Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star

Louis B. Mayer, the MGM magnate, used to refer to Hedy Lamarr as “the most beautiful girl this century”. Glamorous Hedy, became famous for the scandal she triggered in 1933 when she made the first nude scene in cinema in the film Ecstasy. After this, she had an extraordinary career with over 25 films in Hollywood. Hedwig Kiesler, Australian actress, that adopted the stage name of Hedy Lamarr, was the personification of a seductive woman, dark-haired, of the sinner type, imported from Europe with a place guaranteed on the exotic scenario of irresistible natives. Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria on November 9, 1914 and died in 2000, in Florida, United States. She became a U.S. citizen in 1953 and was married six times and had three children. She appeared in films as a vehicle for dreams, desires, erotic projections invented by Hollywood. Even today, Lamarr is a brilliant example of the creation of a Hollywood image. As with other stars in the forties, Lamarr was totally absorbed by fabrication of dreams and publicity. The film shows a psychological picture of the star with statements by Mickey Rooney, Lupita Kohner, Kenneth Anger and many others of Lamarr`s friends. It also includes clips from Ecstasy, by Gustav Machaty, and Hedy, by Andy Warhol.

Barbara Orbemaier She was born in 1965, in Germany. She studied modern literature, history of art and science of communication in the universities of Salzburg, Vienna, Paris, Orléans, and Constance.She joined the Dubini Filmproduktion of brothers Fosco and Donatello, in 2001. Fosco and Donatello Dubini Fosco (1954) and Donatello (1955) are brothers, both were born in Zurich and studied theater, cinema, and television at Köln University. They made their first film in 1978, a documentary Gösgen, followed by another five before the first feature, Ludwig 1881, in 1983. They returned to documentaries in 1995, with Jean Seberg: American Actress (selection for the 19th Mostra). They took part in the 25th Mostra with Thomas Pynchon: A Journey Into the Mind of P. (2001) and with The Journey to Kafiristan (2001).

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA