Femme Fridays: Gloria Swanson

I adore these two images of Gloria Swanson

The top one is a still from the 1928 silent film, Sadie Thompson, in which Swanson played a plucky young prostitute who finds love in American Samoa. Swanson, who was 28 when the film was made, was also an uncredited producer. There's too much to like about this image: the eyes, the hat, the fur, that stony-eyed glare...

The bottom image, is of course, from Sunset Boulevard. Swanson played her most celebrated role as Norma Desmond, the loony and delusional silent film star who's incapable of realizing that the "talkies" have passed her by. I love that this image captures Norma in all of her glory, as if lounging in bed in diamonds while sipping on a cocktail and smoking a cigarette is the most natural state of being. Swanson is nothing short of amazing as Norma, and as I watched the film recently, I was reminded of how frightening Swanson played her to be.

I couldn't resist posting the final scene from the film. Enjoy & have a wonderful weekend.