Old Hollywood

Singer and actress Doris Day — in costume, dressed in white tie and tails and wearing a black top hat — captured facing the camera while performing, smiling broadly as she poses with her arms above her head, a black white-topped cane in her right hand, left leg extended, right knee bent, an orchestra and bandleader behind her, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken during filming of the "Just One of Those Things" musical number for the film Lullaby of Broadway (1951)

Doris Day in a publicity still for Lullaby of Broadway (1951)

"One million dollars, Faye Dunaway."

Bette Davis reveals which person in Hollywood she would never work with again on The Tonight Show, 1988

"One million dollars, Faye Dunaway."

Bette Davis reveals which person in Hollywood she would never work with again on The Tonight Show, 1988

Actress and singer Marilyn Monroe — dressed in an elegant black dress suit and black leather gloves — captured facing the camera while seated on a light-coloured couch, legs crossed, her left hand resting on the seat, right hand on her knee as she smiles broadly and glances to the left, a standing microphone positioned in front of her, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken during a press conference in the waiting room at Los Angeles Airport

Marilyn Monroe during a press conference at Los Angeles Airport, 1956

Singer and songwriter Wilson Pickett — dressed in a navy blue suit and white open-collared shirt — captured in profile, face turned toward the camera while smiling broadly, a woman visible in the background writing on a pad, in a medium-length colour shot taken during a break from filming on the set of the British music television series Ready Steady Go!, 1966

Wilson Pickett on the set of the music television series Ready Steady Go!, 1966

Actors Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason — Grant and Mason dressed in dark-coloured suits and ties, Saint in a belted black dress — captured facing the camera while standing arm-in-arm, Saint flanked by both actors, all smiling broadly, the colossal presidential Mount Rushmore sculpture looming behind them, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken on location at Mount Rushmore Memorial Park during production of North by Northwest (1959)

Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason on location at Mount Rushmore during production of North by Northwest (1959)

Actor Vincent Price — in costume, dressed in white tie and tails, wearing a white boutonniere on his left lapel — captured facing the camera while glancing to the left, holding a round glass object in his hands, his shadow visible on the wall behind him, in an atmospheric medium-length black-and-white shot for the film The Long Night (1947)

Vincent Price in a publicity still for The Long Night (1947)

Actresses Joan Collins and Jayne Mansfield — Collins dressed in a dark-coloured shirt, light-coloured trousers and white headscarf, Mansfield in a white short-sleeved blouse and light-coloured trousers — captured together while facing each other in profile, both turning their faces toward the camera and smiling broadly as they each stand beside an automobile, left hands on their hips, right hands on their respective vehicle's open front door, caravans and a studio building in the distance, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken on the 20th Century Fox lot during a break from filming The Wayward Bus (1957)

Joan Collins and Jayne Mansfield during a break from filming The Wayward Bus (1957)

Dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker — dressed in an extravagant flapper dress with flower embellished bodice and beaded skirt — captured facing the camera while onstage, smiling broadly and glancing to the right, her knees bent as she crosses her arms and touches her knees, mid-Charleston, an Art Deco cityscape backdrop behind her, replete with buildings, ships and "Travel Cunard" signage, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken during a performance at the Folies Bergère in Paris

Josephine Baker performing at the Folies Bergère in Paris, 1926

Actress Britt Ekland — in costume, dressed in a gown with two-tone contrasting coloured bodice — captured facing the camera, looking directly into the lens, in a medium-length black-and-white shot for the film The Double Man (1967)

Britt Ekland in a publicity still for The Double Man (1967)

Actress Janet Leigh — dressed in a white shirt, dark-coloured trousers and long black socks — captured facing the camera while lying on an upper bunk bed, her head and back propped up against pillows, her legs extended above her, feet resting on a pipe while she reads a leatherbound script which rests on her lap, a lit cigarette in her right hand, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken in her cabin onboard a ship en route to Norway to begin location shooting for the film The Vikings (1958)

Janet Leigh onboard a ship en route to Norway to begin filming The Vikings (1958)

