tres avant-garde but really fascinating... if you're into silent films, that is. the art direction by valentino's wife, natacha rambova, is remarkable and meant to reflect aubrey beardsley's illustrations for wilde's play. the notorious nazimova is a bit over the… More
tres avant-garde but really fascinating... if you're into silent films, that is. the art direction by valentino's wife, natacha rambova, is remarkable and meant to reflect aubrey beardsley's illustrations for wilde's play. the notorious nazimova is a bit over the top but in this extreme setting it mostly works. this was her own production and she was already well into her 40s when she played the teenage salome, but she's quite convincing, except maybe in close-up. the film was roundly condemned and was a huge flop and nazimova lost a fortune and soon returned to broadway. the whole film is on youtube here >http://youtu.be/LDaZNqag8uQ