Nita Naldi

Nita Naldi

Born: November 12, 1894
Died: February 17, 1961
in New York City, New York, USA
From Wikipedia

Nita Naldi (November 13, 1894 – February 17, 1961), born Mary Dooley, was an American silent film actress. She was usually cast in the role of the femme fatale/vamp, a persona first popularized by actress Theda Bara.

After first entering vaudeville, Naldi debuted on Broadway in 1918 as a chorus girl at the Winter Garden in The Passing Show of 1918. Her appearance in that production led to more stage jobs. Soon she found herself in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1918 and 1919. At this time she adopted the name Nita Naldi, which was an homage to a childhood friend named Florence Rinaldi.

She continued working on Broadway, and after a well received performance in The Bonehead, she was offered a stint with well-known producer William A. Brady. Brady cast her in his play Opportunity in 1920.

Naldi was asked to perform in a short film with Scottish comedian Johnny Dooley (no relation). She quit the film after realizing that Dooley had romantic intentions with another woman. She was then offered a role in A Divorce of Convenience with Owen Moore. After those two films, she had small roles in several independent films before being selected for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) with John Barrymore. The role in the film would give Naldi much prestige. During the production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Barrymore and Naldi became friends, and remained friends for many years, with Barrymore lovingly calling her the Dumb Duse.

Naldi was selected by Spanish author Vicente Blasco Ibáñez for the role of Dona Sol in the film version of his novel Blood and Sand (1922). Naldi was signed by Famous Players-Lasky for the role, and it became her first pairing with screen idol Rudolph Valentino. The film was a major success, for it gave Naldi the image of a vamp, which would follow her for the rest of her life. Naldi and Valentino were never romantic, and she would be one of the few to befriend his wife Natacha Rambova, though that friendship would sour when the Valentinos divorced.

Thanks to the financial reverses caused by her retirement from films, as well as the Depression, Naldi filed bankruptcy in 1932. She went back to the stage with Queer People and The Firebird in 1933. The press had been critical of her weight since 1924, but reviews to her appearances in both plays were especially harsh this time around—so harsh in fact that Naldi filed suit against one paper in 1934 for $500,000. The suit was dismissed in 1938.

In 1942, Naldi was considered for For Whom the Bell Tolls but did not receive the part. She never made another film. That same year she began appearing in a revue in New York with Mae Murray reciting the 1897 poem "A Fool There Was" in full kitsch.

In 1952, she had a notable role in the play In Any Language, co-starring the legendary stage actress Uta Hagen. In 1955, she coached Carol Channing how to vamp, for Channing's new musical The Vamp. Channing would be nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for that role.

Naldi spent her final years in New York City, where she died of a heart attack in her apartment at the age of 66. She was buried in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.

For her contribution to the film industry, Nita Naldi was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6316 Hollywood Blvd.

Movies for Nita Naldi...

