This image is from "The American Venus" (1926), a Famous Players-Lasky film shot in the autumn of 1925. It's known that some scenes were filmed in Florida, as can be seen in the palm trees found in the background of the image. The origins of this image was the subject of some discussion on the Nitrateville website back in February, 2010 - see http://nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=5716&
There, it was concluded that this two-colour technicolor frame, which earlier was posted for identifying on the Nitrate Film Interest Group site at Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/nfig/3080268139/) is likely from "The American Venus," since this actress appears in part of a scene in a trailer for the movie, which can be seen on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OkLWeFdcQ4, from 4:30 to 4:34).
There was also some discussion as to the identity of the actress. She remains a mystery. "The American Venus" is considered a lost film shot largely in black & white with some early Technicolor sequences. All that remains of it are two or three trailers. According to the film's pressbook, there were both Service and De-Luxe Trailers for the film. And, the De-Luxe Trailers was noted to contain "scenes in natural color, Technicolor."
The pressbook also states that a "Big Special Trailer" could be obtained free of charge by applying to the "Paramount exploiteer assigned to their territory." These special trailers were 200 feet in length and and mostly in natural color.
Thomas Gladysz, 11.07.2010
