Warning: Contains SPOILERS for MaXXXine!
MaXXXinehas an odd connection to Theda Bara, and here is why her Hollywood Walk of Fame star appears in the film, how it ties back intoPearl, and why she is so important toTi West’sXtrilogy. Despite theXfranchise centering on fictional characters and a fictional story, the trilogy makes a lot of references to real-life pop culture and figures, with the use of the Night Stalker inMaXXXinebeing one of the most prominent ones.MaXXXine’s connection to Theda Bara is also incredibly significant, and here is what it means, explained.
Ti West has finally brought hisXtrilogy to a closewith the release of 2024’sMaXXXine, the proper sequel toXthat followed up on the original film as well as the prequelPearl.MaXXXinepicks up six years after the events ofX, following Maxine as she attempts to dodge the repercussions of her role in the farm massacre while also pursuing her acting career in Hollywood.MaXXXinegives an even greater insight into the actresses and movies that inspired Maxine Minx, and while she names off several notable examples, Theda Bara is one of the biggest.
Theda Bara Was One Of Cinema’s First “Sex Symbols”
She Was Nicknamed “The Vamp”
Early in the events ofMaXXXine,Maxine Minx can be seen standing on Theda Bara’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star, with the camera showing the actress' name on the ground. Many viewers today may not know who Theda Bara is, but at the time of her stardom, she was one of the most notable figures in Hollywood. Theda Bara was an actress in some of Hollywood’s biggest silent movies, with her being active from 1908 to 1926, with her retiring before sound films took off. Bara most famously starred in 1917’sCleopatra, as well as films likeA Fool There WasandSalomé.
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One of the reasons that Bara was so popular was that she was one of cinema’s first sex symbols.Bara often played femme fatale characters, with her frequent roles as a seductress earning her the nickname “The Vamp.” Bara often wore relatively revealing clothing, with the films that she starred in highlighting her beauty and sexuality. Like many actresses who have been seen as Hollywood sex symbols throughout the years, this made Bara a bit of a controversial figure, although this never stopped her from starring in massive movies with Fox Studios.
How Theda Bara Connects To Maxine Minx’s Career
She Has A Major Thematic Connection To MaXXXine
MaXXXine’s usage of Theda Bara attempts to draw a thematic link between Bara and Maxine Minx, and here’s how the two are similar. Both Bara and Maxine Minx are actresses who are well-known for their sexuality, although this is exaggerated in Maxine’s story. In theXseries, Maxine literally started out by acting in pornographic films, with her then getting her stardom by appearing inexploitation films likeThe Puritan II. However, the fact that she is a controversial sex icon in Hollywood draws a clear parallel with Theda Bara’s life.
Theda Bara and Maxine Minx’s career trajectories are also similar, with both of them having immensely fast surges in popularity. After appearing in one film in 1914, Bara immediately became a star in 1915, with her appearing in 10 films that year. Almost all of Bara’s major films were released between 1915 and 1919, with her career ending shortly after. Although theend of Maxine’s career isn’t seen inMaXXXine, the film does show thatThe Puritan IIcauses her to break out as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, launching her career incredibly fast.
Theda Bara Is A Callback To Pearl In X
Pearl’s Alligator Is Named Theda
MaXXXineactually isn’t the first time that Theda Bara has been referenced intheXseries, as the Hollywood Walk of Fame star actually functions as a callback toPearl. In thePearlprequel,Pearl has a pet alligatorthat plays a big role in the story. This alligator is named Theda by Pearl, with it being a clear reference to Theda Bara.
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The fact that Pearl is an aspiring actress and the fact that the film takes place in 1918 means that the alligator’s name must reference Theda Bara, further linking the actress to the franchise’s themes. Theda Bara is connected to both Maxine and Pearl, with her story having major parallels to both characters inPearlandMaXXXine.
MaXXXine
Cast
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx lands her big break, but her rise to stardom is jeopardized by a mysterious killer targeting starlets. As the body count rises, secrets from Maxine’s past threaten to surface, intertwining her quest for fame with a deadly game of survival.
