Alas, in 1929 came the Stock Market crash and everything changed and became worrisome. People started practicing conservatism because of financial losses, myself included.
I agree with Marjorie Rosen's good psychological analysis of my acting ability.
I am also very busy with civic affairs such as the San Antonio Symphony, St. Mary's University, Trinity University and others.
I do visit Los Angeles from time to time and receive great pleasure in seeing my old friends who are still alive.
I then remained in Berlin until Dec. 1938, spending my time between pictures at my villa on the Riviera.
In 1932 I was engaged by RKO to make my first talking picture. The story was of a cabaret singer by the name of Maria Draga and the King of Serbia.
In spite of all this, some of the more conservative stars of today are able to build up their estate into considerable amounts.
In the next shot the cameras zoomed to the fiancee who noticed the lights in the Czarina's room go out and the camera then turned to the pond where two goldfish were making love.
Large salaries and the low taxes of those days, also real estate and stock market investments enabled me to build up my estate.
Later, after spending some time in a sanitorium in the Tatra Mountains I entered the Dramatic Academy in Warsaw and after two years of study I received a diploma and gold medal and became a stage actress.
Los Angeles will always have a war spot in my heart for the happy memories it evokes.
Lubitsch and I were engaged by Union films (which later became the famous UFA) - Lubitsch as a director and myself as a star.
My hard work and excellent training entitled me to be a better actress than some of my competitors.
Of course, Hollywood is still making some excellent pictures which reflect the great artistry that made Hollywood famous throughout the world, but these films are exceptions, judging from box office returns and press reviews.
Speaking of the 20's and 30's that was the most extravagant and glamorous era of the film industry. There was hard work and longer hours than at present, but there was dignity, class and great style.
Stars didn't have to worry as they were on long term contracts and were able to enjoy their vacations without worrying about tomorrow. Few had financial worries due to large incomes and little taxes.
The experience of my ballet training was short lived on account of delicate health.
The presentation of hard core pornography, brutality and shocking language, from what I hear, is leaving the public jaded and tired of this kind of film.
Today the salaries of stars are astronomical in comparison with the 20's, but the high cost of today's living and taxes takes a huge bite out of these salaries.
Yes, I was correctly quoted in saying I introduced sex into films in the 20's, but it was sex in good taste and left a great deal to one's imagination.
Pola was married to Count Eugene Dombski from 1919-21 and to Prince Serge Mdvani from 1927-31.
Pola didn't make her talking film debut until 1932's A Woman Commands.
According to Hollywood legend, Pola was scared to death of cats.
Milton Berle claimed to have had an affair with Negri when he was a young comedian.
Pola has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6933 Hollywood Boulevard.
In 1964, Negri made a return to the screen when she co-starred with Hayley Mills in Disney's The Moonspinners.
Negri turned down the role of Norma Desmond in the classic Sunset Boulevard. It went to her old rival Gloria Swanson instead.
Pola lost much of her fortune during the 1929 Wall Street crash.
Pola made a spectacle of herself at Valentino's funeral when she feinted several times.
Negri starred in Polish and German films before arriving in Hollywood in late 1922.
Pola contracted tuberculosis during her younger days but managed to make a complete recovery.
When Pola was young, her father was arrested and sent to Siberia by the Russians. She never found out his exact fate but it was assumed that he perished in a Russian prison camp.
Pola is buried in Calvary Cemetary in East Los Angeles next to her mother.
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