Actress and photojournalist Gina Lollobrigida — dressed in a leopard print coat and carrying a black handbag — captured in profile, face turned toward the camera as she glances to the left and smiles while preparing to enter her Rolls-Royce, its back door open, a man behind her speaking to the vehicle's unseen chauffeur, a group of people gathered a short distance away, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken on a street in Rome

Gina Lollobrigida in Rome, 1964

Child actress Cammie King and actor Clark Gable — both in costume, King dressed in a dark-coloured period gown and feather-bedecked bonnet, Gable in a dark-coloured period suit — captured together, facing the camera as they walk hand-in-hand across the grass of a horse riding course, King holding up her skirt with her right hand, a riding crop in her left, a white fence behind them as they look at each other, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken outside during a break from filming on the set of Gone with the Wind (1939)

Cammie King and Clark Gable during a break from filming Gone with the Wind (1939)

Actor Sabu — in costume, in traditional regal Indian dress, including a light-coloured beaded jacket and trousers, and wearing a jewel-encrusted light-coloured turban and multiple extravagant rings — captured facing the camera while seated on an ornate dark-coloured chair, staring ahead, his elbows resting on the chair arms, left leg extended slightly forward, posed against a dark-coloured wall, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken for Black Narcissus (1947)

Sabu in a publicity still for Black Narcissus (1947)

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Absolutely!"

Lady Hester (Maggie Smith) convinces Elsa (Cher) to save herself in Tea with Mussolini (1999)

Actors Herbert Lom and Alec Guinness — both in costume, Lom dressed in a dark-coloured shirt, light-coloured tie and black overcoat, Guinness in a white striped shirt, dark tie, light cardigan and dark trousers — captured together while seated on wooden chairs playing cards, Lom facing the camera, Guinness in profile, both looking at their hands, Guinness with a lit cigarette in his mouth, white tea cups and Lom's black hat replete with more cards on a small table between them, in a medium-length black-and-white shot taken during a break from filming on the set of The Ladykillers (1955)

Herbert Lom and Alec Guinness during a break from filming The Ladykillers (1955)

Actors Toshiro Mifune, Ursula Andress and Jean-Paul Belmondo — Mifune dressed in a dark-coloured suit and swirl pattern tie, Andress in a dark minidress and exotic pattern bolero jacket, Belmondo in a dark suit and polka dot tie — captured standing together, Andress in profile, turning her face toward the camera while flanked by Mifune and Belmondo, who face the camera, all holding drinks, Belmondo also clutching a lit cigarette, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken during the Paris premiere party for the film Red Sun (1971)

Toshiro Mifune, Ursula Andress and Jean-Paul Belmondo at a party following the Paris premiere of Red Sun (1971)

Comedian and actress Phyllis Diller — dressed in a white fur coat, white fur hat and white boots, a white feather boa around her neck — captured facing the camera while standing in front of the airstair of a plane, her arms outstretched widely as she lifts her right leg up and poses, smiling broadly as people descend the stairs behind her and a man just out of view holds Diller's bag, in a full-length black-and-white shot taken on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport in London

Phyllis Diller arriving at Heathrow Airport in London, 1968

Singer and actress Ethel Merman — in costume, dressed in a dark-coloured strapless gown with beaded corset — captured in profile while turning her face toward the camera and smiling, seated sideways on a director's chair, her arm resting on the fabric backrest inscribed with her name, in a medium-length black-and-white shot taken during a break from filming on the set of There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

Ethel Merman between takes on the set of There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

Actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge — dressed in a strapless pink gown with extravagant ruffled skirt and white embroidered bust, wearing a diamond necklace and earrings — captured in profile while standing elegantly beside a purple grand piano, her hands raised in front of her as she turns her face toward the camera, smiling broadly, posed in front of a glowing background, a lit candle in a silver candlestick atop the piano, in a full-length colour shot taken by photographer Edward Clark for Life magazine

Dorothy Dandridge photographed by Edward Clark for Life magazine, 1953

Actress Teresa Wright — in costume, dressed in a light-coloured off-the-shoulder gown with jewel encrusted sleeve details — captured in profile, face turned toward the camera as she looks directly into the lens, smiling, an ornate chandelier in the background, in a medium-length black-and-white shot taken for Something to Live For (1952)

Teresa Wright in a publicity still for Something to Live For (1952)

"Boo!"

