Wednesday, February 8, 2012

When Movie Stars Mate: A Valentines Day Hollywood Hug


Twinkle twinkle 
Movie Star. 
Your way of love might seem bizarre.
But who can know how just one glance
Can start a movie star romance?
♥ Some romances cannot be denied! ♥

The Look of Hollywood Love
Some romances don't endure forever, but they sure were fun while they lasted.


Mary Pickford & Douglas Fairbanks


Doug and Mary were the King and Queen of Hollywood in the 1920s and their home, Pickfair, served as their Buckingham Palace. Alas, their marriage failed, but neither one ever stopped loving the other.
Mary and Doug were married for 16 years. The pressure of being the "perfect couple" was just too much.

Greta Garbo & John Gilbert


Theirs was the white-hot romance of the 1920s. She was cool, he was hot and together they exuded sex appeal galore.
Unfortunately, Garbo wanted to be alone and went her own way without Gilbert. While it lasted, they were the power couple of their day.


Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier
Was there ever a more beautiful couple? A fairy tale romance that burned hot and then burned out. There is no doubt that each was the love of the other's life, but Vivien's health problems lead to the couple's demise.
Vivien and Larry were married for 20 years and, while it lasted, they were golden.


Rudolph Valentino & Pola Negri






Was it all just a publicity stunt? Maybe, but, gee, these hothouse flowers were glamorous. Rudy died before anything could go wrong with the romance, so we'll never know how it all would have turned out.
They sure seem to be happy and in love, don't they?


Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton


The tabloid couple that leaves all others in the dust. They were hot, they were reckless, they were married to others, they were in love and that love would not be denied! Liz and Dick were too dramatic, too beautiful, too extravagant, too much in love and just plain too much to last.


And they were the King and Queen (at least for a while), weren't they? Married twice (once for 10 years, and another try for 1 year), their love affair and the press coverage of it, is a Hollywood romance legend.


Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy




When I think of "the look of love," I think of these 2. Because their love affair was an open secret in Hollywood, there are no public photos of life at home, no casual outings. Tracy remained married, but he and Hepburn were a couple for decades until his death.


Not just love, but mutual admiration. Nice.


Jean Harlow & William Powell


Oh, if only they had been given a chance. After Harlow's tragic marriage to Paul Bern, wonderful William Powell seemed like just the right man to make "the Baby" happy.


Another case of "who knows if it would have lasted?" Probably not, but Bill gave Harlow lots of happiness before she left this world much too soon.


Clark Gable & Carole Lombard


The Hollywood couple that everyone rooted for. The love affair between these two very special and likable stars was embraced by the public. Carole's tragic death and Gable's subsequent grief elevated their romance to one of the great 20th century love stories.
Would they have always been this happy? I'd like to think so.


Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall


This May-December romance was real love and the public adored them. Although only 21 when she married the 46-year old Bogart, Bacall seemed his equal in every way. And, it turns out, she really was.
Theirs was a happy union that lasted 12 years, until Bogart's death. They were a swell team on and off the screen.


Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward


This one stood the test of time. 
Dignified, private and unassuming, they lived their life out of the Hollywood spotlight and remained married for 50 years. An amazing record and a truly romantic pair.
Wishing you Valentine's Day filled with the love of friends, family, pets and some romance, too!

13 comments:

Runell said...

The romance back then was just so different than it is now. It was nice, sweet, simpler, dramatic, but never obnoxious. I mean, there's not really a couple that completely gets on my nerves from back then. Today? Plenty.

Kimberly J.M. Wilson said...

Joanne Woodward was one lucky lady. Paul was asked if ever thought about cheating and he said why would he want hamburger when he had steak at home!

Christian Esquevin said...

Great theme and display of these screen couples FlickChick. I have a whole collection of on-screen couple photos and I always forget to show them for Valentines. Thank you for doing so.

FlickChick said...

RC - I know exactly what you mean. There is one couple in particular that really drives me batty!

FlickChick said...

@ Kim - oh Paul - sigh - what a wonderful man - and wrapped in such a great looking package!

FlickChick said...

@ Christian- I'll be yours are terrific (they always are). And forgetting Valentines Day? Shame on you!! (wink wink)

Samantha said...

Yes and I am wishing you a Valentine's Day filled with the love of friends, family, pets and some romance, too! I loved Liz and Richard the best! Ah love...

FlickChick said...

Same to you, Sammie - I hink all of these couple really loved one another (at least for a time).

Valarie Joyce said...

GREAT blog post! So glad they didn't morph the couples' names together like they do now or Hollywood history would be stuck with "Valen-negri," "Trace-burn," and possibly even "Garb-more" (which could literally mean "to wear or buy more clothes!"). Whew...thank goodness, right? ;p Happy "VAL" Day, "Norma!" ;)

FlickChick said...

Same to you, Val-girl. Hmm... PickBanks? Polantino? The possibilities are endless!

Dawn said...

Wonderful pictures and a wonderful post!! I hope that you had a wonderful Valentines Day!!

FlickChick said...

Same to you Dawn - I hope yours was just "love"ly!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Great stories. Of course, The Gables and The Newmans are my favorites!