My review of a new Pola Negri biography: Kotowskis biography of Pola Negri is an engaging account of an actress who became one of Hollywoods first stars and, as the subtitle reveals, perfected the part of the femme fatale. Kotowski writes with special feeling and kinship for his subject, a fellow Pole whose life and career remain a vivid story in her native land. The author began his study of Negri by producing a well-received documentary about her (Pola Negri: Life is a Dream in Cinema, 2006) and then working on a biography in Polish. The present title reflects a deep and abiding understanding of his subject, who appeared in more than 60 silent films in Poland, Germany, and the US, and whose work is vital to understanding the development of the star system and the impact of international cinema. That Negri did not make a transition to talkies can be partly attributed to her accent and to an acting style that seemed dated just a few years after her enormous success. Since only a few of her directors were first-class, interest in her films has waned. Yet her significance remains.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 11:36:56 +0000
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