Customer Reviews

Hollywood Glamor Portraits: 145 Photos of Stars, 1926-1949

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Kobal has put together the greatest collection of glamor photos anywhere. Hollywood's biggest stars and greatest photographers are represented in this book. I ended up buying two copies. One for my library and one for the photos. I scanned some, framed some, and even sent some away for autographs. Hedy Lamarr liked her photo so much she never returned it

Where to start? This is almost a wordless book filled with 145 glamour shots from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. I would say that the book is a work of "art" and contains the work of many masters of still photography of the era. Some of the photos are truly stunning an deserve to be shown in the top Museums in world. The book uses high quality, acid-free paper and strong binding that enhances the book as a collectable. It would make a nice piece to anyone's collection of art books and you will page through it every so often. The reason that I did not give the book a higher rating is because it is quite short, it's a paperback and does contain many average works (in my opinion).

My personal favs were: Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow and Louise Brooks.

thank you for your time, David

Here is a beautiful book with some breathtaking photos of some the hottest Hollywood film stars of the golden era. The quality of the first and oldest photos are not the best, but one can see an improvement as the years go by. What makes these photos so special are the talented actors who can portray just about any emotion the photographer calls for and his ability to capture it on film. The best ones at this is Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich.

My favorite is one of Carole Lombard on page 40. It will knock your socks off. I too wish these books came in hardcover, but then it wouldn't be as affordable. A wonderful addition to your library and for anyone who loves the old movie stars.

This is a wonderful collection of publicity shots taken of some of the most beautiful stars Hollywood has ever known. The book profiles stars from Hollywood's golden age (1926-1949). Included are photographs of Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Cary Grant, Norma Shearer, Lillian Gish, Myrna Loy, Bette Davis, Hedy Lamarr, Humphrey Bogart, Marlene Dietrich, Frances Farmer, Carole Lombard, Gary Cooper, Lana Turner and many more. Each of the photographs is so breathtaking and captivating, one feels drawn right into it. This is an exquisite collection of photographic masterpieces that immortalizes the gods and goddesses of the "Dream Factory". Their stunning beauty is unparalleled and will forever remain so. This book will make a superb addition to any library. Purchase several copies today! They make excellent gifts for movie buffs, photographers and art connoisseurs alike. Another recommended collection is "Movie Star Portraits of the Forties" also by John Kobal (editor).

The Hollywood publicity photograph is the subject of this intriguing book. Unlike their more famous counterparts who did fashion and artistic portraits, the Hollywood still photographers were asked to sell a product, the films that the stars were appearing in. Because the films and the publicity were censored, the final products were determined by the Hays office. The photographers were allowed to ask for how they would like the prints finished, but were not allowed to do the work themselves. As a result, the final results often fall far below what the photographer probably intended.

Despite these limitations, the photographers were working with extremely talented actresses and actors who could capture a mood and a moment in unusually powerful ways. Some of the results are arresting, and overwhelm the limitations of the too small pages and the often flawed photographic finishing.

The book also contains many wonderful comments by the leading Hollywood photographers about their views of the task and their experiences. You will definitely feel that these stars were represented as "icons, made to be admired." The chins are uplifted along with the eyes in noble poses that suggest goddesses and heroes rather than mere mortals.

Your interest is captured by the sense of "electric, full of sexual qualities" character of the images. The most successful move beyond iconography to capture "a moment or mood unattainable with the motion-picture camera" to show something about the movie in creating a "poster effect."

You will also appreciate the rivalry among the photographers in seeing "who could provide the most glamor." Light, shadows, make-up, and props are all carefully composed to add an uplift of excitement that ordinary people could only hope to see on the silver screen during these days of depressed economic times and war.

I graded the book down two stars for the indifferent printing of many of these images from the negatives and for the poor quality of the reproductions on the pages in the book in many other cases. Many of the photographs are also very fuzzy and appear to have been shot through what looks like a nylon. One or two of those would have been enough. But there are many more than that in this volume.

Here are my favorite photographs:

Louisa Brooks, 1928 (2), Eugene Robert Richee, for Paramount

William Powell, 1929, George Hommel, for Paramount

Jean Harlow, 1932, George Hurrell, for MGM

Joan Crawford, 1933, George Hurrell, for MGM

Marlene Dietrich, 1932, Don English, for Paramount

Carole Lombard, 1935, Eugene Robert Richee, for Paramount

John Gilbert, 1932, George Hurrell, for MGM

Sylvia Sidney, 1935, Eugene Robert Richee, for Paramount

Joel McCrea, 1933, Ernest A. Bachrach, for RKO - Radio

Norma Schearer, 1932, George Hurrell, for MGM

Katherine Hepburn, 1935, Ernest A. Bachrach, for RKO - Radio

Greta Garbo, 1930, 1935, Clarence Sinclair Bell, for MGM

Ginger Rogers, 1934, Ernest A. Bachrach, for RKO - Radio

Frances Farmer, 1937, Eugene Robert Richee, for Paramount

Lana Turner, 1939, Eric Carpenter, for MGM

Barbara Stanwyck, 1937, Robert Coburn, for United Artists (Goldwyn)

Eleanor Powell, 1937, Laszlo Willinger, for MGM

Vivien Leigh, 1940, Laszlo Willinger, for MGM

Lauren Bacall, 1946, Scotty Welbourne, for Warner

After you have finished enjoying these wonderful, hypnotic faces I suggest you spend a little time in front of a mirror looking at your own favorite expressions. How would you react to you if confronted with those expressions? Then begin to become more conscious of the impressions you make. Tiny nuances in facial expressions convey more meaning than words in most communications. Be as careful of those nuances as you are of your choice of words.

Project your meaning more accurately and lastingly!

I am glad I have this book and it's a must-have. The collection of photos are wonderfully dramatic. I only wish it was a hardbound book.

I am delighted with this purchase. The authors took the time to elaborate on the background of the images and, in some cases, who took them. The photos themselves are primers on how to take good portraits which is why I bought the bought. I do feel inspired and am glad to own this edition

I bought this book initially for a project one shooting Hollywood glamor. This book was a god send, with lighting diagrams and introspection in to how the shots were created. I cant praise this book enough. I only wish it had been a larger scale project.

All I can say is WOW to all the beautiful portraits in this book.This book will be enjoyed by anyone that loves the Glamorous actors & actresses of the past.You won't regret this purchase.

I love old Hollywood and its stars so this book fit the bill for me. Gorgeous black and white photos. Fantastic book in great condition. Love it!