Carmen Miranda proudly displays her collection of shoes.
Classic photos of Hollywood stars usually reinforce a particular image. Lighting, composition, body language, wardrobe and the singular architecture of the face are the ingredients that create a glamorous narrative for audiences to internalize. Clark Gable is the man’s man who doesn’t give a damn; Carole Lombard, the girl next door who will drive you crazy with her zany brand of love.
But every once in a while a picture introduces an element that defines the glamorous image in unexpected ways. In the following photos, footwear emerges as more than just a casual accessory.
Gloria Swanson, 1916, as a Mack Sennett bathing beauty. At the time, bathing slippers were the height of fashion. The dog is Teddy, the star of the movie.
Pola Negri and Charlie Chaplin, 1922. I don't know about you but my eyes are drawn to Negri's school-girlish shoes and Chaplin's spiffy spats.
Along with Chaplin and Keaton, Harold Lloyd was one of the most popular stars of silent films. His two-toned Spectator shoes are the picture of casual elegance.
Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and an unidentified friend on the golf course. Lombard's sport shoes are reminicent of Swanson's bathing slippers.
No matter how many non-dancing movies Rogers appeared in we always associate her with Fred Astaire. In this studio posed photo, her blue pumps totally sizzle reminding us of her great legacy.
Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot in 1956. Bardot, the French sex symbol whose films broke the foreign film barrier in America, was never comfortable in high heels. She favored ballet flats, usually in red.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and meaningful Shabbat.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
11 Comments
Robert:
Gable and Lombard isn’t simply a bad movie. It was designed to be blasphemous and vulgar. In those things at least, it succeeded.
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Robert – these photos – they all take me to a place when Hollywood Stars had mystery and allure – and people hungered to see their idols.
Now I wait in line at the supermarket and see on the cover of a tabloid a star in a bathrobe – disheveled hair – coming out to get the morning paper
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But Bill, the stars today are ‘cool’ and their disheveled hair is part of ‘keeping it real’. They want us to think they are just like us though we probably check our appearance before going outside.
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Johnny – I still get get over seeing some star walk onto Leno or Letterman after the introduction clad in jeans and a T Shirt.
One one notable difference is Tom Hanks – always seems to be in a coat and tie.
And their disheveled hair – they probably pay a Beverly Hills stylist $300 for the “disheveled look” mine – well, when I had hair – came naturally
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It costs a lot of money to look like you’ve just gotten out of bed.
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Joan Crawford said, “Any actress who appears in public without being well-groomed is digging her own grave.” I guess modern Hollywood knows much better than everyone who paved the way for them.
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Re: Gable and Lombard
Can you imagine going out to play golf with that couple. Glamorous, intelligent and depicted despicably in the Gable And Lombard film.
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Barry – Lombard – a frequent guest up at Wm Hearst’s “Ranch” – San Simeon – was known as a terror at the billiard table too. A better looking Minnesota Fats!
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Bill:
When Karen and I visited San Simeon a few months ago I imagined Lombard by the pool, at the billiard table.
Sigh…
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Robert – you being an accomplished screen writer and fan of Hollywood in the golden years – can you imagine taking that long ride up 1600′ to the top of that hill, getting out of the limo, strolling up the few steps – seeing at the Neptune Pool – Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Deloris Del Rio, Carole Lombard…..
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Barry:
I don’t play golf. But Ganble and Lombard used to go skeet shooting, which I’m totally up for. Never saw Gable & Lombard. Heard it was wretched.
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