Erich Maria Remarque and Paulette Goddard…A TRUE HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY…
A long list of celebrities, VIP’s, artists, authors, intellectuals and scientists moved to the Alps in the past century to enjoy the majestic landscapes of Switzerland, in a place that would shield them from the rest of the World’s turmoil.
During WWII many who fled Nazi Germany had no other choice than to seek refuge in this neutral country wedged between Hitler and Mussolini.
Among them, was the World’s most famous anti-war novelist Erich Maria Remarque, who fled his homeland in the early 1930′s to avoid certain persecution by the Nazi regime, who was after him because of “…literary Treason against the German Soldier” after penning his best-selling “All Quiet on the Western Front“.
Remarque found refuge in Porto Ronco on the shores of Lago Maggiore, in Switzerland’s southernmost “Three-Lakes Region” shared with Italy, until his death in 1970. He rests in peace at the Ronco sopra Ascona cemetery, alongside his famous wife Paulette, and mother-in law Alta-Mae Goddard.
“All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)” received the third-ever Academy Award for Best Film, and was re-made into a 1979 made for TV movie starring “The Waltons’” Richard Thomas and the recently deceased Ernest Borgnine who considered “All Quiet…” to be “..the greatest thing that was ever made!” (YouTube).
Al Pacino‘s “Bobby Deerfield (Heaven has no Favorites)” is one of 20+ “Remarqueable” feature film productions based on Erich’s catalog of 13 novels, and is only one example of how Remarque’s influence in the American film scene went well beyond his death.
To this day, Remarque’s work is considered an important milepost in German-American Literary and Film History: his 1940′s novel “Spark of Life” is being developed into a feature by John Culton – and a 21st Century version of “All Quiet on the Western Front (2012)” is in pre-production, produced by Leslie Paterson and Ian Stokell, co-produced by Mary Richards (“Alice in Wonderland“) and directed by Mimi Leder (“Pay it Forward“).
Turner Classic Movies and Universal Studios recognized the importance of Remarque’s “All Quiet…” and presented the motion picture at the 2012 Hollywood Classic Film Festival, in a digitally remastered version released in Blue-Ray – to celebrate Universal’s 100th Anniversary.
Remarque, considered to be “The First Playboy” and the “Last Romantic” of the 20th Century, had many illustrious lovers – Natasha Paley-Romanov, Marlene Dietrich, Hedy Lamarr, Dorothy Lamour, Greta Garbo – and more – but no woman made him happier than Hollywood Star of the 30′s and 40′s, the unimitable Paulette Goddard – known in film history for acting alongside then-husband Charlie Chaplin’s last silent movie “Modern Times” and his first “talkie” “The Great Dictator“.
Maybelline Model, Paulette Goddard, starred alongside Hollywood Legends Henry Fonda, Bob Hope, Fred Astaire (YouTube) James Stewart, John Wayne,( https://ammo.com/
Her best friend, writer Anita Loos, was inspired by Paulette when she wrote Marilyn Monroe’s role of the gold-digging blonde, Loreley Lee, in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes“. Not only was Paulette the original, REAL LIFE “Diamonds are a Girl’s best Friend” Bombshell Girl – but she was also the original “Ghostbuster” along Bob Hope in “The Ghost Breakers (1940)” – a film made famous once again with the 1984 remake versions starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver.
Paulette’s portrayal of a World War II nurse in “So Proudly We Hail“ earned her the Best Supporting Actress nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Paulette was a trendsetter in so many ways, influencing fashion, jewelry design and the fine arts – from the 30′s until today.
She was George Cukor‘s #1 choice to become Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” – only to lose the role to Vivien Leigh, and given a consolation prize instead, being offered a leading role in “Reap the Wild Wind” starring alongside a young John Wayne – in a film where none other than a giant mechanical octopus outdid Paulette’s acting by getting an Oscar for special effects.
The love story of Paulette Goddard and Erich Maria Remarque begins in the early 50′s and has endured until her passing in 1990.
Paulette donated her Estate to New York University / Tisch School of the Arts, which to this day represents the ideals of Remarque and Paulette’s philantropic support benefiting Performing Arts Students. Scholarships in Paulette’s name are made available to NYU’s BFA/BA & MA students and faculty alike.
Professor Marion Nestle is one of a select group of faculty members who have been named “Paulette Goddard Professor”. The endowed professorship is also part of the Goddard Estate’s major bequest.
Notable NYU/Tisch graduates include Academy Award winners Marc Forster, Woody Allen, Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Scorsese & Angelina Jolie – Grammy Award winner Stefani Germanotta (aka Lady Gaga), and dozens more. Tisch freshmen have the option to reside at Paulette Goddard Hall and Residential College – a student’s daily reminder of Paulette’s generosity.
Paulette Goddard was one of Maybelline’s most popular models in the 1940’s and a personal favorite of Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams. She is also the # 1 all-time most popular post on the Maybelline Blog. I’m delighted to feature Michael H. Gaedeke-Sartori and the EMRPG Foundation today as my guest Blogger and hope you enjoy this priceless piece of Hollywood history, few people know anything about.
Paulette Goddard’s Enviable Accessories (stylelist.com)
- The Black Obelisk (theluria.wordpress.com)
- Hollywood Dreams Of Wealth, Youth And Beauty (npr.org)
- Film Review ALL Quiet on THE Western Front
