Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

January 22, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 12 Comments

“I’d like people to remember me for a diligent expert workman. I think a poet is a workman. I think Shakespeare was a workman. And God’s a workman. I don’t think there’s anything better than a workman.” —Laurence Olivier — “I’d like people to remember me for a diligent expert workman. I think a poet is a workman. I think Shakespeare was a workman. And God’s a workman. I don’t think there’s anything better than a workman.”
—Laurence Olivier

Marilyn Monroe photographed by Milton Greene, 1956.

Marlene Dietrich by Milton H. Greene, 1952. — Marlene Dietrich photographed by by Milton Greene, 1952.

Elizabeth Taylor watching then-husband Richard Burton on the set of The Night of the Iguana. The two martini glasses behind Taylor were probably for her and Burton during a break in filming. — Elizabeth Taylor watching then-husband Richard Burton on the set of “The Night of the Iguana.” The two martini glasses behind Taylor were probably for her and Burton during a break in filming.

Matisse, The Red Room (Harmony in Red) (1908)

Sean Scully, “Uriel” 1997, oil on linen, 96 x 144.

“Sometimes when I find myself getting impatient, I just remember the times I cried my eyes out because nobody wanted to take my picture at the Trocadero.” —Rita Hayworth — “Sometimes when I find myself getting impatient, I just remember the times I cried my eyes out because nobody wanted to take my picture at the Trocadero.”
—Rita Hayworth

Lucas Cranach the Elder, Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg, 1514, oil on canvas, 185 x 82.5 cm

Pablo Picasso, Olga, 1923, oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm — Pablo Picasso, Olga, 1923,
oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm

Allan Grant, San Francisco Drive-In Movie, 1948.

French poster, Touch of Evil, starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, 1958. This is my favorite Orson Welles movie.

Binnie Barnes and Claudette Colbert - Skylark 1941 — Binnie Barnes and Claudette Colbert, “Skylark” 1941, Screenplay by Zion Myers, Allan Scott, Samson Raphaelson (play and novel).

Ellsworth Kelly “Red, Blue, Yellow” Ink on paper and gouache on paper, 7 1/2 x 8", 1951 — Ellsworth Kelly
“Red, Blue, Yellow”
Ink on paper and gouache on paper, 7 1/2 x 8″, 1951

“That awful moment when you enter a room full of people! Everyone looks at you. I always think that they are talking about me, that they don’t like me, that perhaps they are making fun of me! I spend hours before I go to a party, nerving myself for that ordeal of entering the room. I suffer horribly afterwards. I am sure then, that they didn’t like me. They didn’t like my frock. They thought that what I said was stupid… It’s awful.” —Joan Crawford, Silver Screen Magazine — “That awful moment when you enter a room full of people! Everyone looks at you. I always think that they are talking about me, that they don’t like me, that perhaps they are making fun of me! I spend hours before I go to a party, nerving myself for that ordeal of entering the room. I suffer horribly afterwards. I am sure then, that they didn’t like me. They didn’t like my frock. They thought that what I said was stupid… It’s awful.”
—Joan Crawford, Silver Screen Magazine

Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) Self Portrait at Easel

Grace Kelly, Portrait by Howell Conant, Jamaica, 1955.

Edward Hopper, Hotel Lobby, 1943, Oil on canvas 32 1⁄4 in × 40 3⁄4 in. — Edward Hopper, Hotel Lobby, 1943, Oil on canvas
32 1⁄4 in × 40 3⁄4 in.

Ancient Menorah: Hebrew inscription, Shalom al Yisrael, "Peace upon Israel." This synagogue in Jericho, was in use from the 6th to the 8th centuries C.E. — Ancient Menorah: The Hebrew inscription reads, Shalom al Yisrael, “Peace upon Israel.” This synagogue in Jericho was in use from the 6th to the 8th centuries C.E.

Mayan Ariel wishes all our friends and relatives an inspirational and peaceful Shabbat. — Maayan Ariel wishes all our friends and relatives an inspirational and peaceful Shabbat.

Ed Ruscha, END 1983 oil on canvas 36 x 40 inches — Ed Ruscha, END
1983
oil on canvas
36 x 40 inches

Comments

kgbudge says

January 25, 2016 at 9:23 am

I find the photograph of Grace Kelly very striking, but I can’t articulate why.

Is the Picasso an early work, or was Picasso subtly playing against his own reputation?

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- Robert J. Avrech says
  
  January 25, 2016 at 2:56 pm
  
  This was in Picasso’s Rose Period, an early phase of his amazing career.
  
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sennacherib says

January 25, 2016 at 3:19 am

Robert,
The is O/T, but what is your favorite type of movie, not favorite movie?

PS My favorite movie is “A Man for all Seasons” with Scofield. I have noticed you stopped your best movies by decade juuuuust at the 60’s. I think you did this on purpose to drive this Irishman into talking to the faeries!

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- Robert J. Avrech says
  
  January 25, 2016 at 2:57 pm
  
  My favorite genre is screwball comedies from the 30s.
  
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sennacherib says

January 23, 2016 at 6:00 am

If I had happened to encounter the above Duchess von Mecklenberg, the first and last word that would come to me would be RUN!

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Larry says

January 22, 2016 at 2:33 pm

I thought sure that Wayne & Ford, and Taylor would also have been taken by Milton Greene. heh heh. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

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Kimosabbe says

January 22, 2016 at 10:25 am

Loved your use of the gate scroll in your granddaughter’s picture.

Apparently, Mr. Conant took a number of pictures of Grace Kelley in Jamaica. I find the one above to be a bit unsettling, as it appears at fist glance to be the head of a mannequin (albeit a very pretty mannequin) popping out of the water 🙂

I was looking for the speaker posts in the Drive-In picture, but can only see a couple. It appears they used scissor extender arms for the speakers, as a few of those are seen (lower left-hand corner of the picture and also the middle right-hand side). I wonder if they pumped audio through large outdoor speakers as well?

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Bill Brandt says

January 22, 2016 at 9:26 am

Robert you have a talent for picking famous stars of the past and showing their human angle. Never seen either MM or Elizabeth Taylor from that angle before.

Or John Wayne & John Ford.

I suspect without his friend Wayne would have been known as Marion Morrison today.
I’d consider Olivier to be one of the 20th century’s great actors.

No swelled head, that man.

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- Barry says
  
  January 22, 2016 at 9:35 am
  
  Wayne’s film name was supplied by Raoul Walsh. Not Ford.
  
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  - Larry says
    
    January 22, 2016 at 2:25 pm
    
    Yep! For “The Big Trail” from 1930. Walsh was thinking of “Mad” Anthony Wayne from what I’ve read.
    
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Barry says

January 22, 2016 at 7:43 am

The finest photograph, thus far, of your grand daughter. All in all, quite an ensemble, and Joan Crawford’s comment strikes home.

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ProphetJoe says

January 22, 2016 at 6:05 am

Another great Friday post — I bet that’s the least photographed side of Marilyn Monroe!

Have a wonderful Sabbath, Robert.

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