Amazing twists of fate brought Paul Negri, a Polish woman by birth, to the podium of Hollywood silent cinema. Bright and temperamental, a little exotic, Paula Negri instantly made a brilliant career as an actress, but she was also quickly forced to step aside, because the era of sound cinema soon began, and it made completely different demands on the main actors on the screen. How did a girl from a poor Polish family manage to perpetuate her name in the encyclopedias of cinematographic art, and how did her life turn out when she left the "big" movie?
Youth
Paula Negri, whose biography could easily form the basis of the script for a good melodrama, was born in January 1897 in the Kingdom of the Polish Russian Empire. Subsequently, the star wrote memoirs, in which she corrected the date of her birth by 3 years, but the actress's biographers managed to find authentic documents in the Lipno archive and establish the exact date.
The real name of Paula Negri is Barbara the Halupets. The girl was born in the family of a Slovak worker and a Polish girl. For some reason, her father was sent to exile in Siberia in 1902. Being on the verge of poverty, Barbara's mother somehow miraculously arranged her girl to study first at the Warsaw Ballet School, and then at the Academy of Dramatic Art. Paula Negri often said that she dreamed of dancing ballet, but she suddenly became ill with tuberculosis, and she was unable to do great physical exertion.
Apparently, she did not worry about this for a long time, since at the age of 16 the girl managed to make her debut in a drama performance on a large stage, and incredible success and recognition awaited her ahead.
The beginning of a film career
In 1914, the film company "Sphinx" invites young Barbara to play a major role in the film "Slave of Passions." After the release of the tape on the screens, she becomes the most recognizable Polish actress and turns from Basi Halupets to Pola Negri.
But at this time, many events take place in the historical arena - the First World War begins, then the Russian Empire ceases to exist. It’s a difficult time, but cinema as a new kind of art is developing at a frantic pace against all odds.
21-year-old Paula Negri, whose biography is already so rich in significant events, manages to star in Kiev in the film “Surrogates of Love” in 1918, and then accepts the invitation of director Max Reinhardt to work in his troupe in Germany.
It so happened that Paula Negri and her colleague in the Rheinhardt troupe - director Ernst Lubich - were at the very origins of the “big” German cinema: the young director shot the best budget films of those years - “Eyes of the Mummy Ma”, “Carmen”, “Madame Dubarry” ”,“ Sumurun ”,“ Wild Cat ”- and in all these film projects the Negri Field invariably got the main role.
Hollywood and Role of the Suffering Vamp
However, being a European movie star, apparently, was not enough for Barbara, and in 1923 the actress left Germany for Hollywood. Paramount Studio turned Paula Negri into a world-famous star, entrusting the main roles in the films "Bella Donna", "Spanish Dancer", "Forbidden Paradise", "Woman of the World", "Hotel" Imperial ", etc.
Paula Negri, whose photo was filled with the best print media of the USA and Europe, was distinguished by her spectacular appearance - dark hair, large black eyes, unique style. She was able to create a new acting role for cinema - “a suffering female vamp”, strong and dangerous, but at the same time evoking sympathy from the public.
Paula Negri, whose biography indicates that she knew how to succeed, and most importantly to keep him, immediately adopted the Hollywood "rules of the game": she started scandalous novels, played performances not only in front of cameras, but also in life. And maybe she would have become the real Queen of Hollywood, if not for the emergence of sound films.
Life after the silent movie
In America, the actress became unnecessary with the advent of sound cinema: a Polish accent is not what American viewers wanted to hear from the lips of a Hollywood star. Paula Negri, whose photo is gradually disappearing from the pages of newspapers and magazines, and the popularity is melting every day, returns to Germany. She starred in several sound films - "Mazurka", "Madame Bovary" and so on.
Paula Negri, whose biography was not completely perfect, nevertheless became Hitler's favorite actress. And yet she again had to flee from Germany to America: at first Goebbels suspected her of having Jewish roots, then World War II went through Europe in a whirlwind.
In the USA, the actress starred in several films that became the last in her career, received citizenship and completely immersed in a serene provincial life with her friend Margaret West.
“Memoirs of a Star” - a memoir written by Paul Negri: biography, photo - everything was provided for publication personally by the actress. She admitted that she did not regret the ended brilliant career. Dying at the age of 90, Paula Negri left the cinematic art a unique role as a “suffering lady vamp” and a number of films that brought up the next generation of Hollywood stars.