Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Silent Treatment


It's hard to believe this image is 83 years old - I just adore it! All the bling, the way the dress fabric drapes, the dramatic eye make-up & of course, those cupid bow lips - too gorgeous! This is a photo you absolutely must double click on to get the maximum effect! From the 1926 silent movie Made For Love it stars Leatrice Joy a protege of Cecil B. De Mille's. Leatrice's trademark was her very short bob, which became extremely popular with her fans in the 1920's. A Southern girl from New Orleans, her stellar career began to falter with the advent of talkies. Apparently her heavy Southern accent was considered unfashionable in comparison with the refined East coast diction of the newer breed of actresses.

One of my very favourite sites to spend a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday is Silent Film Still Archive. The site is a true labour of love for it's founder Bruce Calvert. Treat yourself & spend some time wandering through the thousands of beautiful images & amazing stories on Bruce's site. The fashion, the make-up, the sets, the design - just a wonderful escape into a magical era.

7 comments:

  1. What a beautiful, timeless image. Thank you for the introduction to the Silent Still Film Archive. Lee :)

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  2. She's gorgeous! I LOVE her jewels and her hair and her lipstick.
    I love seeing this photo! It's surprising to know how old it is since I think she would be stunning today too!

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  3. Will do MIllie - what fun and didn't she look fab, xv.

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  4. Thank you so much for the heads up on this site! It is just incredible. i cant wait to get home, open a bottle of bubbles and share this with my Grandma. She will absolutely LOVE it!

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  5. Am praying for a wet weekend and freedom from the garden chores - I can't think of a better way to pass a lazy Saturday afternoon than wondering through the archive.

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And none will hear the postman's knock
Without a quickening of the heart.
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?
~W.H. Auden