Buttercup (Robin Wright) is met with a chilly reception in The Princess Bride (1987)

Actress, singer and dancer Carol Channing — in costume, dressed in a sparkling beaded dress — captured in profile, her face turned toward the camera as she glances to the right and smiles, her left hand holding a white fur stole which covers her neck and shoulders, in a black-and-white medium close-up shot taken to promote the opening at the Ziegfeld Theatre of the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Carol Channing in a promotional still for the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1949

Actor Marlon Brando — in costume, shirtless and dressed in a light-coloured half tunic decorated with metal accoutrements, a dark-coloured cloak draped over his left shoulder, decorative bands on his arms — captured facing the camera while standing beside a white half column, his left hand resting on top of it, posed in front of a simple backdrop in a full-length black-and-white studio portrait taken for the film Julius Caesar (1953)

Marlon Brando in a publicity still for Julius Caesar (1953)

Singer and actor Howard Keel — shirtless, dressed in a pair of white swimming shorts — captured almost in profile while standing on a pool patio in front of a set of stone steps, turning his face toward the camera and smiling, his right foot on the first step, leg raised, right hand resting on his knee, a Boston Terrier and German Shepherd beside him, a large swimming pool and house in the background, in a full-length black-and-white shot

Howard Keel, 1948

Actors Audrey Hepburn and William Holden — both in costume, Hepburn dressed in a black sweater and capri pants, Holden in a dark-coloured suit and striped tie — captured together as they stand in front of a camera dolly, speaking to a crew member who holds the camera stand, his foot resting on the dolly in preparation for filming, the wall behind them covered in signs inscribed with in-film "Larrabee" company names in a full-length black-and-white shot taken outside a building on Broad Street in Manhattan, New York City, during a break from location filming for Sabrina (1954)

Audrey Hepburn and William Holden on location in New York City during production of Sabrina (1954)

Actress, dancer and singer Ginger Rogers — dressed in a dark-coloured gown and dark fur coat, wearing a black veiled hat and light-coloured evening gloves — captured facing the camera while glancing to the left, holding a black purse in her hands, fellow well-dressed attendees visible in the background, in a medium-length black-and-white shot taken outside the Paramount Theater during the Hollywood premiere of Lady in the Dark (1944)

Ginger Rogers at the Hollywood premiere of Lady in the Dark (1944)

Actress, dancer and singer Ann-Margret — in costume, dressed in a peach-coloured pleated blouse with brown and orange patterned shoulder detail — captured almost in profile, face turned toward the camera while glancing to the left, her chin raised, posed in front of a peach and teal backdrop, in a medium-length colour shot taken for the film The Pleasure Seekers (1964)

Ann-Margret in a publicity still for The Pleasure Seekers (1964)

"I guess you've pointed it out to lots of girls from here."

"One or two."

Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier) flirts with Connie Lampson (Diahann Carroll) in Paris Blues (1961)

Actress and activist Ruby Dee — in costume, dressed in a light-coloured woven ribbon gown and dark-coloured high-necked cape with ribbon detail, wearing a crown — captured facing the camera while looking into the distance, her left hand in front of her, right arm by her side, posed against a black backdrop, in a black-and-white medium close-up shot taken while Dee was starring as Cordelia in a production of King Lear at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut

Actress and activist Ruby Dee — in costume, dressed in a light-coloured woven ribbon gown and dark-coloured high-necked cape with ribbon detail, wearing a crown — captured facing the camera while looking into the distance, her left hand in front of her, right arm by her side, posed against a black backdrop, in a black-and-white medium close-up shot taken while Dee was starring as Cordelia in a production of King Lear at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut

Actress and activist Ruby Dee — in costume, dressed in a dark-coloured high-necked cape with ribbon detail, wearing a crown — captured facing the camera while looking into the distance, posed against a black backdrop, in a black-and-white medium close-up shot taken while Dee was starring as Cordelia in a production of King Lear at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut

Ruby Dee as Cordelia in the American Shakespeare Festival's production of King Lear, 1965