Liza Minnelli in Cabaret (Bob Fosse, 1972). For her "look," Minnelli drew inspiration from silent film star Louise Brooks. What good is sitting alone in your room? Come, hear the music play. Life is a cabaret, old chum, Come to the cabaret... #moviestar #moviestars #lizaminnelli #cabaret #oscarwinner #classicfilm #classicmovies #wehadfacesthen
Yesterday was Ella Fitzgerald's birthday (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), and I let it pass without comment. Shame on me. The First Lady of Song had a long and successful career. She also appeared in a few films, most notably in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) and St. Louis Blues (1958). #ellafitzgerald #singer #bigbandsinger #swing #bebop #jazzsinger #blacksinger #hermanleonard #photography #wehadfacesthen
Carole Lombard in a publicity photo for Supernatural, 1933. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #carolelombard #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #photography
Marilyn Monroe has her makeup attended to on the set of The Seven Year Itch (Billy Wilder, 1955). #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marilynmonroe #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Elizabeth Taylor, undated (but possibly late 1950s) #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #elizabethtaylor #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Crossfade in Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock, 1940), the only one of Hitchcock's films to win the Best Picture Oscar. (The face belongs, of course, to Joan Fontaine.) The cinematographer was George Barnes, who had a long career in Hollywood, working steadily from 1918 to 1953. "Barnes’ photographic interpretation of Rebecca is the sort of thing to which his fellow cinematographers may point, as indeed they did in bestowing upon it the industry's premiere Award, as a complete example of what truly great camerawork can mean to a production." - American Cinematographer magazine, 1941 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #joanfontaine #rebecca #alfredhitchcock #georgebarnes #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
James Cagney and Jean Harlow, publicity photo for The Public Enemy (William Wellman, 1931), a Warner Bros production. #precode #oldhollywood #moviestars #moviestar #jamescagney #jeanharlow #thepublicenemy #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestar #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies # #wehadfacesthen
Jayne Mansfield at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, placing her hand prints in those of Marilyn Monroe, undated but certainly very early in her career. The man standing behind her is unknown to me but looks quite a bit like Bryan Ferry (and now that I've seen that I can't unsee it.) #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #jaynemansfield #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #graumanschinesetheatre
Joan Crawford, 1932-33, a George Hurrell photo. Hurrell shot Crawford countless times, in one case making 500 plates in one evening. She described him as “an octopus,” zipping across the studio to get the perfect shot. Hurrell, in turn, was smitten with her: “If I were a sculptor, I would be satisfied with just doing Joan Crawford all the time.” #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #joancrawford #georgehurrell #photography #photographer #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmoviestars #wehadfacesthen
Lilian Bond and Gloria Stuart in Air Mail (John Ford, 1932), a story of pilots risking their lives in bad weather to deliver important mail. Gloria Stuart, of course, played Old Rose in Titanic, nearly 65 years later. This photo fascinates me, but I couldn't tell you why. #oldhollywood #lilianbond #moviestar #moviestars #gloriastuart #airmail #johnford #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Marlene Dietrich, early 1930s #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marlenedietrich #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
A young Lana Turner, c.1937, when she was sixteen years old. She had been "discovered" at the Top Hat Malt Shop and shortly thereafter was signed by Warner Bros though that studio turned out to be not the right fit. Warners, not seeing much potential in her, let her go, and MGM then put her under contract. (It was some time shortly after signing with MGM that her hair was dyed blonde.) Lana Turner would become a top star for MGM in her 18 years with that studio. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #lanaturner #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #mgm #wehadfacesthen
Julie Christie in Shampoo (Hal Ashby, 1975). Impossibly, formidably beautiful. #moviestar #moviestars #juliechristie #britishactor #classicfilmstar #oldmoviestar #classicmoviestars #shampoo #cxlassicfilm #classicmovies #oldmovies #vintageglamour #wehadfacesthen
