Stage Door (1937)

I watched a lot of Stage Door yesterday and the guy who played in the Sheik as the author was starring it. I couldn't get over thinking that Rudy should have been there... that he should have at least still be alive and working and what a wonderous thought that is...to think of Rudy making talkies and running around with stars like Ginger Rogers and Lucille Ball. He would have only been 42 then, the age I am now.
Some say that part of his iconic status is because he died so young and still within the silent era never crossing over to sound like some of his collegues of that day were able too (not all, the guy who played his bodyguard in the son of the sheik, fell to bad times when talkies came around because he had a think accent (I think it was dutch) and when he couldn't find anything ended up opening a hot dog stand out on in front of the studios. It didn't fair well and he ended up killing himself with a gun, in 1933 I believe)... I think some times if Rudy hadn't died he would have made sure to get work for this guy, Rudy was so wonderful in this way --- so generous, kind and wonderful...

Anyway, I disagree. I think he still would have been more iconic if he had lived then anyone... but I also think being able to watch him continue to grow and progress would have satisfied us in some way, where we are not because he was taken from us so early in his life. So, although I think there is an edginess to his memory because of the tragic and sudden nature of his death and that gives his memory a really hot red flame (I guess of some anger from his fans for being robbed of additional works from him) I still think he would have been more popular than any other movie star today.

sorry for the grammarical errors of this post tonight, I'm flat out exhausted.