The last spoken words of Lupe Velez were: “I’m getting to the point where the only thing I am afraid of is life itself”. They were expressed to her friend, the actress Estelle Taylor, visiting Velez on the night which appeared to have been her last one. The last written words of Lupe were left on a small piece of paper and were meant for her partner with whom she had then just broken: “How could you Harald fake such a great love for me and our baby when all the time you didn’t want us, I see no other way out for me, so good bye and good luck to you. Love, Lupe.” Within her last days she kept repeating: - I have everything, still I have nothing.
She was found by her secretary dead at nine o’clock in the morning, December 14, 1944, in her bed, dressed in the blue silk pyjamas, having been in the fourth month of pregnancy, aged 36. She consumed 75 pills of Seconal which she washed down with her favorite brandy.
The world was shocked with the news about death of the popular actress and fascinating personality, who throughout last 15 years was a symbol of life – joyful, vibrant, temperamental; a woman with lots of pep – a "Mexican Hurricane”, both on American and Mexican screen, as well as in her tumultuous private life. Her characterization of the explosive, rebellious and irreverent Latina woman gave her enormous popularity.

In the video, there is a sort of a medley made on the piano by the author of the video, consisting of 3 melodies which Lupe Velez presented singing them in her earliest American sound films in late 1920’s. They are as follows:
- “Yo Te Amo Means I Love You” from the Paramount picture “The Wolf Song”
- “Chinese Lullaby” from the Universal picture “East is West”
- “Where Is the Song of Songs for Me” from the United Artists picture “Lady of the Pavements”.

Played on Kawai by the author of the video, according to the original first sheet editions of the music mentioned above.
This is to remember that beautiful, charming woman and to commemorate the tragic end of her life which happened just 72 years ago.

Graphic image at the beginning - Jerzy Czyż, with thanks !

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