Head on a Platter

 

Alla Nazimova in the 1923 silent film.









Alot of silent films are hard to make it through, but Alla Nazimova with her cotton candy hair and dark dark lips make it alot easier. The uber dramatic 1923 film version of Oscar Wilde's Salome (which is a loose retelling of the biblical story of King Herod) had amazing costumes, minimal sets and such a good, spooky feel.



 Costumes and sets were designed after Aubrey Beardsley's

illustrations for Oscar Wilde's play, total art nouveau perfection. The huge capes that Salome's net covered head emerges from  in the scene where she does her stepfather-seducing dance are so good. So is the totally disgusting performance by the actor playing King Herod. I love all of the hair, hats and headpieces in this movie so much. I've never seen frizz look so appealing. I also love the tribal-ethereal feel of the whole film.