Marilyn Monroe with re-worked nose and chin. Image: Shutterbug
Dear Reader: We were recently tagged by Realweegiemidget Reviews and Thoughts All Sorts to list our top “Five Flaming Hotties” from film and television.
This had us wondering about glamour in Hollywood, and whether vintage celebrities were always blessed with impossible* good looks.
*Impossible being the operative term here, because who on earth looks that good all the time? No one – not even the celebrities themselves.
Look at the above photo of Erroll Flynn. The camera shows us flawless skin, sculpted hair (with artful tousle), and a sweater that probably cost more than a month’s rent.
Flynn gazes towards Infinity. Indeed, the tilt of his head tries to suggest he’s a man of Lofty Ideals, one who could make the world a Better Place. (Cough cough! Sorry, something got stuck in our throat.)
This photo was designed by one of Hollywood’s premier portrait photographers, George Hurrell, who gave us enduring images of the classic Hollywood pantheon.
As you know, a photograph like this doesn’t happen by accident; it’s a careful study of subject and lighting. Here’s an example:
See? Glamour is Hard and Tedious Work. And that’s just the photography! We’re not even talking about wardrobe that hides unpleasant figure “defects” or makeup.
(Note: Since we [as in, yours truly] are the least-qualified person on the planet to dispense Beauty Advice, we don’t have Tips on how to be more photogenic, e.g. how Carole Lombard drew a white stripe down the centre of her nose to make it appear thinner, or how Jean Harlow [above] used contouring to enhance her cheekbones.)
Oftentimes there was more than makeup involved. According to Rebel Circus, Gloria Grahame felt her upper lip was too thin, so she would “stuff cotton between her upper lip and teeth to add fullness.”
Then there was electrolysis, used to raise and even out a person’s hairline. According to Marie Claire, this was a painful procedure involving “a thin metal probe to ‘shock’ the follicle and permanently remove the hair.”
Perhaps the most famous example of electrolysis is Rita Hayworth‘s hairline:
Rita Hayworth’s hairline, Before and After. Image: Marie Claire
Sometimes the procedures were even more drastic, such as rhinoplasty, a.k.a. The Nose Job.
According to Lipstick Alley, Dean Martin had his nose done when he was 27, before he became half of the Martin & Lewis comedy team.
Rudolph Valentino had surgery to change the shape of his ears. The cheeky website, Her Beauty, says, “Apparently [Valentino] couldn’t get any good parts because he was always told his ears stick out weird. So he corrected that tiny, seemingly insignificant detail, and suddenly he started getting multiple parts offered to him.”
Even Clark Gable underwent the Hollywood Transformation Process.
Clark Gable, Before and After. Image: Pinterest
Please understand, Dear Reader: Our goal isn’t to diminish these celebrities by dishing about their reconstructive secrets. After all, who among us is born with a flawless appearance?
Although each of these celebrities had cosmetic alterations, it’s really their onscreen presence that makes them legends. It’s what they brought to their roles – intelligence, compassion, humour – that we admire.
This is why they are some of our favourite classic Hollywood icons.
Silver Screenings 
Speaking of work, check out the schnoz on Peter O’Toole in 1960s Kidnapped as compared to Larry of Arabia in 1962. A guy or gal has gotta do what they think they gotta do. It’s all for the greater good.
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Thanks for the tip! Will check out O’Toole’s pre-Arabia nose.
Also: I love that you used the word “schnoz”.
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This was so interesting! And so true. One of my uncles had a huge crush on Jayne Mansfield, and when she did a personal appearance in Concord, California he went to see her. He was very disappointed that she didn’t look anything like her pictures. She’s still a legend, though. 🙂
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What kind of personal appearance was it? Did he get her autograph?
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I don’t think he did–I’ll have to ask him! My mom said it was in San Francisco, actually. Mansfield was there for the opening of a new Safeway. Apparently she went to the grand opening of every new grocery store between LA and SF to try and keep her name in the papers. My uncle worked in a Safeway warehouse and that’s how he found out. So, it’s an interesting little story. 🙂
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That is an interesting story, and a smart PR move, too.
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It was–she was even competing in beauty pageants for the same reason. And this was after Warner Bros let her go. My mom was shocked that I actually remembered the story, LOL.
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What a fascinating and informative article, Ruth: many thanks indeed for it. In my innocence and naivete I’d never really thought that much of this might have been going on — Harlow, yes, but not Monroe and most of the others.
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It’s a bit surprising, isn’t it? I’d never have guessed, either.
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Wow! I knew about Marilyn of course but the men on you’re list? No idea lol.
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Me either! Had no idea Errol Flynn had work done – or Clark Gable, aside from his teeth.
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Interesting article! Rudolph Valentino’s ears job was new to me…
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Valentino’s ears were new to me, too. I didn’t know what to expect when I started working on this post, and I found a WEALTH of info. I’m starting to wonder who didn’t have work done – haha.
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Have you read Loretta Young’s daughter’s book? Her ears had to be done–and it was terribly painful–when she was a little girl so they wouldn’t give away her mother’s secret. Those Gable ears were distinctive!
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I didn’t realize the daughter had that surgery when she was a little girl. Poor kid!
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Yes, apparently when she was kindergarten age and she said it really hurt a lot.
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Film is indeed a medium of illusion and it starts with the actors. What an interesting post!
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Thanks, Rick. It was fascinating to see the kinds of procedures classic movie stars underwent. In most cases, I thought they were “beautiful people” before surgery!
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Ditto. My words exactly. The illusion starts with the actors. This was & is an interesting post. Clark Gable was the most dramatic change. What a remarkable before &after.
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Clark Gable’s transformation is really something, isn’t it? I was surprised to see the difference.
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So love your alternative look at the hotties, really interesting post and reminded me of Judy Garlands biopic where her looks were “improved” by the studio. Still seems to be relevant today as many actresses tend to think plastic surgery will help, its really sad.
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It is sad, like you said, but I guess these “alterations” help sell movie tickets. Thanks for tagging me! 🙂
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No problem, you write great posts and hold fab blogathons – be wrong not to.
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Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
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