by Tony Villecco (Author)
Her films were silent. She wasn't.
Meet POLA NEGRI, the glamorous "vamp" who took Hollywood by storm in the Roaring Twenties. Already renowned in Europe for her acting talent, beauty, and passion, Negri quickly made her mark in dramatic black and white, both onscreen and off.
Vivid. Wild. Threatening. Gorgeous. Exotic. Temperamental.
Pola Negri was called all that, and more. Love affairs with Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and a self-styled prince-and equally tempestuous relationships with colleagues, critics, the press, and the fans-kept Negri in the front page news. She wouldn't have had it any other way.
Tony Villecco, author of the critically acclaimed Silent Stars Speak, shares his lifelong fascination with Negri. Features:
- 100+ photographs (several never before available to the public)
- Reminiscences from Negri's colleagues and acquaintances, including film historian Kevin Brownlow
- Filmography of Negri's work in American cinema, 1922-1964
- Accounts from fan magazines, newspapers, other publications, and correspondence
POLA NEGRI: THE HOLLYWOOD YEARS is not intended to be a complete historical retrospective or analysis of Pola Negri's films. Rather, it offers today's readers and film fans an intriguing glimpse into the life, times, and persona of a "silent" star who lived at full volume during the Golden Era of film.
Author Biography
Tony Villecco is a grad of Binghamton University. A classically trained tenor, he has performed a wide range of musical theatre, oratorio, opera, sacred music, and jazz. His first book, Silent Stars Speak, was released to critical acclaim in 2001 by McFarland. His articles have appeared in music magazines, newspapers, and online publications. He serves as an arts reviewer with the Broome Arts Mirror. Tony loves classic cinema and adores his Chihuahua pup.