A single mention in a Taylor Swift song can send a particular artist or historical figure to a whole new pop-culture level, thanks to the detailed attention of the singer-songwriter’s devoted fans. That’s happening now for silent-era film star Clara Bow, whose name provides the title for the final song on the standard edition of Swift’s new album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Nearly 100 years after the end of her brief but memorable film career, Bow is once again in the spotlight, thanks to Swift. If Swifties are wondering what their favorite singer means when she opens the song with the line “You look like Clara Bow,” the good news is that many of Bow’s films are in the public domain and are easy to watch online. Here are three Bow films to start with in exploring Swift’s new silent-movie inspiration.
