Silent Hollywood Clara Bow "The It Girl" Part One

[RayL1983]

Clara Bow has "It" - She is fun - you can see that even now.

[AfricanNaziJew]

louise brooks looks like a jailbird in that orange outfit

[cherrybombx27]

It's so strange to think about how much mental illness affected her life, both from taking care of her schizophrenic mother and her own illness later in life. At that time, people who were mentally ill, esp. women, would've been taken to a poor house or institution. But Clara managed to make something of herself and have a good enough life, but she couldn't get away from her troubles that came from Hollywood and personal troubles. She showed that you can come from shit and still achieve success.

[BalletBabyBoy]

Wonderful! Thank you. Would love to have known her...such fun

[AtheistSpanker]

She was a honey. :)

[JediGoddessChristy]

I love James Mason, such a perfect narrator!

[Fable3Tips]

Beast video man keep going on with stuff like this.

[Gulimtahnd]

warte auf mehr videos, TOP!

[miamisox]

These movies suck!!!

[julianallees]

Fuck look at those BEAUTIFUL, amazing eyes at 9:26

julianallees

Le 14 Mai 2011

[batucada358]

@julianallees

Louise Brooks may have been generous in her praise of Clara Bow's acting ability, but esthetically, Brooks made Bow look like background scenery.or peeling paint on a wall.

[julianallees]

What's the name of the music used at the very start of this documentary?

julianallees

Le 25 Avril 2011

[KevinByrne2]

@julianallees -- I think that the opening theme music was composed for the series by Carl Davis.

[philidor3]

@TheVikaDoll Only certain girlfriends of mine...

[ClarasBeau]

I find it interesting that Brooks, who most often apparently had no reason to tout any person other than herself, would offer such a rave about another... It is such a tribute to Bow's talents that such things were said about her, by this woman.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

I love Clara.

She will always be real Hollywood.

George Vreeland Hill

[dialacatisfunny]

were did you get this documentary from?

[xander7ful]

Is there a name for these series on old Hollywood?

[Goldenageofcinema]

I know it as "Hollywood" also seen it listed as "The Big Picture Show"

Thames Production

[BlueSoulJim]

she was so HOT!

[ChrissieBana]

the real jazz baby... that's my girl!!

[Davai007]

clara will ALWAYS BE THE " IT GIRL OF THE 20'S"

[Messylin]

It's strange that Louise Brooks' myth has overtaken Bow's since around the time of this docu. In Hollywood, Brooksie was known as "a beautiful nothing" according to Cukor. Her European films with Pabst have resurrected her legend and made it a myth, just as Garbo had been in her own lifetime. Time will tell if Clara Bow will experience a similar renaissance.

[treebythebay]

I read her story years ago...I'm still fascinated...

[hanoc101]

They overacted like crazy back them because they didn't have the extra tools of sound and dialogue to help them.

[prmass1]

Upon some research I found that Betty Boop is modeled after Clara Bow looks and Helen Kane voice.

[margiehines]

@prmass1

Betty Boop is a mixture of Both women. Mostly based upon Helen Kane due to the fact that Betty was plump in her first apperances in 1930 and grim natwick had used her photo to help him create Betty. around 1931 Betty was given a hourglass figure simuler to clara bows. Clara Bow had a strong brooklyn accent. But Helen Kane also had a strong brooklyn accent and she sometimes used her babydoll voice. So it's simple to say Betty is a mixture of both of these flappers in some way or form

[fleetairarm1945]

The actresses of today couldn't hold a candle to Clara. She could move an audience without even saying a word (hey, it was silent film back then). That's a lot of power...they eyes have it.

[superdavid002]

I mention Bow in The Celebrity Song.

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

I love hearing James Mason, and talking about Clara Bow!...what a treat!

Two greats in entertainment.

[melkitcedek2]

The video from Breton2Robert called: Colorful And Irresistible Clara Bow. Its very good and colorful

[russiawlove33]

That is definitely James Mason doing the narration. I'd know his voice anywhere.

[kipptumor]

Loved Clara's hair, man. She was one-of-a-kind.

[Paulina86ns]

Clara was soo cute:)

[Cybele1986]

Louise Brooks always defended Bow's talent and disparaged anyone who didn't take Bow seriously as a performer and as a star. Brooks didn't have a lot of nice things to say about Hollywood, but never ran out of compliments for Bow and her talent

[hfey]

Thanks for giving us a little more of this wonderful iconic yet tragic screen legend.

[Allemande891]

Ohhhh Lulu talking about Clara! this is wonderful!

[googybuzzy]

GOD she is so CUTE!!

[philidor3]

@dabble778

James Mason...I think

[dabble778]

ah yes, thanks :-) Great narrating voice

[Kievest]

Thank you for having the "real" Clara Bow

step forward in this fascinating docu-

video! Thank you for the wonderful clip

and to Shabannie for taking the time to

share it with me!

[Bigband78]

Was that really Louise Brooks in her later years.Thanks for the video.

[Shoknifeman]

Clara was a true beauty who still seems sexy, even today!

