#ava gardner

[instantgoddess]

Ava Gardner

[citizenscreen]

Ava Gardner immortalizing her prints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre this week in 1952 (10/21)

[hellooldsmelly]

[anneliesengland]

[screengoddess]

Ava Gardner

[popculturebaby]

Ava Gardner’s MGM Employment Portrait in 1941

She was 19 years old.

[frostedmagnolias]

Ava Gardner

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Ava Gardner (The Killers, The Barefoot Contessa)— She's so goddamn hot. Her and Frank Sinatra could've sandwiched me and I would've thanked them for the privilege

Anna May Wong (The Thief of Bagdad, Shanghai Express)—Wong was the first Chinese American movie star, arguably the first Asian woman to make it big in American films. Though the racism of the time often forced her into stereotypical roles, awarded Asian leading roles to white actors in yellowface, and prohibited on-screen romance between actors of different races, she delivered powerful and memorable performances. When Hollywood bigotry got to be too much, she made movies in Europe. Wong was intellectually curious, a fashion icon, and a strong advocate for authentic Asian representation in cinema. And, notably for the purposes of this tournament, absolutely gorgeous.

This is round 5 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Ava Gardner:

Ava Gardner is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Although a lot of her roles in movies are about her being beautiful and nothing else, there are some films where her acting truly shines.

Gifset: https://www.tumblr.com/pelopides/721438308726603776/ava-gardner-as-pandora-reynolds-pandora-and-the

Gifset 2: https://www.tumblr.com/portraitoflestatonfire/731899355804598272/if-the-loustat-reunion-doesnt-look-like-this-then

HER FACE. LOOK AT IT. Also was a life long supporter of civil rights and a member of the NAACP, had lots of fun love affairs with other stars, bullfighters, married several times but was also happy in between to just have lovers and was unapologetically herself.

I literally gasp every time I see her.

Between 1942 and 1964, Ava Gardner was credited in no less 50 films, and is still considered by some to be the most beautiful actresses that ever graced the silver screen. Despite life-long insecurities regarding her talent as an actress, she weathered public scandal, industry hostility, and outright condemnation by the Catholic Church with fearless grace. She would later in life talk candidly about the reality and pain of living through two (studio approved!!) abortions during her short marriage to Frank Sinatra, and while the two of them could not make their relationship work, they remained in each other’s lives for nearly 30 years. She would forever describe herself as a small-town girl who just got lucky, but always felt like a beautiful outsider.

Really genuinely one of the most beautiful human beings I have ever seen. An autodidact. Had amazing chemistry with Gregory Peck to the point where I do think about watching On The Beach again sometimes because they're so good together even though that movie did destroy me. Was a great femme fatale in many movies.

Anna May Wong propaganda:

"She so so gorgeous!! Due to Hollywood racism she was pretty limited in the roles she got to play but even despite that she’s so captivating and deserves to be known as a leading lady in her own right!! When she’s on screen in Shanghai Express I can’t look away, which is saying something because Marlene Dietrich is also in that film."

"SHE IS ON THE BACK OF QUARTERS also she was very smart and able to speak multiple languages and is a fashion icon on top of the acting/singing"

"Paved the way for Asian American actresses AND TOTAL HOTTIE!!! She broke boundaries and made it her mission to smash stereotypes of Asian women in western film (at the time, they were either protrayed them as delicate and demure or scheming and evil). In 1951, she made history with her television show The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, the first-ever U.S. television show starring an Asian-American series lead (paraphrased from Wikipedia). Also, never married and rumor has it that she had an affair with Marlene Dietrich. We love a Controversial Queen!"

"She's got that Silent Era smoulder™ that I think transcends the very stereotypical roles in which she was typically cast. Also looks very hot smouldering opposite Marlene Dietrich in "Shanghai Express"; there's kiss energy there."

"Hot as hell and chronically overlooked in her time, she's truly phenomenal and absolutely stunning"

"A story of stardom unavoidably marred by Hollywood racism; Wong's early-career hype was significantly derailed by the higher-up's reluctance to have an Asian lead, and things only got worse when the Hayes code came down and she suddenly *couldn't* be shown kissing a white man--even if that white man was in yellowface. After being shoved into the Dragon Lady role one too many times, she took her career to other continents for many years. Still, she came back to America eventually, being more selective in her roles, speaking out against Asian stereotypes, and in the midst of all of this finding the time to be awarded both the title of "World's Best Dressed Woman" by Mayfair Mannequin Society of New York and an honorary doctorate by Peking University."

"Incredible beauty, incredible actress, incredible story."

"-flapper fashion ICON. look up her fits please <3 -rumors of lesbianism due to her Close Friendships with marlene dietrich & cecil cunningham, among others -leveraged her star power to criticize the racist depictions of Chinese and Asian characters in Hollywood, as well as raise money and popular support for China & Chinese refugees in the 1930s and 40s. -face card REFUSED to decline"

[normasshearer]

I've changed so since I've known you. I'm not cruel and hateful as I used to be. Hurting people because I was so unhappy myself. I know now what destructiveness comes from. It's a lack of love. It's as simple as that.

AVA GARDNER as Pandora Reynolds in PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN (1951) dir. Albert Lewin

[emmieexplores2]

Ava Gardner

[classicfilmsource]

Ava Gardner in ONE TOUCH OF VENUS 1948 | William A. Seiter

[deforest]

AVA GARDNER in THE BRIBE — 1949, dir. Robert Z. Leonard

[ynonnemonlaur]

you have the chance to go watch any old hollywood movie for the first time, what movie would it be?

[hellooldsmelly]

[anneliesengland]

[gatabella]

Ava Gardner at the fitting for the Fontana Sisters fashion show, Rome, 1954

"Clothes are naturally important to this lovely star, who is an elegant dresser. She hates any kind of ostentation in dress, and simply cannot understand why some women dress so elaborately that they obscure themselves. "If one wants a painting to be noticed and appreciated, one never puts it in such an elaborate frame that it is overwhelmed," she argues. "I'm quite in sympathy with a girl who wants to create an impression when she enters a room", admits the star who certainly attracts all eyes wherever she goes. "But when a dress or jewels attract the attention first, it is no real compliment to a woman's charms. Subdued materials and simplicity of line accentuate attractiveness. They serve as a spotlight for a woman's looks and personality," she insists. "Showy fabrics and an assortment of jewellery, whether it be real or imitation, really turn off the beacon and keep the girl herself in darkness. I believe it a great mistake for a woman to serve as a walking advertisement for a dressmaker, no matter how renowned. I insist that a gown shows me off to advantage, After all, I have paid for it, so why should I be disregarded and all the attention given to the couturier? Whenever a dress gets too much attention, and other women want to know where I purchased it, I know I have made a mistake. And I also know that the designer has, too."

-Ephemera magazine, 1959