He spent countless hours visiting the troops during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as in Lebanon and the Persian Gulf. By the end of the 1950s, Ekberg's career was on the decline. 1. Who was the most popular actress of the 1950s? When discussing Audrey Hepburn, the iconic 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" must inevitably come up. During WW2 he was sent to a German prison camp, but he managed to escape and hide in Venice. Born in Italy, she was able to make a name for herself there, as well as around the world. Her debut film was Ridere Ridere Ridere in 1954 but it was when she linked up with Michelangelo Antonioni, Italian film director, that she became internationally known. Marlene Dietrich began her career as a cabaret singer in 1920s Germany. The pair would co-star in eight movies together. --The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show-- 6. She appeared in several silent movies before her first talkie in 1930 and starred in many 1930s movies including Mata Hari (1930) and Grand Hotel (1932). His most memorable movies were The Philadelphia Story (1940), An Affair to Remember (1957), and North by Northwest (1959). In 1957 she got national attention by claiming to have been kidnapped by two men. Hulton Archive/ Getty Images. A Place in the Sun and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof are just a few of her films from the decade. Her autobiography I Am Not Ashamed (1963) tells of gang bangs, knifings, arrests for public drunkenness, heroin addiction, and the murder of an FBI informant. The play that fueled her rise to fame, Gigi, would continue on for a few more months before its final curtain call on May 31, 1952. She signed her first studio contract at age 16. An affair with the famous Italian director Roberto Rossellini (and pregnancy) tarnished her reputation because they were both married to other people at the time. Ann-Margret has starred in numerous iconic films over five decades she has been in show business such as Viva Las Vegas,Bye Bye Birdie, and of course the Grumpy Old Men films. Shes on set here with W.C. Fields in My Little Chickadee (1940). Although Heatherton could act, sing, and dance, her main asset was, without a doubt, her raw sexuality. She started her career in off-Broadway plays, signing with the studio in 1930. Hes with Jean Harlow on the set of The Public Enemy (1931). Shortly after their 1956 wedding, Marilyn Monroe and her second husband, playwright Arthur Miller, stand in the unkempt garage of their Roxbury, Connecticut, estate. Raised on a ranch in Montana and in England, he began his screen career in silent films in 1925 and eventually won Oscars for his roles in Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952). Marilyn Monroe was in yet another iconic Valentine's Day shoot. Maggie Smith has starred in over 50 films in her long career dating back to the early 50s and is considered to be one of Great Britains most recognizable actresses. She starred in hit films from the 60s such as Bullit and The Sweet Ride, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. American leading man of the 1940s and 1950s, Dana Andrews was born Carver Dana Andrews on New Years Day 1909 . She made her debut as a stage actress in the late 50s then switching to the big screen. The sprawling, ranch-style house sat on five and a half acres, and its high brick walls kept us safe and apart from the world outside, the actors daughter Aissa Wayne wrote in AD in 2008. As Dorothy Parker once said of the so-called Battling Bogarts, shown here perched on a bougainvillea-draped terrace above the front door, Their neighbors were lulled to sleep by the sounds of breaking china and crashing glass. Bogart purchased the house in 1936, two years before he married Methot. She was an actress, known for A Damsel in Distress (1937), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) and The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939). After WW II, she retired from film and led a life of seclusion until she died in 1990. Called an amusing little clown in one film review, actress Jean Arthur (Mr. Outfitted with indifferent, seemingly secondhand furniture and knotty-pine shelves, the small, round-windowed interior had abstract art tacked to the walls and a matadors cape hanging above the bedthe latter possession echoed in one of the books above the built-in desk: Volume 5 of Los Toros, a 1943 encyclopedia of bullfighting by Jos Mara Cosso. Reflecting her real-life personality, Davis insisted on playing strong (sometimes unlikable) women characters during her career. Hes with Ingrid Bergman here on the set of Spellbound (1945). This Chicago, Illinois born Italian bombshell landed the role in One Million Years B.C. Catherine Deneuve has made quite a name for herself over the years as both an actress as well modeling and even as a producer. Indeed, this swingin chick would pop in on seemingly every variety special on TV and even had several of her own. She could turn a boring variety show into smoking hot entertainment in seconds. One of the most recent was The Company You Keep where she co-starred with Sam Elliot and Robert Redford. I thought it was awful. On the cocktail table stands a sculpture by Italian artist Marino Marini. In fact, she spent more time visiting troops than any other actress (over 100,000 miles traveled). She was educated at Northumberland House, Clifton, Bristol. The role earned him an Oscar. Have some tissues handy these are some sad and troubling tales. She married Clark Gable in 1939, and she was flying back from a WW II war bonds rally in the Midwest when her plane crashed. With his staccato delivery and distinctive tough guy demeanor, James Cagney was small in stature but big on personality. Create an account and youll be able to save and revisit articles. James Stewart (1932-1991) James Stewart, an actor from Indiana, Pennsylvania, US, was one of the most famous stars of the 1950s. Years later, she released a holiday album titled Wild Christmas, featuring the song "My New Year's Resolutions.". 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It was typical of Picassos work during the thirties. The accessories were made with pink straw, sweet peas, and turquoise bows. Over her long career, Redgrave starred in more than 80 films and has even been inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. One thing is for sure, pretty much anything that she does is usually loved by all. Shirley Knight started her career in the late 50s as a Television actress on the hit western on NBC, Buckskin. With her iconic looks and wispy voice, Marilyn Monroe defined the classic Hollywood actress. His early years in Susan Hayward was born Edythe Marrener in Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1917. As her youth faded, so did her career. She was eventually discovered by producer Norman Foster and his wife, actress Claudette Colbert. Here, shes having her hair done between takes on the set. One of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s, film actress Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the only child of Vera J. He served in the US Army during WWII. Shortly thereafter, Carole gets a small Warner Brothers contract, works in a bunch of cowboy features, and then gets a big break as a cave girl in One Million B.C. The celebration was attended by 200 of Hollywood's biggest celebrities. Future U. S. president Ronald Reagan settles back in a rolled-arm chair at his 1957 ranch-style home in Pacific Palisades, California. It didnt help that she also kept threatening suicide, even having a few failed attempts. Soon after, she signed a contract with James Cagneys production company, and continued to ride the wave of good fortune with significant roles in the western films Dallas (1950) with Gary Cooper, and Only the Valiant in 1951, with Gregory Peck. Riverdale is returning soon for its seventh and final season. Hes chatting with his co-star Bing Crosby and the director on the Road to Morocco (1942) set in this shot. Here, she smiles for a July 4th photo, while promoting How To Marry a Millionaire, which came out just a few months later. Long before streaming was a thing, people flocked to the movies to escape reality. She made her greatest film in 1960, Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, opposite Marcello Mastroianni as his unattainable fantasy woman. The dining room featured Louis XVI chairs and persimmon-color walls. It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without America's sweetheart, Audrey Hepburn. Robert Sterling of Topper fame pulls out some mistletoe for a kiss from his wife, Anne Jeffreys. Actor and dancer Fred Astaire started out in vaudeville and Broadway at age 5 alongside his partner and sister, Adele, who was widely believed to be the more talented sibling. By 1948, things had gotten particularly bleak and she is found dead on the bathroom floor of actor Rex Harrisons house. Her earthy Linda Darnell, one of five children of a postal clerk, grew up fast. Take a trip back in time with these iconic photos of Old Hollywood on the set: Jean Harlow epitomized old-school Tinseltown glamour with her cupids bow mouth, dramatic eyeliner, and platinum blonde curls. Her parents were both One of the brightest, most tragic movie stars of Hollywood's Golden Era, Judy Garland was a much-loved character whose warmth and spirit, along with her rich and exuberant voice, kept theatre-goers entertained with an array of delightful musicals.She was born Frances Ethel Gumm on 10 June 1922 in Deborah Jane Trimmer was born on 30 September 1921 in Glasgow, Scotland, the daughter of Captain Arthur Kerr Trimmer. James Dean, Jerry Lewis, and William Holden were also popular 1950s male actors. Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was considered one of the last, if not the last, major star to have come out of the old Hollywood studio system. Comedian Bob Hope made his first movie appearance in The Big Broadcast of 1938, singing his soon-to-be signature song, Thanks for the Memory. In partnership with the crooner/ actor Bing Crosby and the lovely actress Dorothy Lamour, he starred in many Road to comedies in the '40s and '50s. She landed the role as Jessica Fletcher in 1983 and continued through 1996. Anyone who loves B-movies of the 1950s appreciates this lovely actress Allison Hayes. In the years that followed, Yvette bounced from B-movie to B-movie, making appearances on the convention circuit before fading into obscurity. Louis Armstrong gets spooked while playing "Skeleton in the Closet," a song from the 1936 movie Pennies From Heaven. After escaping from the clinic, and a wild string of abuse and excess, McDonald was found dead in 1965 as a result of a drunken overdose. His real-life lover, Vivian Leigh, also launched her film career this year in Gone with the Wind. The Best Amazon Presidents' Day Deals of 2023. Cook Talks 'Criminal Minds: Evolution', See Joanna Gaines's "Amazing" Selfie With Daughter, Miranda Lambert Shares Rare Photos with Husband. Audrans career was mainly based out of France but was occasionally seen in films from other markets such as the Dutch film Babettes Feast and WWII film The Big Red One that also co-starred Mark Hamil, otherwise known as Luke Skywalker. The inseparable duo starred opposite one another for years. Known for his commanding voice, dimpled chin, and bad boy appeal, Robert Mitchum discovered acting in an amateur theater company, obtaining bit parts in many 1940s films. She starred in hit films such as The Servant and Blowup that were extremely popular in the late 60s. He won a Best Oscar for his role in Going My Way (1944), but hes often remembered most for crooning the classic holiday anthem, White Christmas and starring in the film of the same name (1954). All rights reserved. She appeared in such 1950s films as Some Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Jane Russell Star Trek fans will immediately recognize Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura, the communications expert on the USS Enterprise. 48 Likes, 2 Comments - Gene Tierney (@welovegenetierney) on Instagram: "Gene Tierney close up c. 1950. When she was 16, Wong ran away to Hollywood to become a dancer. Free shipping for many products! But it was after a screen test at 20th Century Fox that landed her a seven- year movie deal. Shirley Jones started her career as a stage actress after her parents allowed her to move to New York City with $100 in her pocket. List of films based on Greco-Roman mythology. Ive played a lot of evil, ball-breaking women. Then, her public image was further tarnished by an performance at the White House, and a guilt-by-association with a soon-to-be dethroned Richard Nixon. Cheerfulness kept creeping in." At 11, she was modeling clothes, giving her age as 16. Hugh Heffner has stated that he was genuinely concerned a major lawsuit would result from Yvettes bare behind, but nothing materialized. Sleeping with Hollywoods A-List did nothing for her career. Years before actress Heather Angel voiced Mary Darling in the original Peter Pan, she posed as the Easter Bunny. With his nasal voice and distinctive hard-boiled style, he played minor roles in the '30s, eventually leading to his breakout role in 1936s The Petrified Forest, alongside Bette Davis. St Petersburg is the city Christopher Hitchens called "an apparent temple of civilization: the polished window between Russia and Europe the, "I never saw Eric Ravilious depressed. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney split a giant wishbone in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Her career has shown no signs of slowing down even though shes up into her 70s. James Dean, Jerry Lewis, and William Holden were also popular 1950s male actors. DONATE, Before the money moved in, Kings Cross was a place for born-and-bred locals, clubs and crime, See what really went on during that time in NYC's topless go-go bars, Chris Stein 's photographs of Debbie Harry and friends take us back to a great era of music. You may not have heard of Ms. Monica Vitti because being Italian born she mainly starred in Italian films. Since then she has become heavily involved in Broadway Theater. She appeared in such classic 1950s films as Some Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch, and Gentlemen Prefer Blonde s. She leaves behind a rather miserable life in Wisconsin and gets a bit part in A Star is Born. The 1950s featured the rise of blonde bombshells and their beautiful brunette counterparts. With the help of architect Lilian J. Mae West wanted him hired for her 1933 movie, She Done Him Wrong. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Crooner and actor Bing Crosbys adobe house in Rancho Santa Fe, California, was the centerpiece of the entertainers 65-acre horse-breeding operationconveniently located near the Del Mar racetrack. She had numerous successful roles in the 1940s, though her personal life was a hot mess: She married eight times, and her daughter fatally stabbed Turners abusive boyfriend. With her iconic looks and wispy voice, Marilyn Monroe defined the classic Hollywood actress. She was known internationally for her beauty, especially for her violet eyes, with which she captured audiences early on in her youth and kept the world hooked On November 12, 1929, Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to wealthy parents. The bedroom features frescoes of the four seasons, which were moved there from another room in the house; the Louis XVI painted bed was made in Tuscany. The following American film actresses are listed alphabetically. Later in 1986 the U. S. Attorneys office in New York charged her with income-tax evasion. The 1950s may have had less plastic surgeons, but my guess would be that they were highly ethical and talented surgeons who took their work seriously. That immediately cemented her on the list of most beautiful actresses of the 60s. This six-time Academy Award nominee is none other than the great Shirley MacLaine who has starred in some of Hollywoods most popular films. Papered with a map of the world, the room featured a three-part portrait of Holdens first wife, Ardis, a Philippines-born actress who used the screen name Brenda Marshall. Vivien Leigh Carole Lombard Vanessa Redgrave has been considered to be one of the greatest living actresses of our time according to Tennesse Williams and Arthur Miller. He went on to star in many '40s classics including High Sierra (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), and Casablanca (1942). Learn more about our, 40 Iconic Photos of Old Hollywood Stars on Set. Sophia Loren poses for photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, in 1964, in the master bedroom of Villa Sara, her 16th-century house near Rome. . The film also starred Humphrey Bogart, and the two married the next year. Hes on the set here with director Alfred Hitchcock on Rear Window (1954). He originally attended Princeton University to study architecture, but when the Great Depression hit, he followed his friend, Henry Fonda, to Hollywood. The beginning of the end really came with Bluebeard (pictured below) where Joey bared it all, inciting a decent amount of controversy and buzz. A respected British actor with dreamy good looks and perfect diction, Laurence Olivier began his career on the Shakespearian stage before venturing to Hollywood.