The Love Goddesses
Title: The Love Goddesses
Character: (archive footage)
Released: March 3, 1965
Type: Movie
This insightful documentary features some of the major and most beautiful actresses to grace the silver screen. It shows how the movie industry changed its depiction of sex and actresses' portrayal of sex from the silent movie era to the present. Classic scenes are shown from the silent movie 'True Heart Susie,' starring Lillian Gish, to 'Love Me Tonight' (1932), blending sex and sophistication, starring Jeanette MacDonald (pre-Nelson Eddy), and to Elizabeth Taylor in 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), plus much , much more.
bee
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Title: The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: May 24, 1961
Type: Movie
A documentary of Hollywood's first great Latin Lover, the contradictions in his personal life, and his premature death.
bee
Title: Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Character: Self
Released: July 29, 1957
Type: TV
Tonight Starring Jack Paar is an American talk show hosted by Jack Paar under The Tonight Show franchise from 1957 to 1962. It originally aired during late-night. During most of its run it was broadcast from Studio 6B inside the RCA Building. The same studio would also host early episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Its theme song was an instrumental version of "Everything's Coming Up Roses", and the closing theme was "So Until I See You" by Al Lerner.
bee
What Price Beauty?
Title: What Price Beauty?
Character: Rita Rinaldi
Released: January 22, 1928
Type: Movie
Wholesome country girl Mary works at the House of Magic beauty salon and pines for the owner Clay. Unfortunately Clay has also been targeted by experienced vamp Rita.
bee
Die Pratermizzi
Title: Die Pratermizzi
Character: Valette - Tänzerin mit de Larve
Released: January 7, 1927
Type: Movie
bee
The Model From Montmartre
Title: The Model From Montmartre
Character: Princesse de Chabrant
Released: December 10, 1926
Type: Movie
bee
The Mountain Eagle
Title: The Mountain Eagle
Character: Beatrice
Released: November 1, 1926
Type: Movie
In the Kentucky hills a store keeper tries to win the love of an innocent schoolteacher. She runs away and seeks refuge with a hermit.
bee
Clothes Make the Pirate
Title: Clothes Make the Pirate
Character: Madame De La Tour
Released: March 15, 1926
Type: Movie
A disgruntled 18th century Bostonian who while wishing that he was a pirate, dons the clothes and play-acts the part. He is mistaken for the real pirate, Dixie Bull. More importantly, Errol "slays" the villain and puts his foot upon the pirate's head. This is more than enough and he heads back home to his unappreciated wife
bee
The Lady Who Lied
Title: The Lady Who Lied
Character: Fifi
Released: July 12, 1925
Type: Movie
During a carnival in Venice, Horace Pierpont, a wealthy American (Lewis Stone), falls in love with Fay Kennion (Virginia Valli). Their romance is derailed when she goes over to his apartment and finds the vampy Fifi (Nita Naldi) there. Fay goes down to Algiers, where she marries a former sweetheart, Dr. Alan Mortimer (Edward Earle).
bee
Cobra
Title: Cobra
Character: Elise Van Zile
Released: January 2, 1925
Type: Movie
Rodrigo, an impoverished Italian nobleman takes a job with a New York antique dealer he met overseas. Swearing off women, Rodrigo focuses on his job. But complications arise when he falls in love with his friend's secretary-- and his friend's wife looks to make a date with him.
bee
A Sainted Devil
Title: A Sainted Devil
Character: Carlotta
Released: November 17, 1924
Type: Movie
A nobleman seeks to rescue his bride, who has been kidnapped by his former lover and a bandit.
bee
Don't Call It Love
Title: Don't Call It Love
Character: Rita Coventry
Released: January 6, 1924
Type: Movie
Don't Call It Love (1923)
bee
The Ten Commandments
Title: The Ten Commandments
Character: Sally Lung - a Eurasian
Released: November 23, 1923
Type: Movie
The first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his receipt of the tablets and the worship of the golden calf. The second part shows the efficacy of the commandments in modern life through a story set in San Francisco. Two brothers, rivals for the love of Mary, also come into conflict when John discovers Dan used shoddy materials to construct a cathedral.
bee
Hollywood
Title: Hollywood
Character: Nita Naldi
Released: August 19, 1923
Type: Movie
