Customer Reviews

The Art of the Great Hollywood Portrait Photographers

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John Kobal's The Art of the Great Hollywood Portrait Photographers is as good as his book on Hollywood with Kevin Brownlow, which is one of the essential books to read (and one of the essential TV series to watch) for anyone interested in movies.

Kobal gives an illuminating account of the function of the movies during the Depression, contrasted with eg Walker Evan's photography, and explains 'glamour', tying movie stars in with the Venus from Milos and the Mona Lisa quite convincingly. Well thought, well written. Chapters follow on the organisation of the studios, how publicity was done as it has rarely been done before or since. And some beautiful images - Garbo by Ruth Harriet Louise, Clara Bow by Nicholas Murray and Eugene Richie stand out, but there are many. The images are exceptional, taken by some of the greatest artists of the camera and the volume layout does the images justice. All complemented with reminiscences from the stars and photographers themselves. The very best history, anecdotal, with many perspectives and implications explored, and written with love.

This book has touched a deep chord sensitive to vanished beauty. The stars are now just names, some of them not even that. And of course they were not the same as their carefully crafted images displayed in this book. These evoke not only the stars themselves but the fact that they brought hope to many who perhaps would have found it otherwise hard to deal with the Depression - all those hopes, fears, ambitions, petty, grand and mean, silly and endearing. Only the images of beauty remain!

Publisher: Knopf; (October 12, 1980)

First edition copy. This book is oversized and OUTSTANDING!

291 pages of glamour. 1925 - 1940 is the tops in Hollywood glamour. Though the 40s weren't bad either.

These are some magnificent photoplates. Superbly printed in this volume. Even the pickiest at quality (like me) will be happy. Amazing images not shown in other books. The Kobal colection is vast and bar none the best. This is a wonderful selection from him, that he put together in this book.

See more of my reviews for more must have full page or near full page portrait glamour books from this Golden era.

BUY THIS BOOK, then thank me later.

I bought this book 25 years ago and the photos are unbelievable. Great art of the glam Hollywood at its height. One copy I used to remove the photos to frame them. Book is very hard to find.

see my review under listing of ART OF GRT HWD PORTRT
other edition.

I have read many reviews about this book. Never knew how old it really was. It was recommended to me by someone who had purchased in about 20 years ago. So that tells me this book is special. I really enjoy it. The photographs capture the actors/actress look. I just love it. I really love to read about movie stars from the early days. The actors back then just had so much class and glamour. I am so glad I added it to my collection.