Louise Brooks Society blog

Daniel Kehlmann's engrossing seventh novel, Lichtspiel, was first published in Germany in 2023. Since then, it has been published in translation in a number of countries in Europe as well as, now, the United States under the title The Director (Simon & Schuster / Summit Books). The novel centers on the later years of the Austrian-born director, G. W. Pabst. Louise Brooks, who appeared in two Pabst films, Pandora's Box (1929) and Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), appears in the novel as a significant, though secondary character.Reviews of the American edition have appeared in a number of print […]

I recently learned of a new documentary about G.W. Pabst, the "great unknown" who directed Louise Brooks in two classic silent films, Pandora's Box (1929) and The Diary of a Lost Girl (1929). This near 90 minute Austrian film, directed by Angela Christlieb and titled Pandoras Vermächtnis (or Pandora's Legacy), was released in May 2024, one year ago. It is described as "A journey through the family universe of G.W. Pabst, giant of early cinema, told through the eyes of the woman who was his great love and lifelong partner: Trude Pabst. A film about dream and trauma, and about why we become […]

A number of early reviews have started showing up in the American press about a new novel imagining the life of German director G. W. Pabst. The book, titled The Director, is by the internationally acclaimed German writer Daniel Kehlmann. Not surprisingly, this just released novel includes passages referencing Louise Brooks, the American actress who made two films under Pabst's direction, Pandora's Box (1929) and Diary of a Lost Girl (1929). Kehlmann's book has already been praised by the likes of Jeffrey Eugenides (“An incomparably accomplished and inventive piece of fiction by one of the […]

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood, starring Louise Brooks, was released on this day in 1931. The film is a short comedy which centers on Windy Riley, a cocky blow-hard who attempts to revamp the publicity department of a Hollywood studio. The film was Louise Brooks’ first after returning from Europe, the first to feature her actual voice (Brooks’ earlier sound films, The Canary Murder Case and Prix de Beauté, had been dubbed), and her first and only short. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society website filmography page.The film was directed by Roscoe "Fatty" […]

When Donna Hill passed away late last year, the Rudolph Valentino and the silent film communities lost a great friend. And so did the Louise Brooks community. Donna was also a personal friend -- I believe my wife and I first met her some 20+ years ago when we visited her San Francisco apartment to show her our rather modest collection of vintage Valentino postcards. No surprise, she had them all.We hung out together at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and Cinecon, went ephemera shopping together in Hollywood -- Donna knew all the best places, and we talked, about Valentino and Brooks […]

The Louise Brooks Society blog was named one of the best silent movie blogs by Feedspot, a leading blog directory. As a matter of fact, the Louise Brooks Society blog placed fourth, following only Movies Silently, Silent-ology, and Silent London Blog. The complete list of deserving blogs can be found HERE.The Louise Brooks Society has been blogging about the actress, silent film, and the Jazz Age, as well as fashion, dance, books, music, art, Hollywood and other topics related to the one-and-only Lulu for a long time. Actually, the Louise Brooks Society started blogging in 2002, first on […]

God's Gift to Women, with Louise Brooks, was released on this day in 1931. The film is a pre-code musical comedy whose musical numbers were cut and whose humor and suggestive scenes are largely tempered by the tepid presence of star Frank Fay. He plays the Parisian descendant of a Don Juan who vows to stop philandering in order to win the hand of a virtuous young lady with a disapproving father. Louise Brooks plays one of a handful of women irresistibly drawn to Fay's character. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society website filmography page.Film Daily described […]

King of Gamblers was released on this day in 1937. The film is a stylish low-budget crime drama about a slot-machine racket and the crusading reporter who uncovers it. Though a "B" picture, this almost noir was given an "A" treatment by director Robert Florey. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society website filmography page.Louise Brooks' role in the film, a minor part, was cut from the production shortly before release.  An opening sequence with "Jim Adams" (Lloyd Nolan) being jilted by "Joyce Beaton" (Louise Brooks) was shot but eliminated from the final cut. […]

Chances are you have never heard of Thomas Raverly. That's because he doesn't exist. In fact, Thomas Raverly is a fictional character and the creation of the Austrian writer Josef Robert Harrer (1896-1960), who -- chances are, you haven't heard of either. Neither had I. (Harrer was the author of magazine pieces and a handful of books, including a 1928 volume of erotic sonnets.)Thomas Raverly and the reference to his "secret film crush" -- namely Louise Brooks -- appeared in a short story published in the November 1, 1939 issue of Die Muskete, an Austrian humor magazine which included popular […]