Ramón Novarro, Luz Y Sombra De Hollywood

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Ramón Novarro, Luz Y Sombra De Hollywood 8 de Julio de 2013 47 Ramón Novarro, luz y sombra de Hollywood POR: RI C ARDO PEREDA NE vá REZ amón Novarro, cuyo nombre real era Juan Ramón Gil Samaniego R(Victoria de Durango, Durango, México; 6 de febrero de 1899, Hollywood, California, Estados Unidos; 30 de octubre de 1968), fue el primer actor mexicano que trabajó y que logró el éxito en Hollywood. Novarro participó en 55 películas, donde además trabajó como director, productor y guionista. Es recordado como uno de los grandes “latin lovers” del cine mudo. Nació en el seno de una familia aco- modada. Su padre un dentista, quien huyó a Los Ángeles tras escapar de la Revolución Mexicana. Primo de Dolores del Río, Novarro empezó su carrera cine- matográfica en 1916 dirigido por Cecil B. DeMille; entonces complementaba sus ingresos trabajando como profesor de piano, camarero y cantante. El director del cine al protagonizar (dentro de la pelí- Rex Ingram y la esposa de éste, la actriz cula “The Cat and the Fiddle”) la primera Alice Terry, empezaron a promocionar- escena de acción real de la historia del lo como rival de Rodolfo Valentino; fue cine rodada en Technicolor de tres tiras. entonces cuando Ingram le sugirió cam- Ya había rodado algunas escenas en el biar su apellido a Novarro. Ramón eligió antiguo Technicolor de dos tiras dentro de su nombre artístico en alusión a un amigo, “Ben-Hur”. Gabriel Navarro, quien décadas después Al vencer su sería abuelo del famoso guitarrista de rock contrato con MGM Dave Navarro. en 1935, el “caché” Desde 1923 Novarro empezó a actuar de Ramón Novarro en roles más importantes. Su papel en empezó a decaer, ya “Scaramouche” (1923) significó para él su que se negó a poner primer éxito importante. En 1925 alcan- su vida en manos de zó su mayor éxito como protagonista en Hollywood, pues los “Ben-Hur”, causando su vestuario gran productores y publicis- sensación. Fue ahí cuando Novarro alcan- tas querían que Novarro zó el estrellato de élite de Hollywood y fue contrajera matrimonio erigido como rival de Rodolfo Valentino. para empezar a callar Su rivalidad fue difundida artificialmente los rumores acerca de por la prensa, ya que en realidad Novarro su empedernida soltería. y Valentino eran amigos íntimos y tenían Trabajó esporádicamente un «secreto» en común: sus preferencias en películas de serie B y homosexuales. Valentino llegó a regalar a también probó suerte en Novarro un juguete sexual de grafito, con Broadway. Su último papel una dedicatoria en la base. Este peculiar en el cine fue en “El pisto- objeto sería, décadas después, el arma que lero de Cheyenne” (1960) acabó con la vida de Novarro. junto a Anthony Quinn y Al fallecer Valentino prematuramente Sophia Loren. en 1926, Ramón Novarro se convirtió en el Novarro tuvo muchos actor latino más importante del medio, y el conflictos morales por su con- cambio del cine mudo al sonoro no afectó dición de homosexual y católi- su éxito. Se especializó en musicales y co. Hay rumores de que la MGM en 1931 llegó a co-protagonizar uno de intentó adjudicar a Novarro a los títulos clásicos de Greta Garbo: “Mata un lavender marriage (matrimo- Hari”. Disfrutaba de un buen nivel de vida nio para lavar su imagen) que y estaba muy interesado en el negocio rechazó. Sin embargo hay quie- inmobiliario, llegando a ganar $ 10.000 a nes -incluyendo al biógrafo de la semana. Novarro, André Soares- niegan En 1934 marcó otro hito en la historia haya existido tal coerción..
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