mixedmedia

Thought maybe those who enjoyed the Ziegfeld Girls thread might enjoy these portraits of silent film actresses, as well. Again, I just love this era of photography and style.

I know interest in them isn't overwhelming, but for those who are, this should be a treat.

Clara Bow




Norma Shearer




Alla Nazimova




Corinne Griffith




Louise Brooks




Anita Page


Doris Kenyon




Loretta Young


Anita Stewart


Dorothy Gish


June Marlowe (Miss Crabtree from the Our Gang series )


Anna May Wong




Mary Pickford






Helene Costello


Bessie Love




Theda Bara




Evelyn Brent


Betty Compson


Elsie Ferguson


Pola Negri




Dolores Costello




Pauline Frederick


Dorothy Sebastian


Olga Baclanova


Gloria Swanson


Norma Talmadge




Joan Crawford




Mary Miles Minter


Lillian Gish




Martha Mansfield


Mabel Normand


Marion Davies


Mae Marsh


Marie Doro


Mae Murray

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Arc101

Some interesting and beautiful pictures. I think the pictures of Louise Brooks and Dolores Costello are particularly striking.

Bill O'Rights

Lillian Gish has always been a favorite of mine. (oh, c'mon MM, you knew I'd have an opinion here ) Pretty much everyone is familiar with her performance in Birth Of A Nation, but if you ever get the chance, check out Hearts Of The World. It's another of D.W. Griffith's work, illustrating the ravages and heartbreak of WWI. While he was filming, the U.S. entered the war, so Griffith got to use actual combat footage. Seriously, check it out.

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mixedmedia

Thanks, Bill. I will check that out.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Baraka_Guru

Not to sound critical (this is a great collection), but you're missing Brigitte Helm. Don't tell anyone, but I happen to be in love with her.


Thanks for the great work putting this together. I need to see more of those old films.

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Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
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mixedmedia

Well, you're right, Baraka, I don't have any pictures of her...but that doesn't mean I can't hotlink to some.











Of course, these are all taken later than the silent era, but no matter.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Charlatan

I love imagining Clara Bow or Louise Brooks being as bad as they were rumoured to be... only with me.

My wife was born in the wrong era. She has the same build as Clara Bow (especially in the second picture). Seriously. You could swap their heads and you'd never know (except for the garish sutures... but some people like that sort of thing).

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squeeeb

excellent pics...they spark my imagination...i love silent films, although i prefer buster keaton and harold lloyd...

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onward to mayhem!

mixedmedia

Oh, I love Buster Keaton. Right on.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Lucifer

Well, I can't speak for the rest of the TFP, but my interest in them is overwhelming, MM! I love the way they look: back then glamour shots were more art, less pinup.

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1123, 6536, 5321

Jack The Lad

It's a treat indeed! Thanks for another fabulous post, MM

I adore the sensual photography of that era. So stylish.

Black and white, or sepia tone, is flattering, but I also like the (slightly later) publicity pictures of Hollywood actresses too.
Such as Maria Montez:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/T...42/Mmcigar.jpg

I've never seen one of her films, so I don't know if she can act, but - with that kind of beauty - who cares?

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"If I was any more laidback, I'd be horizontal."

mixedmedia

Maria Montez made a lot of B-grade films in the 1940s with an actor named Jon Hall. They are usually lavish technicolor adventures filmed 'in' exotic settings....Arabian Nights, Cobra Woman and my personal favorite, Gypsy Wildcat.

And no, she was not a fabulous actress but she was beautiful and her films are a lot of fun to watch. I used to have some that I taped off of American Movie Classics...back when it was.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

debaser

Women just aren't as beautiful anymore...

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Jack The Lad

Thanks for the information about Maria Montez

I'm a sucker for any B-Movie with a sensational title, so Cobra Woman and Gypsy Wildcat definately sound like films I will have to see

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"If I was any more laidback, I'd be horizontal."

mixedmedia

They have a lot of them on Netflix.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Speed_Gibson

An excellent collection showcasing my favourite era of film making....
Somewhere in my old time radio collection I have a show from 1950 something with Theda Bara featured in the middle break
And of course Lillian Gish's 1943?? (top of my head, likely a bit off) performance in Suspense. A rare radio appearance for her as she was much busier on Broadway and similar venues.

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mixedmedia

I'm glad you liked them.

I always like coming back to this thread to look again. I just love them.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

hagatha

\

You forgot Tallulah Bankhead---I just like saying "Tallulah".

Great thread Mixed.

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hunnychile

This is one of the most wonderful posts I've seen here! Some of the names I've heard before, but hadn't seen their photos...and oh my - these are some gorgeous ladies! It's inspiring for me and I hope for others who spend time here. Black & white photography at it's best with incredible models and actresses from long ago.

Thanks, so very much! Outstanding collection.

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mixedmedia

Thank you, hunnychile.

hagatha, I didn't even know Tallulah was acting during the silent days...shame on me

Thanks for the addition!

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce