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Geraldine Farrar, 1882-1967
In 1915, when director Cecil B. DeMille lured renowned opera star Geraldine Farrar to Hollywood, he hoped that her aura of high culture would add to the prestige of motion pictures. Already popular in Europe, she was the reigning soprano at the Metropolitan Opera at the time, often paired with celebrated tenor Enrico Caruso. Farrar, who considered herself as much an actress as a singer, ultimately appeared in fourteen silent films. In fact, she has two stars on the Hollywood walk of fame -- one for music, the other for acting. This is the Danish poster for The Devil-Stone, in which Farrar played a "fishermaid" who becomes a modern urban wife.
Artist Sven Brasch, however, exploits the emerald of the title to depict her as the glamorous leading lady that audiences expected, replete with long gloves, jeweled diadem, and evening gown.
Sven Brasch, 1919 |