Lovelya ctress Ava Gardner, a top star in her profession, was at the height of a hectically successful carees of sultry, wisecracking, Harlowesque sexiness when she started working on a new film in Rome, The barefoot Contessa. The great LIFE Magazine (US) photographer David Duncan went to the italian capital and took some very interesting behind the scenes shots. This was quite a change of scenery for him, as he was a war photographer.
For this movie, Joseph L. Makiewicz wrtoe Ava a tailor-made script about an unknown spanish dancer pushed to fame by a broken-down Hollywood director. Ava rose at 5 a.m., often stayed on the set until late evening, mingling a capacity for concentrated study with the ability to enjoy herself, whether in the overtime chores required of a star or in a time-off moment of sightseeing.
As a favor to Couturiere Zoe Fontana, whose fashion house designed her 26 dresses for Barefoot Contessa, Ava turned up one aftertoon at a Fontana fashion show and, unannounced and deadpan, modeled a dress from the movies. As she walked down the salon following the mannequins, Madame Fontana's unsuspecting clientele at first couldn't believe their eyes. Then as she turned and flounced, mimicking the other models prettily, they cheered her roundly.
_________________________
images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection
.jpg)
Social Plugin