Friday, July 01, 2011

My Weekend Crush

I’ve had this photo of Carole Lombard sitting in my archives for what seems like ages. And each time I stumble across it again, usually while searching for some other photo, I have to stop. In one photo, it’s everything that Hollywood should be. Beautiful. Glamorous. Seductive. It’s perfect. Carole Lombard is perfect. I can’t stop staring at it. I never want to stop staring at it. It mesmerizes me anew each time. In fact, I’ve been a little selfish keeping it to myself all this time. It’s so perfect, I almost don’t want to share it. Like when you caught your first summer firefly, but then didn’t want to share it with anyone because the light was so pretty in your hand. That’s how this photo makes me feel.

As one of the biggest stars of the 1930s, Carole earned more than five times the President of the United States in her heyday. Her gift for comedy and flare for life were legendary. She had that almost impossible combination of humor and elegance. It earned her an Oscar nomination for 1936’s “My Man Godfrey.” She had a string of famous fellas after her, and married William Powell and Clark Gable. Not bad for an Indiana gal. But her life was cut tragically short at age 33 when after returning home to Indiana for a war bonds rally at the start of WWII, her plane home crashed killing her, her mother and 15 soldiers. So just like the photo, Carole remains frozen in time. Forever beautiful. Forever glamorous. Forever seductive. And always able to make us stop in our tracks and say, my God, she’s gorgeous. Happy weekend, all.

17 comments:

Michelle said...

Anyone else see a touch of Evan Rachel Wood? Just the slightest resemblance...

Anonymous said...

"My Man Godfrey" is one of my favorite B&W movies.

Kristan said...

Those lower lashes are insane!

Lou said...

Ditto. To Be or Not To Be is brilliant too - she was such a gifted comic actress.

Tenearthimps said...

I was thinking how much she Lily Loveless looks like her, actually...

Rebecca... said...

She's phenomenal in To Be Or Not To Be, one of the funniest movies of all time.

Kathryn said...

Beautiful choice, DS, and well done in bringing out what was/is unique about Lombard. There's no point in idealizing one particular era over the other (I wouldn't want to go back to the 30s!), but there's something distinctively captivating about CL and her time.

jessica said...

She sort of looks like Gillian Anderson, just a tad.

Packrat said...

Carole Lombard, and My Man Godfrey, are all time favorites of mine. Gorgeous, hilarious, potty-mouthed. I don't think she'd at all mind being called a "great broad".

Anonymous said...

seems people still play well,

which is good,

how's your summer going ds?

i had very weird dream few days ago,

i thought it was on thurs? or friday this week,

cus i don't have dream in general just

simply sleep, but that day it was very

memorable and felt like real, so i thought

why i had that kind of weird story in the day.

that night after i had the dream

i got my photo shipped. then i realized, i see,

the dream is about this and it made sense.

i think generally people have like this experiences

sometimes, do you have something like this?

yeah, i didn't read your post yet, just

tired read something now.

Anonymous said...

okay, i read others comment, but

still don't get what's going on, though.

speaking about shakespeare,

i don't know much about but i like

tempest. Just because it was the first

show that i actually saw, and was the

book that i bought because of the design

and good price, and audiobook recorded

2005 by bbc audiobooks really sounds

likable. i didn't try other audiobook so don't

know the quality. but other shakespeare?

story is not my i mean i understand just

you don't like listen something negative topic

all the time. tempest is listenable all the time.

that's all.

Anonymous said...

Creepy... abnormal eyes .irises place's? as a doctor,i'm afraid.

HollyColleen said...

It reminds me of Black Narcissus. She's looking right through you.

Anonymous said...

is that real name all you people commented here?

something very familiar...

nice weekend,

somewhat if you have chance check

the book, it was series, i don't know

each designer designed different subject? or

but i bought the tempest. published by

barnes and noble. about $7.95, maybe can

get discount online store, now.

what i'm talking about is the design quality and

the unbelievable price.

why i'm talking this by the way?

Dee said...

I don't think that's the most flattering photo of her - looks like an alien to me... LOL

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Norma Desmond said...

Every time you pick one of the classic ladies my film historian heart does its happy dance. Thank you. :)

weltatem said...

Fabulous choice - and I totally see Gillian Anderson.