A very young Loretta Young. She was signed by First National Pictures at the age of 14, but she was hardly a neophyte. She'd been in show business one way or another since the age of three. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #lorettayoung #silentfilm #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Jean Simmons, 1952, a British actress, married to Stewart Granger, who moved with Granger to Hollywood in 1950. She had been a top star in the UK, and enjoyed a long and successful career in the US. Among my favorites of her performances: Angel Face, Guys and Dolls, Home Before Dark, Spartacus and Elmer Gantry. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #jeansimmons #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Gene Tierney, early 1940s. She had a successful Broadway career before being approached by Hollywood. Columbia put her under contract but then didn't know what to do with her. After returning to Broadway, Tierney starred in The Male Animal, a smash hit, which brought her to the attention of Fox, who quickly offered her a contract. At the age of nineteen, Gene Tierney made her film debut opposite Henry Fonda in The Return of Frank James (Fritz Lang, 1940). And the rest, as they say, is history. Her dress was designed by Gwen Wakeling, head designer for Twentieth Century-Fox. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #genetierney #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #vintagefashion #gwenwakeling
Lovely portrait of Ann Dvorak, early 1930s. Her story will sound familiar... She was a major star at Warner's in the early Thirties, making her mark with Scarface in 1932. But the studio worked her hard (for instance, in 1934 Dvorak made nine films in 12 months). She wanted better scripts, more pay; the studio heads fought her, and so she became labeled "difficult," resulting in less work, fewer opportunities. Ann Dvorak retired when she married her third husband. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #anndvorak #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Mae West, 1932, publicity photo to promote Paramount's newest star. West had actually been in show business a long time before her movie career began. She'd been headlining vaudeville and Broadway since her teen years. At the time of her first film, Night After Night (1932), she was already forty years old. Some trivia: it was in that first film that this memorable exchange of dialogue, written by West herself, took place: A hat-check girl exclaims, "Goodness, what beautiful diamonds", and West replies, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie." #oldhollywood #moviestars #moviestar #maewest #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Gloria Swanson, 1939, photo by George Platt Lynes. There is a lesser known period between Swanson's silent film stardom and her early sound films and her later re-emergence in Sunset Boulevard. During that time (1933 - 1950) she worked on a few films in Hollywood and the UK. After her last film in 1940, she left Hollywood for New York. She appeared in plays, designed clothes, took up sculpture, performed for radio, and made personal appearances at film-related events. Still, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond is how she is remembered. I won't quibble because it's a brilliant performance, but Norma is not the entirety of Swanson. “It should be pointed out that Gloria Swanson was not Norma Desmond. Unlike her delusional screen counterpart, Swanson was fiercely realistic. She lived in the present –not in the past– and pursued many interests with passionate zeal. She was also a good actress. Judging by the number of people who think she was Norma Desmond, maybe a little too good.” – Lon Davis, biographer #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #gloriaswanson #georgeplattlynes #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #normadesmond #sunsetboulevard #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Vivien Leigh, looking very stylish with snood, dark glasses and veiled hat, 1940 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #vivienleigh #vintagefashion #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Joan Bennett, publicity still for The Reckless Moment (Max Ophüls, 1949). The story concerns a mother attempting to cover up a murder committed (she thinks) by her daughter. But soon she finds herself being blackmailed by someone who has pictures of the daughter and the murdered boyfriend together. She scrambles to take care of both problems on the weekend while her husband is away on business. The relationship that begins to develop between Bennett and the blackmailer (James Mason) is the heart of the story, but that is embedded in a taut, suspenseful film noir. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #joanbennett #therecklessmoment #maxophuls #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #filmnoir #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Elizabeth Taylor, c.1955. I know this photo has been retouched, but her startling beauty remains unchanged. That year she was working on Giant, a long film shoot that was interrupted by the death of James Dean. It was released a year later (1956). #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #elizabethtaylor #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
