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Movie stars sure ain’t what they used to be. Who are the new Redfords, Newmans and Brandos of this generation, anyway? Right. Is it just me, or is celebrity status a cheap date nowadays that any hack with marginal talent and a flash of skin can get into bed? Blame the media, society, culture, you name it. Blame us after all, at the end of the day– we’re essentially feeding all of the above. Yes, it’s a disposable, razor-thin world we’re living in– where all too often, quantity wins over quality, and fast & crass trumps character & class. Well get me the hell out of here, thank you very much.
I’m a whole lot happier in my little black & white world. Show me the pretty pictures…
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May, 1972 ~ Robert Redford at the Beach, Cannes, France ~ Image by © Condé Nast Archive/Corbis
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May, 1974 ~ Jack Nicholson Standing in a Pool, Cannes, France ~ Image by © Condé Nast Archive/ Corbis
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1981 ~ Scottish actor Sean Connery sits aboard a private airplane on his way to the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Richard Melloul/Sygma/CORBIS
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May, 1973 ~ Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni during the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Jacques Haillot/Sygma/Corbis
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May, 1973 ~ Kris Kristofferson, Cannes, France ~ Image by © Condé Nast Archive/Corbis
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1971 ~ CANNES, FRANCE: Keith Richard, a member of the Rolling Stones, escorts his partner, actress Anita Pallenberg, and their two children to a screening of Rolling Stones’ concerts under the title, “Gimme Shelter,” May 20th. A thousand teenagers were invited to the show and stamped, whistled and clapped their way through the film. ~ Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
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1971 ~ American Actor Jack Nicholson, Cannes, France. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1969 ~ Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson kick up their heels, as “Easy Rider,” won the Prix de Premiere Oeuvre for Hopper, who also directed. ~ Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
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1969 ~ Actor, screenwriter and producer Peter Fonda (L) and director Dennis Hopper in Cannes to present their film “Easy Rider”. The film would be awarded the prize for best debut. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1969 ~ Actor, screenwriter and producer, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson, in Cannes to present their film, “Easy Rider”. The film would later be awarded the prize for best debut. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1968 ~ Members of British band, The Beatles: guitarist, George Harrison, his wife Patti Boyd, and drummer, Ringo Starr, and his wife Maureen Starkey, at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1963, Cannes, France ~ Austrian-born German actress, Romy Schneider and French director Henri-Georges Clouzot. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1966, Cannes, France ~ American singer Samy Davis, Jr. and American actor Kirk Douglas at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1976, Cannes, France ~ Actors Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell at a Party ~ Image by © Condé Nast Archive/Corbis
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1977 ~ Austrian-born American actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, 30th Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Yves Coatsaliou/Sygma/Corbis
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Robert Redford, left, with Sydney Pollack in 1972 at the Cannes Film Festival, with the pianist Arthur Rubinstein and his wife Nela.
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1955, Cannes, France ~ Film Director Nicholas Ray. ~ Image by © Marvin Koner/CORBIS
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1974 ~ French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and his partner, British actress and singer Jane Birkin, attend the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Image by © Mirkine/Sygma/Corbis
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1982, Cannes, France ~ Boxing great, Muhammad Ali ~ Image by © Richard Melloul/Sygma/Corbis
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The Selvedge Yard 
Character & class indeed.
Cheers ~ JP
What an eye you have, always always the best images. And the words that string them together never fail to be just completely right. Wonderful to see, as ever.
One of your best yet mate..Cheers ~ FH
probably one of the best images of Ali I’ve ever seen.
Redford worth it all. Love that nonchalance. No they aren’t what they use to be. No
Robert & Arthur. Pure class.
I don’t know if it’s so much the movie stars that have changed as it is the photographers and the atmosphere they create. Knowing that every little move you make can be spread around the world in minutes has got to play havoc with a person’s ability to be relaxed, candid and real.
TSY gets it right again.
Thank gawd you are here to remind me of a time when dignity, character, and respect were important virtues. Not that some of these celebrities didn’t have their own issues with drugs, domestic violence and being splattered all over the media, but man, it was on a much smaller scale, inconspicuous and NOT in your face like it is today just to sell a magazine or ratings! What today’s TV execs won’t do to get ratings…imagine Brigette Neilsen allowing herself to be televised in a drunken romp with Flava Flav or celebrities who think going on TV to have their withdrawal symptoms filmed is going to gain them recognition or a lesson for would-be alcoholics? I’d rather keep it to myself and not let the public in on my private life. I went thru the drug induced 60s and 70s and trust me, drugs and alcohol were recreational and some things were better left unsaid. BTW, LOVE Redford’s shoes and Sean Connery in a cowboy shirt!! Eeehah!!!
Great post and thanks for making up for the previous one featuring hacks, please keep it real.
~A
I’m not sticking up for today’s “celebrities” by any means, but weren’t they saying the same thing about Redford, Nicholson and the like back in the 60’s and 70’s? How they didn’t have the panache, style and glamour of old?
I remember reading that many of the “New Hollywood” types would go out of their way to de-mystify the Hollywood star system. OK, at least their lack of formality wasn’t conceived and contrived by stylists, publicists and other so called “handlers” that we see today. (which, ironically enough WAS part of the old Hollywood star system).
I think that true star power and mystique is built on talent drive and the good sense to know when to stay OUT of the limelight, which most of these artists, actors, etc., learned to do in the end.
…we’ll just have to wait 30-40 years to see which of today’s stars really do have the panache, style and glamour that stands the test of time won’t we? 🙂
~A
Sure enough. I WILL make a quick prediction, though– Brittany and Paris won’t make the list!
the governator wearing tretorns, funny.
One of Ali is the best!
love every one of these photos. nothing beats 70’s redford – my GOD if i were a man, i’d just give up. and i love the shot of kris in his tux!
love R.R. outfit in the 1st pic!!! THE SHOES… and Dennis… eeeeeeeeeeeeee~
The Easy Rider shots are my faves. Cool is dead, long live cool. This is one of my favorite sites in the whole wide interworld. Nice job…
I love the Connery photo. These are all so classic. On the talent scale, I’m not sure who would be on their level. Fame-wise, Clooney and Pitt quickly come to mind.
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whoah. that was a hell of a post. thanks for that.
Fuck yes, first word that came to mind was ‘Character’ as others have mentioned. Celebs are seriously bland and lacking guts & character nowdays. Bette Davis thanks.
The main goal of mass production is consumability of the product. (am I inventing this word? “kosumierbarkeit” in german) Due to that, we loose variety and character in everything – music, fashion, cars and stars. Quality might still be there, but surely there has been a shift of focus by the producing industry.