The enigma of Barbara Kent

myrnaloyisdope · Post by **myrnaloyisdope** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:21 pm

I've been infatuated by Pal Fejos' gem Lonesome for the past few months, and one of the more engaging aspects of the film is Barbara Kent's performance.

A friend of mine recently mentioned that she was still alive...now 103, and I was surprised to learn she's from my home province of Alberta.

My understanding is that she has refused to talk about her film career at all. Seems a shame, as she must have some fascinating stories.

So anyone got any interesting information of the lovely Ms. Kent?

misspickford9 · Post by **misspickford9** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:38 pm

I was thinking of posting about her a few weeks ago. Everyone says they 'heard' from 'someone' she is still alive...I demand proof or I'm weary to believe it!

myrnaloyisdope · Post by **myrnaloyisdope** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:41 pm

imdb and wikipedia aren't good enough for ya??

misspickford9 · Post by **misspickford9** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:17 pm

myrnaloyisdope wrote:imdb and wikipedia aren't good enough for ya??

LOL no! I've read through all those threads and no one has really ever said for sure they've spoken to her or heard from her. Its always a 'friend of mine said'.

It would be neat if she was alive; but I find it a little odd that no one can prove she still is. Its like that Florence Lawrence novel...

colbyco82 · Post by **colbyco82** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:49 pm

My knowledge of Barbara Kent is mostly limited to her work with Harold Lloyd in his first two talkies. I always found her very beautiful, but I can't imagine her work with Lloyd is among her best. She just doesn't leave much of an impression in these films, especially compaired with Constance Cummings in Lloyd's next film Movie Crazy. Im curious to see her in other films to compare.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:10 am

Barbara Kent was very good indeed in Lonesome. But she forgettable in alsmot every other film I've seen her in. She plays an insipid good girl in Richard Barthelmess' Drop Kick, which is stolen by the wicked Dorothy Revier. I have zero memory of her from the Harold Lloyd films of Flesh and the Devil. Likewise, her appearance in talkies like Indiscreet, Emma, and Vanity Fair left little impression.

Maybe she just wasn't the type who could stand up against major stars like Gloria Swanson, Marie Dressler, Myrna Loy, Harold Lloyd, Greta Garbo, etc. Yet her blandness worked well for her in the Paul Fejos film.

RossVanDerH · Post by **RossVanDerH** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:30 pm

Why doesn't Barbara Kent want to talk about being in films?
________
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boblipton · Post by **boblipton** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:48 pm

Perhaps the industry pissed her off and she decided that if you can't say anything nice, wait until you're with Alice Roosevelt Longworth in Hell.

Bob