Portrait of Capucine by Philipe Halsman, 1960 via
Portrait of Capucine by Philipe Halsman, 1960 via
Category Archives: Philippe Halsman
Jean Seberg by Philippe Halsman
Jean Seberg by Philippe Halsman via
Audrey Hepburn in “Ondine” (1954)
Ondine is a play written in 1938 by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, based on the 1811 novella Undine by the German RomanticFriedrich de la Motte Fouqué that tells the story of Hans and Ondine. Hans is a knight-errant who has been sent off on a quest by his betrothed. In the forest he meets and falls in love with Ondine, a water-sprite who is attracted to the world of mortal man. The subsequent marriage of people from different worlds is, of course, folly. By turns comic, enchanting, and tragic, Ondine is considered by some to be Giraudoux’s finest work.
The play was adapted by Maurice Valency, opening on Broadway in 1954 in a production by Alfred Lunt with a cast including Mel Ferrer, John Alexander, Peter Brandon, Alan Hewitt, Edith King, Robert Middleton, William Podmore, Marian Seldes, and Audrey Hepburn in the role that made her a star.
Ondine won the 1954 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. This production also garnered the 1954 Tony awards for Best Director (Lunt) and Best Actress in a Play (Hepburn).
Audrey Hepburn photographed on stage during a performance of Ondine, New York, 1954 via
Audrey Hepburn during the theatre production of “Ondine” by Philippe Halsman via
Audrey Hepburn photographed by Milton H. Greene on stage during a performance of Ondine, New York, 1954 via
Audrey Hepburn photographed by Milton H. Greene on stage during a performance of Ondine, New York, 1954 via
Dancer Enrica Soma by Philippe Halsman
Enrica Soma (1929 – 1969) was an Italian-American socialite, model, and prima-ballerina. She was also the wife of director John Huston and mother of actress Anjelica Huston.
Soma was pushed into the entertainment industry by her father, using his connections he had gained through his restaurant. She studied ballet with George Balanchine and joined his company as a principal dancer. As a model, she appeared on the June 9, 1947 cover of Life Magazine at the age of 18. She worked often with Philippe Halsman.
She was offered a film contract by David O. Selznick, but turned down becoming an actress once she met Huston.
Philippe Halsman. Enrica Soma as a rococo courtesan via
Philippe Halsman. Enrica Soma, 1947 via
Philippe Halsman. Enrica Soma, 1949 via
Marilyn Monroe by Philippe Halsman
From the 1940s through the 1970s, Philippe Halsman’s sparkling portraits of celebrities, intellectuals, and politicians appeared on covers and pages of big picture magazines. A 1958 poll conducted by Popular Photography named Halsman one of the “World’s Ten Greatest Photographers” . In 1951, he was commissioned by NBC to photograph various popular comedians of the time. While photographing them doing their acts, he captured many in mid air, which went on to inspire many later jump pictures of celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, who Halsman had several photo sessions with – including her first cover of Life Magazine.
Marilyn Monroe photographed by Philippe Halsman, 1959 via
Marilyn Monroe photographed by Philippe Halsman, 1959 via
A Collection of Photos Feat. Dresses by Edith Head
Edith Head (1897 – 1981) was an American costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, starting with The Heiress (1949) and ending with The Sting (1973).
Born and raised in California, Head managed to get a job as a costume sketch artist at Paramount Pictures, without any relevant training. She first acquired notability for Dorothy Lamour’s trademark sarong dress, and then became a household name after the Academy Awards created a new category of Costume Designer in 1948. Head was considered exceptional for her close working relationships with her subjects, with whom she consulted extensively, and these included virtually every top female star in Hollywood.
After 43 years she left Paramount for Universal, possibly because of her successful partnership with Alfred Hitchcock, and also adapted her skills for television.
Edith Head, 1930s via
Edith Head’s costume for Anna May Wong in Dangerous to Know directed by Robert Florey, 1938 via
Grace Kelly wearing her Oscar dress by Edith Head. Photograph by Philippe Halsman via
Edith Head’s costume for Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd directed by Billy Wilder, 1950 via
Audrey Hepburn (with Edith Head in the background) puts on her tiara and necklace while on the set of Roman Holiday, 1952 via
Hitchcock and Head on the set of Family Plot, 1976 via
FROM THE BYGONE 