Michelle Vogel (Author) – michellevogelhollywoodnews.com

…well, think again!

Russian director, Vladislav Kozlov, has created a silent feature about the life and career of Rudolph Valentino. Kozlov will also take on the role of Valentino himself, and he looks remarkably similar to the matinee idol (see the photo comparison posted below). This film has been in the works for a number of years, so it’s certainly not riding the coattails of The Artist, it just seems that way.

Are modern silents the new fad or the new trend?

Whatever it is, to redevelop an old art form generations down the line from the days where silent films were the only films and present it to modern day audiences who are not only used to (read: spoiled by) sound, but also by color images and the in your face action of CGI and 3D…it’s a bold, brave move. One to be applauded. There’s nothing wrong with progression, but in our modern world, to wind back the clock and strip away that progress gives us a taste of, and reminds us of the rawness of film in those early days.

Developing, filming and releasing a silent film in 2012 is not an easy task.

Hopefully, The Artist and Silent Life will also prompt audiences to seek out original silent films. Many silents have been beautifully restored and are now available on DVD. There’s nothing like renting or buying a ninety-year-old film and watching it for the first time as a “new release”.

Go on, try it. Have a movie night at your home – without sound! Pick a comedy and even the kids will enjoy it! For starters, I highly recommend Charlie Chaplin in The Circus…a fantastically funny family film 🙂

Here’s an interview with Kozlov about his upcoming film, Silent Life.

Wondering if anyone can help with a mailing address for Elliot Reid, Marilyn Monroe’s co-star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? He’s now 92 years old. He was born in New York…not sure if he’s still living there or not…

In fact, if you have information on the whereabout of any of Marilyn Monroe’s surviving co-stars, please contact me with the details. Thanks 🙂

mvozus@gmail.com

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I posted some info here recently about another “modern film about the making of a classic film”. This one is a BBC production. The Girl is about the making of Hitchcock’s The Birds. Though Tippi Hedren, now 82, is a consultant on the film, she’s concerned about Sienna Miller’s portrayal of  her.

While the below publicity photo for the film shows Miller resembling Hedren, I’m just not getting the Toby Jones casting as Alfred Hitchcock.

Read article below for more details.

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One of those, “Darn it! Why couldn’t it be ME!” stories… 🙂

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As a comparison to my last post about Judy Garland’s beautiful Bel Air home being up for sale, I received an e-mail from Heath Woodward, theatrical songwriter and Artistic Director of Crazyhouse Theatre Productions, with the below photos attached.

This was Judy Garland’s London home, in Chelsea. Her last place of residence. As Heath said in his e-mail to me, “…it’s amazing how such a big star ended up in a tiny little house down a side street…” I couldn’t agree more. That said, Heath added, “…4 Cadogan Road [is the address]. Chelsea is actually one of the most expensive areas to live in London and home to many celebrities.”

Thank you very much for allowing me to use your photos, Heath 🙂

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A positive sign…I only hope it continues…

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