In “Rose Hobart” (1936) Cornell utilizes and recontextualizes images of the actress Rose Hobart from the film “East of Borneo” (1931) (it can be watched here for free https://youtu.be/5MR5ew2lquE?si=8wsPk3ccgdLDwzG1)
#LaEsoterica #RoseHobart #JosephCornell #EastOfBorneo

Joseph Cornell became so enamored with Rose Hobart (the actress) after watching “East of Borneo” (1931) many, many, many times that he purchased a 16mm print and literally cut out shots featuring only Hobart that he could watch over & over again. Think of this as the first ever “Fancam”
#LaEsoterica #RoseHobart

During the 1936 debut of “Rose Hobart” at a New York City gallery, audience member Salvador Dalí caused a disturbance when he leapt up, knocked over the projector and proclaimed that Joseph Cornell had “stolen [the film] from [his] subconscious!” Subsequently, the film was not shown in public again until the 1960s when Cornell had it reprinted on rose-tinted filmstock. No word on whether Rose Hobart the actress ever learned of the film’s existence during her lifetime.
#LaEsoterica #RoseHobart