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| Lupe Velez |
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| Artist: | Clarence Sinclair Bull |
| Date: | 1930s |
| Medium: | Gelatin SIlver on Semi Gloss Double Weight Photostock |
| Dimensions: | 8" x 10" |
| Condition: | Mint |
| Original Use: | Hollywood Glamour Art |
| Price: | $550.00
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| Above: Full view |
Lupe Velez, the Mexican spitfire, moved to Hollywood in 1927 and quickly made a name for herself in the hedonistic and exciting early days of Hollywood studios, both for her impressive comedic performances, exotic beauty, and tempestuous romances. In this iconic portrait Clarence Sinclair Bull, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's still photography department, Lupez suggests a wellspring of intrigue beneath her dramatically lashed eyes. This dark side would become more and more apparent in Lupez' life, which ended in her tragic suicide at the young age of 36. Despite her haunting history, she left behind a legacy of beauty, and with her groundbreaking career became a heroine to generations of actresses from south of the border.
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| Above: Detail of Lupe Velez |
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| Above: Verso view |
Mini Biography
Together with Dolores del Rio, Ramon Novarro, Lupe Velez and José Mojica as among the few Mexican people who made history in the early years of Hollywood. Vélez career began in Mexico City, where she lived with her mother and sisters. In 1925, while working in a clothes store, Vélez caught the attention of three theatrical managers who were impressed by her beauty and grace. Her debut at Teatro Principal was a great success specially because hours before her first show she was forbidden to act on stage (she wasn't considered a "first-class" actress by then Mexican actor's guild). Bravely, Vélez took a seat in the auditorium and, after the curtain rose, she explained her situation to the public. This act gave her instant support and caused her delayed debut to be expected by all Mexico. After that, she was adored by everybody attending musical theater in the capital of Mexico. Her great success, combined with the rising careers of other latin people like Valentino, Del Río and Novarro, called the attention of Hollywood mogul Hal Roach who offered Vélez a contract to make movies. After two bit parts, she got the lead in Gaucho, The (1927) with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Her Hollywood career can be considered the most successful of all Mexican stars of that age. She hasn't any trouble in the transition from silents to talkies (her most memorable films are those from the the "Mexican spitfire" series of late 30's). On another hand, her love life was a disaster: she never recovered from her failed romance with Gary Cooper, who never wanted to marry her. She was married to Johnny Weissmuller, but they divorced after five years. Drugs and alcohol destroyed her life at 34. When she committed suicide she was pregnant by young actor Harald Maresch.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Maximiliano Maza
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