[Chico1Marx]

I'm only 12 and i love that times, (i'm from Spain), quiero que vuelvan.

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Betty Boop is modeled after her!!

Clara Bow was The 'IT GIRL'!!!

[Shoknifeman]

Actually, Betty Boop was modelled after singer Helen Kane

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Only her "voice" was, and it had to be! Clara Bow had a very strong Bronx accent and it prevented her from going into the 'talking' pictures, as they were known at the time! The Physical Look of Betty Boop is Clara Bow! The sound is Helen Kane. Betty Boop IS the 1920's as is Clara Bow who is forever in that time!

[Shoknifeman]

Again, read any statement by Fleischer studios, and the admit that Helen Kane was the model for Betty....She even PLAYED Betty in a Fliecsher short film....then later sued them for copying her look and sound.

[Shoknifeman]

Just look at Betty or Helen Kanes hair, identical! (Clara's hair was completely different) Furthermore, both Helen and Betty had chubby bodies and jowly round faces (Which isnt to say that Helen Kane wasnt cute, she just wasnt the "classic beauty"), while Clara had high cheekbones and a lithe dancer's body!

[margiehines]

@Shoknifeman

Helen Kane was alot slimmer around 1928 but she gained alot of weight around 1929-1930. The Studio's stated that Betty's original form was Ugly, so they removed her snout & ears and gave her some sort of hourglass figure. To stop Helen Kane from winning the suit against them they stated that clara bow was the original model & they gave Betty Red hair for her only colour apperance. and they had stated that a African american singer by the name of Baby Esther had booped first.

[KittyKattyYukiLvr]

@PlayIt4MeAgainSam it didn't prevent her..she was in talkies...the thing the studio dropped her for was her 'indecent' reputation...they said every one of their dropped silent actors had bad voices...it wasn't true though. I have heard the talkies...her voice was nice.

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

@KittyKattyYukiLvr I've heard her voice also. She had strong "nasal" tone to it. They were willing to work with her, (voice coach, etc), and 're-make' it, however, they had enough with her behavior, or "'indecent' reputation".

[Rev6044]

@PlayIt4MeAgainSam , I have seen several of her sound films. There was nothing wrong with her voice. She comes across as sort of a short, cuddly Geena Davis. Early sound films often had poor recording. Saturday Night Kid is awful. Wild Party is very good, in spite of being the sound debut of just about everyone involved. I have not seen Dangerous Curves, which is supposed to be her best picture.

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

She is the only "It girl".

[dabble778]

I know we all get old, but it's hard to see Lulu as an old lady

[mauerbluemchen0]

Brooksie never DID get old! Sure, her hair went white and she lost her famous bangs, but just listen to her voice and the way she talks.

[SatineCharm]

I think she looks good ;)

[galuidi]

There is only one It girl... Louise Brooks!!!

And yes, that is James Mason narrating.

[Daphnea65]

You should revise your classics. Clara Bow was chosen to play in "It", a famous story written by Elinor Glyn at that time and the writer chose her as the "It girl". Louise Brooks is also a jazz baby, but she is not the "It girl".

[sylvestermeow]

interesting and fun. Glad to see people watching.

[grainofsandfan]

Pure joy to watch.

[novusmundi]

Thought so. You Brits have actors with great distinctive voices, Lawrence Olivier, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, William Henry Platt ( aka Boris Karloff ) and Cary Grant.

[novusmundi]

I believe is was James Mason who narrated it. he has a distinct voice.. had.

[bubruns]

0:23 In this scene her acting is very emotive! Oh, I want to be an actress as good as her. Clara is awesome!

[zitalee2]

were those paintings of clara as a little girl?

[julianallees]

I have honestly to God, watched this film so many times that I probably have made up the majority of its number of views. Well done, a brilliant piece in which I am to visit daily and watch perpetually.

Yours ever-so-contently,

julianallees

P.S. I am seriously addicted to the music

18th April, 2009 6:51pm

[azulo65]

Bow and Brooks! We'll never see their equals again.

[KittyKattyYukiLvr]

@azulo65 Don't say that. Nostalgia's cool, but let it not blockade the way to future greats.

[julianallees]

I absolutely love this woman, Clara Bow. Rather recently about two weeks ago I would witness my own self stating "Black and White Silent Films are So BORING"!!!. That statement I now greatly regret. I love them now, and it's all thanks to Clara Bow. God she is beautiful. I perticularly love her when Eleanor Glyn is in a picture next to her and the narrator says that she described that Clara Bow was the quintessential 'It' girl.

Yours,

julianallees

14th March, 2009 7:34pm

[bjnevin]

I love how Ms. Brooks is beaming with such enthusiasm as she talks about Clara...as though she's experiencing a huge flash of nostalgia...

[richragsdale]

great clip

great performer

[bellashess]

This a great rare documentary on the life of Clara Bow. It's interesting to see Louise Brooks in her later years speaking so candidly about her friend Clara. If only she would have permitted a documentary about her own career to have been made. Both of these ladies are among filmdoms immortals.