Nita Naldi

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Nita Naldi

Born Anita Donna Dooley
April 1, 1897(1897-04-01)
New York City, New York, United States
Died February 17, 1961 (aged 63)
New York City, New York, United States
Spouse(s) J. Searle Barclay

Nita Naldi (April 1, 1897 – February 17, 1961) was one of the most successful silent film actresses of the Roaring Twenties.

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[edit] Early life

Born Anita Donna Dooley in New York City into a working class Irish – Italian family, Nita began her professional career in the Ziegfeld Follies, changing her decidedly Irish sounding surname to the more exotic Naldi as an homage to a childhood friend with the surname Rinaldi. During her time at the Follies, she posed for famous pin-up girl artist Alberto Vargas who painted Naldi topless next to the bust of an imp.

[edit] Career rise

Discovered in 1919 by actor John Barrymore, Nita soon took Hollywood by storm. With her sultry, exotic looks, she was immediately snapped up for a Paramount Pictures contract.

She appeared in her first film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1920 at Barrymore's request. Initially, Nita was often cast in the role of the vamp; a sort of paean to earlier Hollywood star and rival Theda Bara. It was an onscreen persona that Naldi would capitalize on during her years in the film industry.

Her most memorable role came when she was teamed with Italian screen idol Rudolph Valentino in the enormous 1922 hit Blood and Sand. The pairing of the overtly seductive duo was so appealing to the public that Naldi was Valentino's co-star in two more films: 1924's A Sainted Devil, and Cobra in 1925. Naldi traveled to Europe in 1924 and spent part of her trip in Paris being fitted for costumes for The Hooded Falcon another film in which she was to co-star with Valentino. The film never started production and all that survive are posed costume stills of Valentino. No shots of Naldi in costume are known to exist. Naldi was often referred to by the press as the "Female Valentino". Naldi would become close friends with Valentino and Rambova. Later, she would star in What Price Beauty? (1925), a film that Valentino's wife Natacha Rambova had written and produced (financed by S. George Ullman who was the Valentino's manager). While the film would be given a delayed, limited release, it is noteworthy for being actress Myrna Loy's first screen appearance.

At her career's peak, Naldi appeared in the colossal 1923 epic film The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Nita Naldi appeared in one of legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock's first directorial efforts, 1926's The Mountain Eagle. She is often credited, mistakenly, as appearing in Hitchcock's The Pleasure Garden.

Naldi would spend the mid-1920s appearing opposite such popular actors as of the era as: Leatrice Joy, Conrad Nagel, Maurice Costello, Rod La Rocque, Dorothy Gish, Norma Shearer and Bebe Daniels. She would make her last appearance onscreen in the 1929 Austrian film Pratermizzi opposite Czech actress Anny Ondra.

[edit] Travel abroad

In the late 1920's she travelled to Europe and made several films before returning to America and appearing on Broadway in the 1933 productions of The Firebird and Queer People. Like so many other silent film stars, however, the advent of the talkies saw Naldi's career wane. By the end of the 1920s, with America entering the Great Depression, her vamp persona seemed passé to American film-goers. Nita eventually retired and married Searle Barclay in 1929; the couple remained married until his death on January 30, 1945. Naldi never remarried nor had children.

[edit] Later life

She occasionally came out of retirement to appear in minor parts in films, television, and the stage — most notably her role in the 1952 play In Any Language, co-starring the legendary stage actress Uta Hagen.

Nita Naldi died of a heart attack in her New York City apartment at the age of 63 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens County, New York, United States.

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

[edit] Nita Naldi filmography

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)
  • Life (1920)
  • Common Sin (1920)
  • Last Door (1921)
  • Experience (1921)
  • Divorce of Convenience (1921)
  • Snitching Hour (1922)
  • Reported Missing (1922)
  • The Man from Beyond (1922)
  • For Your Daughter's Sake (1922 reissue of Common Sin)
  • Channing of the Northwest (1922)
  • Blood and Sand (1922)
  • Anna Ascends (1922)
  • You Can't Fool Your Wife (1923)
  • The Ten Commandments (1923)
  • Lawful Larceny (1923)
  • Hollywood (1923)
  • The Glimpses of the Moon (1923)
  • A Sainted Devil (1924)
  • Don't Call It Love (1924)
  • The Breaking Point (1924)
  • Mountain Eagle (1925)
  • Marriage Whirl (1925)
  • The Pleasure Garden (1925 - unconfirmed)
  • Lady Who Lied (1925)
  • Cobra (1925)
  • Clothes Make the Pirate (1925)
  • The Unfair Sex (1926)
  • The Miracle of Life (1926)
  • Fear O'God (1926)
  • La Femme Nue (1926)
  • What Price Beauty? (1928)
  • The Model From Montmartre (1928)
  • La Maschera d'Oro (The Golden Mask) (1929)
  • You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940)

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Naldi, Nita
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dooley, Anita Donna
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH 1897-4-1
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH 1961-2-17
PLACE OF DEATH New York City, New York, United States