HURRELL'S HOLLYWOOD PORTRAITS - Hardcover

This book presents in depth the work of George Hurrell, the photographer who more than anyone else was responsible for inventing the Hollywood "glamour" portrait - the essential publicity tool for the major studios during the Golden Age of the movies. The book traces his immense impact on the portrayal of the leading stars year by year, from his arrival in California in 1925 until his departure in 1943. During that time he photographed all of the greatest personalities, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Brothers, and Columbia as well as independently. The prints come from the Chapman Collection, one of the most extensive archives of original Hurrell photographs in the world, and they include a number of rarities and surprises. Although some photos by Hurrell are familiar and frequently reproduced, most of the images in this book will come as a revelation, since they have not been published in over half a century. The genesis of the pictures is examined in a remarkable text by Mark A. Vieira, himself a highly regarded portrait photographer, who came to know Hurrell well during the photographer's later years. Vieira explains in detail Hurrell's technical feats of lighting and retouching. And drawing on firsthand accounts, he vividly re-creates the lively interplay between the photographer and his subjects at the shooting sessions in which these portraits were taken.

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.