Louise Brooks: The Flapper Girl

Louise Brooks, a legendary actress of the silent film era; one of the greatest actresses in the silent film era known for her sensual portrayal of her characters, personality, and her popular bobbed hairstyle.(C. Moritz (Ed.), 1985) Louise, commonly known as her childhood name of Brooksie, was born in Cherryvale, Kansas, on November 14, 1906.(IMDb.com, 2013) Louise did not only have a future in show business, but also in dancing, though eventually retiring at the age of 32 in 1938.(IMDb.com, 2013) Louise had only made 25 movies, but her status as one of the greatest actresses and amazing beauty of motion pictures still remains today.
Louise Brooks had a fascinating personality, which was always compared to her characterization as protagonist, Lulu in Georg Wilhelm Pabst’s Pandora’s Box, which was filmed in 1929. Louise had an independent streak and refused to accept the restrictive role that women had in American society, going her own way, which was the controversy to the characterization.(C. Moritz (Ed.), 1985) Louise’s rebellious nature may have been displeasing, but her nature was the inspiration for the comic heroine Dixie Dugan and Valentina of Guildo Crepax in 1926.(Dan, 2006) Louise was a woman of independence, aiding her status as the “Flapper Girl”.
Louise Brooks had been doubted of her skills because of her personality; she did not get along well with the average of the film society and did not care for the Hollywood scene, traveling to Europe, where she had made most of her memorable films.
Even though Louise had been doubted and ridiculed for vociferously ostentating the accepted sexual and societal roles of women, her talent in acting shown. In Howard Hawks’ Come and Get It, made in 1936, and A Girl in Every Port, made in 1928, Louise acted splendidly which aided her to win the part of Lulu. Louise had been chosen over several German actresses, including Marlene Dietrich, to play the temptress Lulu.(C. Moritz (Ed.),
1985) Louise also acted in Rhythm on the Range, Beggars of Life, Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em, It’s the Old Army Game, The Show-Off, The Canary Murder Case, The Blue Angel, Diary of a Lost Girl, Prix de Beaute, Windy Reilly in Hollywood, It Pays to Advertise, God’s Gift to Women, When You’re in Love, Empty Saddles, King of the Gamblers, and Overland Stage Raiders.(Dan, 2006) Sadly, after coming back from Europe, Louise tried to work with Hollywood again, but was dissatisfied with Hollywood in general which led her to quit films in 1938.(Dan, 2006) Louise Brooks may have been able to save her career if she had accepted the offer to star with James Cagney in the classic The Public Enemy. (IMDb.com, 2013)
Work Cited
IMDb.com. (2013). Louise brooks (i) - biography. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000315/bio
Dan, C. (2006). The martyrdom of lulu. Bright Lights Film Journal :: Louise Brooks, (54), Retrieved from http://brightlightsfilm.com/54/brooks.php
Brooks, louise. In (1984). C. Moritz (Ed.), Current Biography Yearbook 1984 (pp. 44-47). New York: The H. W. Wilson Company.
Brooks, louise. In (1985). C. Moritz (Ed.), Current Biography Yearbook 1985 (p. 462). New York: The H. W. Wilson Company.