Pola Negri had been a star in German films (many were shown in the US) for several years when she came to Paramount to star in BELLA DONNA.
She plays Ruby Chepstow, a selfish woman who is obsessed were her own beauty and the power she has over men. In Venice she purposely lures a duke into her clutches to drive her husband wild. When he (Adolphe Menjou) accidentally kills the duke in a jealous rage and is jailed, the divorced Ruby is disgraced and runs off to England.
She next goes after Nigel Armine (Conrad Nagel) heir to a British title and fortune. He throws over his girlfriend (Lois Wilson) to marry Ruby despite the warnings from friends. They run off to Egypt to honeymoon.
Ruby is bored by Nigel but is excited by wealthy Egyptian Mahmoud Baroudi (Conway Tearle) and starts an affair with him. When she learns that her husband is no longer heir to the title and fortune, she and Baroudi plan to poison him.
But fate intervenes and Ruby's plans are squashed.
Negri is splendid as the flamboyant Ruby whose lust for beauty and money makes her very dangerous. Negri pulls out all the stops. Wilson and Menjou have brief screen time, but Nagel is solid as the timid husband and Tearle is good as the sleazy womanizer. The final shots of Negri wandering the desert in her billowing gown and heels is unforgettable.
This lush production (the set design is terrific) from Paramount with George Fitzmaurice as director was a big hit in 1923 and quickly established Negri as a star in the US. She remained a star til the end of the silent era and then returned to European films.
