During Hollywood's Golden Era, publicity photos had the same power to make or break star as the films in which they appeared. The most sought after photographer of the time was George Hurrell, who perfected the "glamour" portrait. Here, 275 of his classic photos are brilliantly reproduced, using archival prints that preserve his dramatic lighting effects. And while the images are of familiar faces and figures, most of the photographs included here have not been seen for more than 50 years.
Between 1928 and 1942, Hurrell photographed all the great Hollywood stars, from Jean Harlow and Norma Shearer to Robert Taylor, Clark Gable, and Jane Russell. Perhaps his most notable collaboration was with Joan Crawford; a pair of "before and after" photographs of the actress reveals the extent of her debt to Hurrell's amazing retouching techniques.
The prints come from the Chapman Collection, one of the most extensive archives of Hurrell photographs in the world, and the fascinating text is by the highly acclaimed photographer Mark A. Vieira. Having known Hurrell well during his later years -- and having himself fully mastered the techniques of Hollywood glamour photography -- Vieira not only can share behind-the-scenes stories, but more importantly, can document how Hurrell achieved his remarkable effects.
