From Lynn Kear, co-writer of Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career:
My colleague James King and myself are now researching the life and career of Evelyn Brent, a popular Hollywood leading lady of the 1920s. Among her best known films are Josef von Sternberg's crime dramas Underworld (1927) and The Dragnet (1928), and Paramount's first all-talking picture, Interference (1928), with William Powell and Clive Brook.
We are interested in hearing from anyone who knew Evelyn Brent or has information on any of her husbands: B.P. Fineman, Harry Edwards, and Harry Fox.
In addition, we'd like to hear from people who knew or have information on Evelyn's partner, Dorothy Conrad (the last name is sometimes listed as Herzog, and sometimes as Konrad).
Finally, we're looking for the following:
- Any of Evelyn Brent's pre-1927 silent films [except for Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1917), Trapped by the Mormons (1922), Arizona Express (1924), and Love 'Em and Leave 'Em 1926]
- The Showdown (1928)
- A Night of Mystery (1928)
- His Tiger Wife (1928)
- Why Bring That Up (1929)
- Fast Company (1929)
- Framed (1930)
- Madonna of the Streets (1930)
- Traveling Husbands (1931)
- The Pagan Lady (1931)
- Attorney for the Defense (1932)
- The Crusader (1932)
- Forced Landing (1941)
- Westward Ho (1942)
- Spy Train (1943)
- Raiders of the South (1947)
- Again….Pioneers (1950)
We can be reached at retropolitan2001 at yahoo dot com or evelynbrent at yahoo dot com.
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Can't wait read to read all about her…
Saw The Silver Horde today (for the first time) with Brent playing Cherry Mallotte. She was really wonderful- low key, natural. I want to see more of her work.
I've just uploaded to YouTube a 1919 Edgar Jones 2-reel drama called BORDER RIVER that Evelyn appears in as the love interest. It is scored, and uploaded in HQ. You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=69D7AC682F4A0E1C
I haven't seen much with Evelyn Brent but the little I've seen, "Underworld" comes to mind, makes me think that she was a really good actress and a very classy personality.
As Norma Desmond would say, They Had Faces Then.
Evelyn Brent sure did. And poise as well.
A handsome rather than beautiful woman. I'd never heard of her I don't think, but now I'm curious to find out more about Evelyn Brent. Too bad she didn't remain a star during the talkie era. Her face was simply exquisite.