Angela comes to Hollywood with only two things: Her dream to become a movie star, and Grandpa. She leaves an Aunt, a brother, Grandma, and her longtime boyfriend back in Centerville. Despite seeing major movie stars around every corner, and knocking on every casting office door in town, at the end of her first day she is still unemployed. To her horror, when she arrives back at their hotel, she finds that Grandpa has been cast in a movie by William DeMille and quickly becomes a star during the ensuing weeks. Her family, worried that Angela and Grandpa are getting into trouble, come to Hollywood to drag them back home. In short order Aunt, Grandma, brother, boyfriend and even the parrot become superstars, but Angela is still unemployed...
bee
Lawful Larceny
Title: Lawful Larceny
Character: Vivian Hepburn
Released: July 22, 1923
Type: Movie
During his wife's absence, Andrew Dorsey is snared by Vivian Hepburn, owner of a crooked gambling house, and her silent partner, Guy Tarlow. Dorsey loses so much money that Vivian persuades him to give her one of his firm's checks for a large sum of money. Hearing her husband's confession, Marion Dorsey, returned from Europe, determines to retrieve the check.
bee
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Title: You Can't Fool Your Wife
Character: Ardrita Saneck
Released: April 29, 1923
Type: Movie
Edith sets out to prove that a wife can never be fooled by her husband - but will she succeed?
bee
The Glimpses of the Moon
Title: The Glimpses of the Moon
Character: Ursula Gillow
Released: March 25, 1923
Type: Movie
The film is based upon the 1922 Edith Wharton novel The Glimpses of the Moon.
bee
Anna Ascends
Title: Anna Ascends
Character: Countess Rostoff
Released: November 20, 1922
Type: Movie
While working in Siad Coury’s coffeehouse in a Syrian neighborhood of New York City, Syrian immigrant Anna Ayyob falls in love with reporter, Howard Fisk, who is investigating a jewel smuggling ring. When she discovers that her co-worker, “The Baron,” is involved with international thieves Count and Countess Rostoff, Anna telephones Howard with the information, but the Baron attacks her. During the encounter, she believes she accidentally kills him, and disappears. Three years later, after anonymously writing a widely popular novel called Anna Ascends, based on her own life, Anna again meets Howard Fisk. To save Howard’s sister, Bessie Fisk, from marrying Count Rostoff, Anna exposes the jewel thief and confesses to the Baron’s murder. Fortunately, Howard’s investigation discloses that the Baron is very much alive. Her named cleared, Anna marries Howard.
bee
Blood and Sand
Title: Blood and Sand
Character: Doña Sol
Released: August 5, 1922
Type: Movie
Juan is the son of a poor widow in Seville. Against his mother's wishes he pursues a career as toreador. He rapidly gains national prominence, and takes his childhood sweetheart Carmen as his bride. He meets the Marquis' daughter Doña Sol and finds himself in the awkward position of being in love with two women, which threatens the stability of his family and his position in society. He finds interesting parallels in the life of the infamous bandit Plumitas when they eventually meet by chance.
bee
A Trip to Paramountown
Title: A Trip to Paramountown
Character: Self
Released: July 10, 1922
Type: Movie
Documentary short film depicting the filmmaking activity at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, featuring dozens of stars captured candidly and at work.
bee
Channing of the Northwest
Title: Channing of the Northwest
Character: Cicily Varden
Released: April 10, 1922
Type: Movie
A foppish Londoner joins the Royal Canadian Mounties and tries to break a smuggling ring.
bee
The Man from Beyond
Title: The Man from Beyond
Character: Marie LeGrande
Released: April 2, 1922
Type: Movie
The Arctic, 1922. After being buried under the ice for a hundred years, Howard Hillary is thawed and revived. When he meets Felice Strange, he recognizes in her the same woman he once loved deeply. But is it really her?
bee
The Last Door
Title: The Last Door
Character: The Widow
Released: May 10, 1921
Type: Movie
The Last Door (1921)
bee
A Divorce of Convenience
Title: A Divorce of Convenience
Released: January 1, 1921
Type: Movie
bee
The Common Sin
Title: The Common Sin
Character: Warren's Mistress
Released: July 1, 1920
Type: Movie
Wall Street financier Frederick Searles goes bankrupt, prompting his mercenary wife to marry their eldest daughter Needa to the wealthy, disreputable John Davis Warren, despite Needa's love for Hugh Stanton.
bee
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Title: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Character: Miss Gina
Released: March 18, 1920
Type: Movie
A doctor's research into the roots of evil turns him into a hideous depraved fiend.