Anonymous
Posted December 12, 2001
This is a terrific book filled with stunning images of many of the biggest stars of the 1940's. You'll find captivating portraits of stars such as Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Gene Tierney, Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Victor Mature, Vivien Leigh, Bette Davis, Merle Oberon and many others. You'll also see photos of Cary Grant with Ingrid Bergman, Barbara Stanwyck with Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh with Laurence Olivier. There are also some photos from 1939 and a few from 1950. A beautiful collection that showcases the glamour, elegance and sophistication of the stars of the 1940's which was the last great decade of Hollywood's golden age. A recommended purchase!
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Posted May 9, 2001
This book will delight anyone who is a fan of movies from the 1940s. It contains 163 photographs of 106 stars, taken by 34 photographers. The reproduction quality is quite good, and the compositions are often superb. The acting skills of the stars add to the allure of these images. In the book's introduction, Mr. Kobal talks about how these were the 'years of Old Hollywood's last stand.' The images are 'dreams reflected in the bathroom mirrors of their generation.' He also talks about the role of the clothes designers and hairdressers in creating these glamorous, moody images. Here are my favorites in the book: By A.L. Schafer: Rita Hayworth, 1940; Olivia de Haviland, 1941; Loretta Young, 1940; Alan Ladd, 1942. By Frank Powolny: Betty Grable, 1941; Marilyn Monroe, 1950. By Robert Coburn: Gene Tierney, 1941. By Scotty Welbourne: Ida Lupino, 1940; Humphrey Bogart, 1941; Lauren Bacall, 1946 By Clarence Sinclair Bell: Hedy Lamarr, 1941; Greta Garbo, 1941. By William Walling: Fred MacMurray, 1940. By Edward Cronenweth: Lena Horne, 1943. By Ernest A. Bachrach: Dorothy McGuire, 1945; Claire Trevor, 1944; Jane Russell, 1946; Barbara Hale, 1946. By Eric Carpenter: Ava Gardner, 1944. By John Engstead: Lauren Bacall, 1951; Ingred Bergman, 1946; Marlon Brando, 1950. By Laszlo Willinger: Susan Hayward, 1948. By Bud Fraker: Gary Cooper, 1947. As you can see, the book is dominated by the glamorous female stars. Most of these images are done in partial shadow to highlight the facial structure and emotions of the actress or actor. In some cases, sculptures are used to highlight certain physical features of the subject. In general, the reproduction quality is quite high. Studios did now allow photographers to make their own prints in those days, so it all depended on the studio darkroom artists how it turned out. You will occasionally see an image that needed to have more cropping, more or less light, or which is muddy, but most are at least good reproductions. After you finish this book, imagine how you can help people understand your thoughts by how you hold yourself and what expression you use. Do you see any poses or expressions here that can help you be more communicative? Use all the elements of yourself to share your most important thoughts and emotions! Donald Mitchell, co-author of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The 2,000 Percent Solution
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Overview
This marvelous collection of glamour photographs offers memorable studio shots of Betty Grable, John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and others — 106 great stars in 163 fascinating photographs. The photos display innovations in pose, angle, and composition that are still major influences on modern Hollywood professionals. "An outstanding bargain." — Newsweek. Introduction. Captions.