinephilia :: Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks is a world wide phenomenon. Check out this 2009 postage stamp from the Republic of Benin (French: République du Bénin), a country in West Africa.

Or, check out this link to a webpage slideshow from Greece. Louise Brooks: Οι εικόνες μιας σταρ. (Louise Brooks: Images of a star.) Μια σειρά φωτογραφιών της Louise Brooks.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

‘The Chaperone’ heads to the big screen


As readers of this blog know, Laura Moriarty's exceptional novel, The Chaperone, involves a character based on Louise Brooks.

Now comes word that Fox Searchlight has selected Simon Curtis to direct The Chaperone with Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth McGovern starring, to be scripted by Julian Fellowes, also of Downton Abbey.

For more on this story, see deadline.com and other news outlets.

For more on Louise Brooks and Downton Abbey, see an earlier LBS blog.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Louise Brooks - Don't Put A Tax On The Beautiful Girls

Presenting a new YouTube video "Louise Brooks - Don't Put A Tax On The Beautiful Girls."

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