Word: bernhardts
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Bernhardt repertoire, which was on the risque side, gave her a reputation somewhat like that of Gypsy Rose Lee, caused an outburst against the "perverted Parisienne, the European courtesan, who has come to ruin the morals of the American people...
People might detest it. Others might not be able to explain its peculiar fascination. But people agreed that the acting of Sarah Bernhardt had a touch of genius about it, and this genius was a special kind that we loosely call the genius of France...
Louis Verneuil's book is the first fully documented biography of Sarah Bernhardt in English. It is a little too reverential, but gives a vivid, intimate report of the legendary Sarah. Biographer Verneuil is La Bernhardt's grandson-in-law who, like all her household, except her son Maurice, always addressed Actress Bernhardt simply as "Great." Verneuil is also a French playwright who is known in the U.S. for his Broadway plays (Oh, Mama, Matrimony Preferred) and movies (True Confession, My Life with Caroline...
...Sarah Bernhardt was brought up in the salon of her mother, Julie Van Hard, who was maintained by a succession of lovers. When Mother Van Hard decided to be rid of her homely, cranky daughter who was an annual index to her mother's age, the Due de Morny, the lover of the hour, suggested that Sarah go on the stage. Her debut was unsensational, but de Moray's influence kept Sarah in theatrical circulation...
...stylish stouts, Sarah's extreme leanness seemed undesirable. Said a wag: "An empty carriage stopped, and Sarah Bernhardt got out." Suddenly Sarah found herself; she began to recite poetry- "as the nightingale sings, as the wind sighs, as water murmurs." At 35 Sarah became European Actress No. 1, and "the divine Sarah...