"The Divine Sarah, a Life of Sarah Bernhardt"

Sarah Bernhardt is best remembered as a legendary stage relic of the 19th century, but few film buffs realize she was the first international movie star. At 56, Bernhardt made her film debut in "Le Duel D'Hamlet" (1900) and did eight silent pictures with the last being "La Voyante" (1923). The actress was nearing 70 when starring as "Elizabeth, the Queen" (1913), her greatest screen success that reaped a fortune for her and American distributor Adolphe Zukor. In fact, the film's box office success provided Zukor with the means of buying into Paramount. The astute Bernhardt had no qualms about films in recognizing the financial potential and acknowledging "I rely for immortality on these."

"The Divine Sarah, A Life of Sarah Bernhardt" (Albert A. Knopf, Inc., 349 pages) required years of effort by Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale resulting in an enjoyable and entertaining biography. The book's strength is extensive use of Bernhardt's own words and letters and those of her intimates that offer a rounded portrait of the woman considered the greatest theatrical actress of her time. The authors' attempt to cut through the legend and Bernhardt's fabrications by illustrating what is the probable truth. "The Divine Sarah" is devoted to relating her personal life which makes for gossipy reading and little analysis can be done about her performances or artistry outside of what remains of her films since the authors must rely on reviews and eyewitness accounts. This demonstrates the tragedy of stage performers as opposed to film stars. No permanent records of even the greatest stage stars will cause them to fade from memory whereas film lives forever. We cannot count primitive silent pictures of an aging Bernhardt as a gauge of her talents and must trust history that she was an incomparable actress.