I can't quite put my finger on WHAT emotion Taylor Swift's new song Clara Bow brings out in me, but I remember my grandfather used to say I looked like Clara Bow. (I don't really see it. Heddy Lamar, yes. Jennifer Jones, sure. Maybe it was the eyes?) Either way it gave me an excuse to post a picture from my 1920s silent movie party from a few years back. I love silent movies. I remember staying up late on Sunday nights watching Silent Sundays on TCM, and counting down weeks and months till a Lon Chaney movie would be on, scouring every video store, programming my vcr to record things that were on when I was at school. I think i was probably pretty annoying. #taylorswift #torturedpoetsdepartment #clarabow #silentmovie #1920s #1920sfashion #historiccosplay #historicfashion #flapper #itgirl #wehadfacesthen
Another favorite photo: Marilyn Monroe, 1955, New York City, photo by Elliot Erwitt #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marilynmonroe #ellioterwitt #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire performing the dramatic "Let's Face the Music and Dance" number from Follow the Fleet (Mark Sandrich, 1936). The dance is filmed in one continuous shot lasting two minutes and fifty seconds. Her costume was designed by Bernard Newman. #oldhollywood #dancers #moviestar #moviestars #gingerrogers #fredastaire #letsfacethemusicanddance #followthefleet #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Mary Astor, publicity photo for the silent epic film Don Juan, 1926. She made her film debut at fourteen and was nineteen when she made the film, co-starring with John Barrymore. Astor made an easy transition to sound, though her studio was worried at first that her voice was too low, and she continued working in film until 1963, when she appeared in Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #maryastor #silentfilmstar #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Veronica Lake, 1941-42. We can assume the dress she wears was by Edith Head, head designer at Paramount Pictures, Lake's home studio. Lake burst onto the scene with some terrific movies - Sullivan's Travels, I Married a Witch, This Gun for Hire, The Glass Key - but then her career foundered. She had mental health issues as well as a deep insecurity, and she medicated herself with alcohol. (Joel McCrea was set to co-star again with Lake after Sullivan's Travels in I Married a Witch, but he refused to work with her again: "Life's too short for two films with Veronica Lake.") She was reunited with Alan Ladd, who had no problems working with her, for a third film together, The Blue Dahlia (1946), but that was her last successful film. Still, she was charming and impudent, delivering her lines with a dry irony. Veronica Lake still delights us in those first films. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #pinup #veronicalake #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #edithhead #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #vintagefashion #wehadfacesthen
William Holden, c.1950. Today is his birthday (April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981). He is not as appreciated now as some of the more hardboiled actors are - Bogart, Lancaster, Mitchum, etc. - but he starred in a surprising number of popular and critically acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, Sabrina, Picnic, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Wild Bunch and Network. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #williamholden #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Bette Davis and Fred MacMurray relaxing after a CBS radio performance, 1930s. It was a custom at the time to perform radio versions of hit films, a few years after their initial release and often with different actors. Their scripts were whittled down to fit 30 minutes or an hour, such as with CBS' popular Lux Radio Theater. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #bettedavis #fredmacmurray #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Shirley Temple and a terrier named Terry, 1932, possibly publicity for The Pie-Covered Wagon or Bright Eyes, depending on which website you consult. "In almost all of [her] films, she played the role of emotional healer, mending rifts between erstwhile sweethearts, estranged family members, traditional and modern ways, and warring armies. Characteristically lacking one or both parents, she constituted new families of those most worthy to love and protect her." - John Kasson, Temple biographer #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #shirleytemple #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #dogs
Rock Hudson, 1955. "I have no philosophy about acting or anything else. You just do it. And I mean that. You just do it." #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #rockhudson #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #gayactor
Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde (Arthur Penn, 1967). She was not the first choice for the role of Bonnie, a Depression era criminal; Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine (!!), Sharon Tate and others - even Leslie Caron! - were first considered, but however she got the part, she made it indelibly hers: "This is Clyde Barrow, and I'm Bonnie Parker. We rob banks." #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #fayedunaway #bonnieandclyde #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
"Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh and live intensely, before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no applause." ~ Charlie Chaplin #charliechaplin #aircharlesspencerchaplinkbe #botd #BornOnThisDay #englishactor #comic #filmmaker #composer #silentfilms #thetramp #TheGoldRush #CityLights #ModernTimes #thegreatdictator #whenwehadrealstars #wehadfacesthen
Happy Birthday, Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977) #charliechaplin #aircharlesspencerchaplinkbe #botd #BornOnThisDay #happybirthday #inremberance #englishactor #comic #filmmaker #composer #silentfilms #thetramp #TheGoldRush #TheCircus #CityLights #ModernTimes #thegreatdictator #whenwehadrealstars #wehadfacesthen
Vivien Leigh, c.1939-40 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #vivienleigh #vintagefashion #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Jean Harlow at home, 1932. No makeup (or almost no makeup). #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #jeanharlow #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Julie Christie, 1967. Today is her birthday (14 April 1940). She came to the world's attention during the UK's Swinging Sixties era, most notably for her Oscar and BAFTA winning performance in John Schlesinger's Darling, 1965, maturing later into an intelligent, intuitive artist. My favorite performance of hers is in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) #moviestar #moviestars #juliechristie #britishfilm #britishcinema #swingingsixties #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #wehadfacesthen #darling #mccabeandmrsmiller
Bette Davis and her sister "Bobby" (Barbara) on the set of The Bride Came C.O.D., 1941. "Even though we are as different as night and day, we have always been great friends.' - Bette Davis #oldhollywood # #moviestar #moviestars #bettedavis #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Another photo of Ann Miller I found while doing research for yesterday's post. This must be late 1940s - early 1950s when our Annie came into her own as a movie star. She not only could tap a mile a minute, she could kick up her heels, too. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #annmiller #dancer #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, publicity photo for the classic film noir The Killers (Robert Siodmak, 1946). The producer was looking for unknowns to play the leads. The Killers was Lancaster's first film role. Gardner had been kicking around MGM for 5 years to not much effect. Once The Killers was released, Gardner and Lancaster were bona fide movie stars. (I don't get to use the term "bona fide" very often, so I just threw that in.) #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #thekillers #avagardner #burtlancaster #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Marlene Dietrich, Berlin, 1929, photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt. This was the year before her starring role in The Blue Angel/Der blaue Engel which brought her international fame and a contract with Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. The rest, as they say, is fabulous history. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marlenedietrich #alfredeisenstaedt #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #theblueangel #derblaueengel #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #vintagefashion #wehadfacesthen
Today is the birthday of that effervescent, ebullient movie star, Ann Miller (April 12, 1923 – January 22, 2004). She tap danced, sang and acted the only way she knew how, which was full-on, all-out. Miller was never a leading player, except when making B-pictures musicals for Columbia in the Forties, but she livened up anything she was in, no matter how dreary the film she was in might be (she's the only spontaneous spot of joy in Kiss Me, Kate, for instance), you knew at least her parts would be terrific. Miller was show business personified, always performing, always entertaining, yet also appeared to honestly be just a girl having a good time. On YouTube you can find her Too Darn Hot number from Kiss Me, Kate and Give Me a Primitive Man from On the Town and much else besides. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #annmiller #dancer #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Dana Andrews, famous for playing detectives in film noir (especially in Laura, 1946), but he was also good in dramatic roles (I'm thinking of The Best Years of Our Lives, for example). He could seem stern and unbending, though there was also an essential goodness about him that kept him from being creepy. I like him a lot. #oldhollywood #filmnoir #moviestar #moviestars #danaandrews #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Betty Grable, c.1935. She signed her first studio contract when she was twelve, having lied about her age. She bounced from studio to studio (catch her in RKO's Fred and Ginger films The Gay Divorcee and Follow the Fleet) until Darryl Zanuck signed her up for Fox in 1939. During the war years, Grable was Fox's top star, appearing in a succession of popular Technicolor musicals. This photo would be from her RKO years, when so many starlets were groomed into look-alike Jean Harlows, and may very well be for a lipstick ad - or maybe not. At any rate, it's a pretty fabulous photo. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #bettygrable #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #vintageglamour #wehadfacesthen #lipstick
