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HomeExploreCelebritiesGolden Age Hollywood Studio Portraits
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A red satin dress, a halo of silver stars, and a face picked out by a single light. These original publicity portraits show how Hollywood photographers shaped a star’s image, from Clara Bow’s early talkies to the studio portraits of the 1950s. Look for the lighting, poses, and costumes that make each face instantly recognizable.

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22
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck: A. L. “Whitey” Schafer’s portrait of Barbara Stanwyck uses a close crop so her expression holds the…
23
James Dean
James Dean: Warner Bros. used this portrait to promote Rebel Without a Cause in 1955. Dean is dressed as Jim Stark, the…
24
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor: Taylor turns toward the camera in this studio publicity portrait. The shallow depth of field softens the…
25
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford: This publicity portrait of Crawford was distributed in 1939. She leans against a carved column, her face lit…
26
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge: This 1950s publicity portrait shows Dandridge at the height of her Hollywood career. For the 1954…
27
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin: In this publicity portrait for The Great Dictator, Chaplin poses in costume for his 1940 satire. He played…
28
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh: Leigh poses in costume as Scarlett O’Hara for Gone with the Wind. The ruffled neckline and ribbons give the…
29
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy: This publicity portrait was issued for State of the Union in 1948. Tracy plays Grant Matthews, an…
30
James Cagney
James Cagney: Cagney looks straight at the camera in this studio publicity portrait. The plain background and close framing…
31
Clara Bow
Clara Bow: The Film Daily printed this portrait of Bow in costume for Call Her Savage in 1932. Bow plays Nasa Springer in…
32
Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard: Paul Hesse’s portrait appeared on the January 1940 cover of Photoplay. Lombard was already known for…
33
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow: This publicity portrait highlights the platinum-blond hair that became part of Harlow’s screen image. The…
34
John Wayne
John Wayne: This studio publicity portrait survives in the Frank Driggs Collection. Wayne faces the camera at a slight…
35
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly: A Paramount publicity photographer made this portrait of Kelly for Rear Window in 1954. Kelly plays Lisa…
36
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier: This portrait shows Poitier as Noah Cullen in The Defiant Ones (1958). Poitier received his first Oscar…
37
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly faces the camera in a studio portrait. With the frame focused on his face, the photograph shows how a publicity…

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