OLD HOLLYWOOD IN COLOR

Since I began this blog many years ago, colorized photos of Old Hollywood have become quite popular, perhaps to the point of being ubiquitous. But there are so many more people on the Internet these days, that I thought I might offer a review of my ultimate image work by combining color with a 3-D effect. I have also noted where a particular film is available on DVD or Blu-ray. These days so many films can be found streaming on the Internet so don’t overlook that resource. Also, please read the “How to Free View” below so you can see the 3-D effect without needing a viewer or special glasses. All you will need is your own two eyes assuming they are in halfway decent working condition.

This painting by the talented Avril Aguirre Aguire has a pronounced 3-D effect so I thought I would process it as a 3-D to find out how it would look. What do you think? This film is available on both DVD and Blu-ray.

The original Rin-Tin-Tin (1918-1932) and his partner Nanette.

Bebe Daniels was a popular silent screen star who made a successful transition to sound films. She and her husband, actor Ben Lyon, moved to England in 1935 and became popular on British radio and films, and later on TV.

Lon Chaney Sr. in perhaps the most famous “lost” film of all time, LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (1927)

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A kiss is just a kiss, as they sang in CASABLANCA, but here Greta Garbo and John Gilbert add an almost mythical aura to a memorable romantic film, FLESH AND THE DEVIL. Believe it or not, at this early part of Greta’s career she was cast as a villain. DVD.

This is actually a rare and genuine 3-D photo taken way back in 1928. The film is one of Colleen Moore’s greatest successes, LILAC TIME, which co-starred a young Gary Cooper. That’s director George Fitzmaurice next to Colleen.

A demure Alice Joyce at home about 1920. Alice had a successful career in the silents, made one or two talkies, then retired and became part of the Los Angeles society scene thereafter.

A stunningly dramatic composition from one of the true epics of American film history, BEN-HUR, A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925). DVD/Blu-ray.

This photo BEGGED for color and a 3-D effect. That’s Thelma Todd before she became well-known in her own comedy film series and in Laurel & Hardy films as well. At this time, 1927, she was being groomed as a leading lady but soon found her métier elsewhere. The man is a young Gary Cooper as he was slowly but surely finding his way as a major star. NEVADA is on YT and DVD.

Marion Davies was a popular star in both silent and sound films. Her film career spanned the 1910s through the late 1930s. She was perhaps better known for her offscreen role as the partner of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. He was married but they were so discreet about their relationship that everybody seemed to play along as if it didn’t exist.

Some photos seem to be in 3-D even if we know they’re not. This portrait of Rudolph Valentino is from THE YOUNG RAJAH (1922), one of Rudy’s films that only partially survives but nonetheless is available on DVD. Definitely a tribute to Valentino’s enduring popularity. After all, how many film stars have you heard of that have only a partial film on the market?