CAROLE LOMBARD & DIETRICH & COLEMAN VINTAGE 1934 PHOTO

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CAROLE LOMBARD & DIETRICH & COLEMAN VINTAGE 1934 PHOTO PROVENANCE: This is part of a very large collection of personal items (photographs, letters & personal papers) previously owned by CLIFTON WEBB that I purchased and will be offering in the coming months. I believe this to be the largest collection of its kind with extremely rare and unique personal effects of Mr. Webb so I welcome any fans of his to bookmark my auctions. DESCRIPTION: This is a photograph of historic interest in Hollywood. Taken at a party given by CLIFTON WEBB for actress/designer LADY MENDL (AKA Elsie de Wolfe ) and to celebrate Webb's first Hollywood film with Joan Crawford (see more info about the history of this party below). Pictured here are CAROLE LOMBARD , MARLENE DIETRICH , RONALD COLEMAN & CLIFTON WEBB (I cannot identify the man to the left) who were guests at the party. (BE SURE TO SEE OTHER PHOTOS FROM THIS PARTY IN THIS WEEK'S AUCTION! INCLUDING SWANSON and RHEA GABLE, Clark's wife!) The writing on the image is only a digital watermark to protect the photo from being copied and does not appear on the actual photo. - SIZE: approx. 8" X 10" - TONE: s epia toned B&W (not as yellow as the scan shows) - FINISH: matte - OTHER : double weight paper stock - CONDITION: Near mint - beautiful! (Please note that I am extremely condition conscious so I always point out the slightest anomalies) (Background on the reason for Webb's party: The MGM 1934 film project "Elegance" was a "sequel" to the monster-hit "Dancing Lady." It was shelved after Joan and her co-star Clifton Webb clashed too often during rehearsals. Rumors were that he was a "much better dancer" than Crawford and Crawford didn't want the competition.Verdict: A No Name. Rumors that Joan clashed with an almost unknown actor named Clifton Webb on the set AND that Joan was threatened by Webb's dancing skills. Hmmm... I think Joan was not happy with the thought of being cast with an actor that was not a big star. Also, Joan danced with Fred Astaire just fine and Astaire is the "king" of dance. Would have been nice to see a sequel of "Dancing Lady", the film was never made and Clifton Webb wouldn't appear in a movie until ten years later. In 1944, Webb starred in the hit "Laura" with Gene Tierney. After Webb signed a five year contract with MGM for $3,000 a week... Unfortunately, Webb's entrance into the film capital gave the moguls at MGM second thoughts. He arrived white-gloved and top-hatted, with Mabelle (his mother) on his arm and a French poodle named Ernest trailing along on a leash. He was to star in a musical with Joan Crawford in a film entitled, Elegance. It was based on the life of the famous dancer, Maurice. Crawford, who had already danced with Fred Astaire in Dancing Lady (1933), felt pretty confident about her dancing ability. However, as preliminary rehearsals began, Crawford reputedly was embarrassed by her inability to keep up with Webb. She also found that it was a man's picture, and probably wanted to avoid additional embarrassment by appearing on screen with the effete Webb who was then an unknown. The other problem was that it was next to impossible to find any other female star who was good enough to perform with Webb.In August, 1944, Webb was interviewed by Hollywood columnist Robbin Coons who asked him about the Crawford picture. Coons reported that the picture didn't get made because Crawford's dancing couldn't match Webb's. Webb said this report disturbed him and proceeded to give his version of what happened. "I came to Metro to do the film, Elegance . Joan was to co-star, and I was the guest of Joan and her husband, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. when I arrived. But the script was all mine...the girl's part was secondary, and I told the studio and told Joan that it wouldn't be fair to her, an established picture star, to play second fiddle to a newcomer from the stage. That's all there was to it. They worked over the script, but it never developed satisfacto... read more

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