Hollywood glamour is most often, and correctly, associated with picture perfect faces, figures, magical charisma, and the stunning costumes worn by stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age.
But then, as now, footwear was a vital component of the machinery of glamour.
Even a sensible department store stock girl yearns for glamour. Mary Pickford enjoys the attentions of Charles “Buddy” Rogers in her last silent film, “My Best Girl,” 1927.
Paulette Goddard b. Marion Pauline Levy, proudly displays her, um, snappy two-tone pumps.
Preparing to entertain the troops, Marlene Dietrich changes her combat boots for high-heels. Truly patriotic.
On the set of “Some Like it Hot,” Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, b. Bernard Schwartz, kibitz between scenes. Tony's very cool saddle shoes are favored by his character, Junior—modeled on Cary Grant—in the classic Billy Wilder comedy, 1959.
Audrey Hepburn, one of the most stylish women ever to grace the screen, worked hard to project that effortlessly glamorous image. Here, she huddles with her favorite shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo.
Brigitte Bardot tries on shoes at Rayne's the Queen's shoemakers in Bond Street, London, England, 1955. Before becoming an actress Bardot trained as a ballet dancer. Hence, her perfect posture. Bardot never felt comfortable in high heels, perferring ballet flats, her signature look.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives an inspirational and shoe-glamorous Shabbat.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
7 Comments
Robert,
Can you please tell me from where you got hold of the photo of BB in the Rayne shoe shop in London?
And do you have any more information about this photo please?
Rayne shoes was founded by my great grand parents in London in 1885 as theatrical costumiers & then became famous for their ladies shoes after WWI. Sir Edward Rayne was my father who was managing director of the firm in 1955 as my grand father Joseph died in 1951.
I am trying to revive the brand now which had many theatrical & movie connections over many years. http://www.rayneshoes.co.uk gives you a glimpse of these here.
Last year I even gave talk on Rayne shoes at the V&A in London.
So knowing more about Bardot’s involvement with my family’s firm would be fascinating.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Nick Rayne
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Something you might enjoy, Robert: some Edison-made movies from 1894-1901. (Cat videos evidently have a very long history)
http://www.gereports.com/the-magic-of-movies-from-thomas-edison-to-harry-potter/
Via General Electric, which often does interesting & useful things when they’re not too busy sucking up to Obama…
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David:
Thanks so much for the link. Wonderful stff. GE should be given an office in the West Wing. Naturally, their stock—of which I own zero—is in the toilet.
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Very appropriate that you show Dietrich getting ready to entertain the troops. She worked as hard at entertaining the troops in Europe as anyone from Hollywood. Never one to stay in Hollywood, she often entertained the soldiers just miles from the front and went into Germany with the troops while her mother still living in Berlin. She also took her stage show for a tour of Israel.
Of course with her reputation for bedding down with so many co-stars and men of note, she might have been better deployed as a WWII version of Lili Von Shtupp.
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Johnny:
Dietrich also cut off her sister who collaborated with the Nazis.
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Robert – I was listening to Peter Riva – grandson of Marlena – in an Icons interview – and he said some interesting things about her family. The sister was a Nazi collaborator and her husband a projectionist at Dachau – and her mother – well, while filming Judgement at Nuremberg Marlena was get physically sick during filming – to the point of vomiting.
Spencer Tracy would ask her how she was and she said ‘I’ll be fine – after I have some soup”.
Her character was so contrary to what Marlene believed about the Nazis that her body revolted.
Her daughter Maria finally told her to play her mother. Marlene’s character in that movie – where she claims to know nothing about what the Nazis did – reflects her mother.
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Bill:
Maria’s book about her mother is kind of painful, but heck, most movie stars are narcissists. I have to listen to those radio interviews. They sound essential for someone like me. Have a great weekend.
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