The King of Glamour Photography: George Hurrell (golden age cinema pictures)

                                                
                                   
The King of Glamour Photography: George Hurrell

In 1904, Geore Hurrell was born in Covington, Kentucky. At a young age he started to fall in love with photography by accident by doing photos of the artwork he wanted to paint. George had no idea that the way he prepared himself to do his artowrk with photographs would be his passion for life.

Finally, when old enough to attend college George attended the Art Institute of Chicago. Afterwards George moved west to California where he was to continue his passion of art. However, rather than his artwork he found that quality of taking pictures with his camera become where the real work came from. His work was not just shooting a picture like everyone it was a literal portrait and many took quick notice.

Ramon Navarro

His first commissioned film star was a large silent film star, Ramon Novarro. Hurrell was hired by Ramon Navarro to take a series of several portraits. The picture portraits came out so wonderful that Ramon actually shared them with fellow film stars in MGM with one of them being the lovely Norma Shearer. Norma at the time was married to MGM's then Production Chief, Irving G. Thalberg who was getting ready to make "The Divorcee" and do the casting. The problem at the time was Norma really wanted the lead role which was a departure from her sweet roles though her husband did not think she could pull off the hyper sexual roles that she never was known for. A light went off for Norma who went to hire Hurrell to take some hot and sensual pictures of her to show MGM and her husband that they all were wrong and that she was the PERFECT leading lady for the role.  Needless to say the picture portraits were soo well received that Norma got her role and MGM hired Hurrell as head of the portrait gallery for 1930.

Joan Crawford

Between the years of 1930 to 1932, Hurrell stayed employed with MGM Studios and took picture portraits of every actor and actress on the lot from Clark Gable, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo with too many to name here. A new term was keyed from his work: "GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY!" which after seeing Hurrell's portraits one can see this is very fitting.  Unfortunately, in 1932 there was a large disagreement between Hurrell and MGM's publicity head being Howard Strickling which left Hurrell to leave the studio for good. At this time Hurrell set-up in his own exclusive studio from 1932 - 1938 location itself that all stars flocked to from all studios. This disagreement was a good opportunity for Hurrell allowing him to have all of Hollywood as clients for his portraits.

Hurrell's Studio 1932 - 1938

In 1938, Hurrell moved to Warner Brothers studios where he loved working with movie studios. This allowed him exclusive engagements to work with greats such as Bette Davis, Errol Flynn and the entire lot of Warners. From there Hurrell then moved to Columbia Pictues working with Rita Hayworth creating her image on camera.

Bette Davis

                                    


Hurrell then took a very different stage in his career and moved abroad with the U.S. Air Force taking photos and training films very different of the studio days. When returning back to his Hollywood, Hurrell found that his glamour photography was the way of the past and was no longer in demand. This found Hurrell relocating to NYC and working with fashion lay-outs and advertisements through the 1950's. In the 1950's he moved back and forth from Hollywood starting a television production company then moved back to NYC and then back to California doing a role as a unit still man.

Finally, in 1965 Hurrell started to get the recognition he deserved in NYC's Museum Modern Art with a featured exhibition and then throughout the world at other exhibitions. In the 1970's he went back to his portraits doing work of Liza Minelli and other noteable stars. His photos continued through the 80's and 90's until his death in 1992. He continues to take portraits of likes of Sharon Stone and others.

George Hurrell's Glamour Photography will ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!!!

William Dewolf Hopper, Jr

Veronika Lake

Veronika Lake

Rosalind Russell

Norma Shearer

Judy Garland

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford

Jean Harlow

Joan Crawford

Norma Shearer

dorothy jordan

Carole Lombard

Bette Davis

George Hurrell

Ida Lupino

George Hurrell's Glamour Photography will ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!!!

In Pictures: Gloria Grahame

In Pictures: Gloria Grahame

Here is our twelfth installment of this very successful feature to "Love Those Classic Movies!!!" where we simply enjoy via beautiful pictures some of our favorite golden age classic stars. Not a lot of writing at all or tid bits or extras just simply as it is stated, "in pictures!" Hope you all enjoy Gloria Grahame in pictures, cheers!!!!

 

In A Lonely Place (1950) SUSPENSE PICTURE W/SURPRISE FINISH

In A Lonely Place (1950) / Columbia Pics
Starring: Gloria Grahame, Humphrey Bogart and Frank Lovejoy
Directed By: Nicholas Ray

Tagline:  "THE BOGART SUSPENSE PICTURE WITH THE SURPRISE FINISH"

Background:
Adapted from novel written in 1947 called "In a Lonley Place" (author Dorothy Hughes).
Film produced by Humphrey Bogart's Santana Productions.
In 2007, it became part of the National Film Registry.

Note from the Movie Gentleman:
Gloria Grahame did not often have top billing as leading lady but she SHINED in this film which was one of her best. As a dark film noir showing that she had many sides to her and this one she could pull off and was excellent!

Plot:

A not so lucky screenwriter who had hits in his past and is searching for the next big one, Dixon "Dix" Steel (Bogart) stops at a nightclub prior to meeting up with his agent Mel Lippman (Smith). At the nightclub Dix is being talked into his book being adapted into a movie and while there get's into a fight with a much yuonger director who bad mouths Dix's friend. While at the club Dix meet a lovely hat check girl named Mildred who ends up going home with him and is itnerested in finishing his book. So both leave the club and head back to his home. Along the way to his apartment he crossed paths with a new tenant named Laurel Gray (Grahame).  Dix is being a gentleman and only wants to find out Midlred's true opinion of his book so then she enters his home to have the discussion. Mildred tells him what he already knew that the novel was no good. So since there was no where else for the conversation to go Dix provides money to Mildred to leave and to take a cab home which she does. We then see the next morning that Dix is surrounded by many people such as detectives that tell him that Mildred was found murdered the night before and of course Dix is prime suspect. Laurel the new tenant of the building goes into the police station to confirm what she which was Mildred leaving alone by cab though the detective still does not believe it. Dix has a hard time with emotions and this gives more cause to his guilt.

Dix's finally is able to be relased and goes back home and gets to know Laurel who is single and an inspiring actress. They both start have a large attraction for one another which ignites Dix passion for writing again with the quality that and drive he has not seen for years. The new couple start seeing each other all the time and are very much in love and are very good for one another....Dix has a love in his life which breaths new life into him that was sorely missing and is a gorgeous muse. Later Laurel finds out from the detective that Dix has a lengthy passed of violent behavior and to be very cautious with him. A high strong and violent Dix is shown when Laurel is in the car and he finds out that she was told about him so he then drives at high speeds with her in the car very reckless and is sideswiped by another car. This brings a new level of emotions for Laurel where she needs medication to sleep and to calm down due to Dix and his new and dangerous ways. Laurel is scared bottom line of what he will do next....which then follows with many twists and turns of what will occur...is Dix the real killer and is not to be trusted??? This is a great film noir..that you will have to see!!

In Pictures: Claire Trevor

In Pictures: Claire Trevor

Here is our eleventh installment of this very successful feature to "Love Those Classic Movies!!!" where we simply enjoy via beautiful pictures some of our favorite golden age classic stars. Not a lot of writing at all or tid bits or extras just simply as it is stated, "in pictures!"
Hope you all enjoy Claire Trevor in pictures, cheers!!!!