Marlene Dietrich entertains director Billy Wilder on the set of A Foreign Affair, 1948. She had many musical talents, including playing the saw, which she picked performing in Berlin cabarets in the 1920s and which she shared with Allied soldiers on her tours during World War II. Unlike the big USO tours, Dietrich went straight to soldiers on the frontline with nothing but a piano - if there was one - and what she could pull out of her suitcase. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marlenedietrich #billywilder #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, publicity photo for Penny Serenade (George Stevens, 1941), a film about a childless couple who adopt a daughter. (This was Grant and Dunne's third film together.) Penny Serenade has scenes of such sadness - what Variety called "good, old-fashioned, gulping tears" - that I was nearly traumatized watching this as a boy. I've never seen it since. Let me hasten to say that it was warmly received by critics and audiences at the time. Let me also say, while I'm also saying, that I wish more people appreciated Irene Dunne's gifts for comedy and tragedy these days. She was a wonder. #oldhollywood #moviestars #moviestar #irenedunne #carygrant #pennyserenade #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Ava Gardner, 1950s. To me, this appears to be a press event for The Little Hut, 1957, or even the premiere. She starred opposite David Niven and Stewart Granger in this British-American co-production. If anyone knows any better, I'd love to hear it. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #avagardner #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #vintagefashion
Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, publicity photo for Love on the Run by George Hurrell, 1936 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #joancrawford #clarkgable #georgehurrell #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Sophia Loren, 1962, photo by Pierluigi Praturlon. “Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical." #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #sophialoren #sofialoren #pierluigipraturlon #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
James Dean in a diner in New York City, 1955, photo by Dennis Stock #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #jamesdean #dennisstock #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Hedy Lamarr and James Stewart, production still from Come Live With Me, a 1941 romantic comedy directed by Clarence Brown. She is a refugee who risks deportation. He is a poor writer. Her lover pays the writer to marry her so she can stay in the country. Guess which two fall in love with each other. Yes, you're right! #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #hedylamarr #jamesstewart #comelivewithme #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Guy Madison and Robert Mitchum, publicity photo for Till the End of Time (Edward Dmytryk, 1946), a film which follows World War II veterans as they uneasily adjust to civilian life. As you can see, Mitchum has a harder time of it than does Madison. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #guymadison #robertmitchum #tilltheendoftime #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Norma Shearer, c.1929-30, photo by George Hurrell. She had always played innocent ingenues in silent pictures, but she wanted to graduate to something more adult. This photoshoot was part of her campaign to win the lead role in The Divorcee, an upcoming film about a woman who divorces her cheating husband and sets out to enjoy life the way a man does. She did indeed get that part, and she won an Oscar for it. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #normashearer #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #georgehurrell #wehadfacesthen
Jean Harlow, early 1930's #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #jeanharlow #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #vintageglamour #wehadfacesthen
Legendary Mexican film star Maria Felix, 1940s. Today is her birthday (8 April 1914 – 8 April 2002). She was famous for her tempestuous, arrogant personality as well as that of her film characters. Often cast as a femme fatale-type, she said, "I became the number one enemy of the Mexican family morals. Somehow, I seduced the public, even those who criticize the conduct of my characters in the films. My legend began to take shape without moving a finger. The public imagination did everything for me." Felix and Dolores Del Rio were the dominant divas of the Mexican Golden Age of Cinema in the Forties and Fifties. #moviestar #moviestars #mariafelix #maríafélix #mexicanfilm #mexicancinema #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #vintageglamour #wehadfacesthen
Lauren Bacall, c.1946 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #laurenbacall #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #vintageglamour #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Montgomery Clift on the set of Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948), his film debut. It was shot in 1946 but delayed by editing and legal issues until 2 years later. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #montgomeryclift #redriver #westerns #classicfilm #classicmovies #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #oldmovies #wehadfacesthen
Good friends: George O'Brien and Spencer Tracy, early 1930s. O'Brien, a silent film star (Sunrise, Noah's Ark, The Iron Horse), turned successfully to making westerns in the Thirties. Tracy came from Broadway, recruited by Fox for the new talking pictures (Hollywood was desperate for actors who could speak well, and the theater was the obvious place to find them). He didn't establish himself as a box office attraction until the mid-Thirties. As you can see from this photo, Tracy wasn't always a grumpy old man. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #georgeobrien #spencertracy #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Anita Ekberg, 1954, photo by Andre de Dienes. She really wasn't a movie star though she was featured in a few unsuccessful films, but she is immortal for perfectly embodying a movie star in Federico Fellini's 1960 epic La Dolce Vita. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #anitaekberg #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #ladolcevita #wehadfacesthen
Shall we just have a cigarette on it? Birthday girl Bette Davis in the classic 1942 film Now, Voyager. Like Casablanca, it's a film full of great lines. Some of these find their way into the words of the Eve Swift Wartime Mysteries, as a passing nod to the influence of 'the pictures' on wartime cinemagoers. #bettedavis #aprilbirthday #nowvoyager #1940s #1940scinema #eveswift #bookseries #ww2 #homefront #wartime #bettedavisweloveyou #wehadfacesthen
Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert, 1930s. They were at a party that rented an amusement park for a night. These two were on one of the rides and obviously having a terrific time. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #marlenedietrich #claudettecolbert #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Susan Hayward, a George Hurrell portrait from the 1940s. She played tough 'broads', in the lingo of the times, strong women who were forthright and determined. It was ten years of hard work in Hollywood before she broke through with Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman in 1947. "My life is fair game for anybody. I spent an unhappy, penniless childhood in Brooklyn. I had to slug my way up in a town called Hollywood where people love to trample you to death. I don't relax because I don't know how. I don't want to know how. Life is too short to relax." #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #susanhayward #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen #georgehurrell
Ella Raines, c.1941-42. Her film career started with a bang. She was discovered by director-producer Howard Hawks in 1942 when she was a drama student at the University of Washington. Her first four films were solid box office winners (one of them was Phantom Lady, the 1944 film noir for which she is best known), but by the end of the decade her name no longer brought in the audiences. She turned to television for a few years in the mid-Fifties and then retired. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #ellaraines #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #vintageglamour #oldmoviestars #oldhollywodstars #phantomlady #wehadfacesthen
Bette Davis, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld for Vogue, May 1951 #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #bettedavis #vintagefashion #erwinblumenfeld #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Gloria Swanson, 1925. An enormous star in the silent film period, Swanson easily transitioned to sound, even starring in an operetta, but her age and style of acting wasn't suited for the fast-talking, rather cynical world of the Depression era movies. She resurfaced, of course, to general and critical acclaim in 1950's Sunset Boulevard. #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #silentfilmstars #gloriaswanson #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #vintagefashion #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen
Jean Marais in Orphée (Jean Cocteau, 1950), an adaptation of the Greek Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a French contemporary and très chic style. In this telling, one enters the Underworld through mirrors. An endlessly fascinating film to me. #orphée #orphee #jeanmarais #jeancocteau #frenchfilm #frenchcinema #classicfilm #classicmovies #oldmovies #orpheusandeurydice #wehadfacesthen
Greta Garbo, c.1931, portrait by George Hurrell #oldhollywood #moviestar #moviestars #gretagarbo #georgehurrell #classicfilmstars #classicmoviestars #vintageglamour #oldmoviestars #oldhollywoodstars #wehadfacesthen