18 Behind the Scenes Photos of Marilyn Monroe’s Costume and Hair Tests for “Niagara” (1953)

Niagara (1953) was a Technicolor noir thriller directed by Henry Hathaway and filmed partly on location at Niagara Falls. It was one of Marilyn Monroe’s breakout starring roles, and the studio 20th Century Fox invested heavily in her screen presentation.

The wardrobe was designed by Dorothy Jeakins. Monroe’s most iconic look in the film is the form-fitting pink dress, which was deliberately chosen to emphasize her figure and establish her character (Rose Loomis) as a dangerous, sexually provocative woman. The costume tests show Monroe photographed in multiple dress options and colorways before the final selections were made, a standard studio practice to see how fabrics and colors read on Technicolor film stock.

Monroe’s platinum blonde hair was styled by studio hairdressers at Fox. The tests show slightly different styling approaches – waves, curl placement, and volume – to determine what would look best on camera and suit the character. Her look in Niagara is notably more overtly glamorous and “dangerous” than her earlier ingénue roles.

Niagara was a pivotal moment in Monroe’s career. Fox promoted the film heavily around her image, and the famous long walk scene, reportedly the longest walk ever filmed at the time, became iconic. The careful costume and hair testing reflects just how much the studio was beginning to recognize and cultivate her star power heading into Gentlemen Prefer Blondes later that same year.

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Spain’s Eternal Muse: Rare and Beautiful Scrapbook Photos of a Young Sara Montiel

Sara Montiel (1928–2013) was a legendary Spanish actress and singer who became a global icon of beauty, talent, and sheer charisma. Known affectionately as “Saritissima,” she was the first Spanish star to conquer Hollywood, appearing in classic films like Vera Cruz (1954) alongside Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster. Her sultry, deep voice and mesmerizing screen presence redefined the image of the “femme fatale,” blending a sense of classic European elegance with a bold, modern sensuality.

While she achieved international stardom in cinema, Montiel was equally celebrated for her musical contributions, particularly her renditions of boleros and cuplés. Her role in the 1957 film The Last Torch Song (El Último Cuplé) remains a landmark in Spanish film history, turning her into a national treasure.

Throughout her long and storied career, Sara Montiel remained a symbol of artistic independence and timeless glamour, bridging the gap between the golden ages of Spanish and American cinema. These rare photos are from her private collection, many of which have never been seen by the public before.

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40 Amazing Photos of Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek on the Set of “Badlands” (1973)

Badlands is a 1973 American neo-noir crime drama that marked the directorial debut of Terrence Malick. The film stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek as two young lovers who embark on a brutal killing spree across the American Midwest during the late 1950s.

Inspired by the 1958 Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate murders, the film features Martin Sheen as Kit, a 25-year-old garbage collector, and Sissy Spacek as Holly, his 15-year-old companion who narrates their journey. After Kit kills Holly’s father, they flee across the Midwest, with the story told through Holly's detached, dreamlike narration.

The film was made on a shoestring budget of approximately $300,000–$350,000, funded by small private investors. Production was even halted at one point so Malick could take outside writing jobs to raise more funds. Although the story roams through the Midwest, it was primarily filmed in southeastern Colorado towns like La Junta and Trinidad.

Badlands is widely considered a masterpiece of American cinema, praised for its lyrical style and unique juxtaposition of violence with natural beauty. The film significantly influenced the “outlaw couple” genre. The film earned Martin Sheen a best actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and was selected for the National Film Registry in 1993.

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Beautiful Photos of the 1961 Ghia L6.4 Coupe

The 1961 Ghia L6.4 Coupe stands as one of the most exclusive and elegant symbols of the “Jet Age,” representing a flawless marriage between rugged American power and sophisticated Italian artistry.

Following the success of the Dual-Ghia, the L6.4 was designed by the legendary Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin. Unlike many mass-produced cars of its time, each L6.4 was virtually bespoke, handcrafted to the highest standards of luxury. Its sleek, low-slung silhouette and expansive glass greenhouse made it an instant favorite among the Hollywood elite, most famously including “Rat Pack” legends like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Beneath its bespoke Italian bodywork lay a formidable 6.4-liter Chrysler Mopar V8 engine, producing roughly 335 horsepower. This combination allowed the car to offer both the effortless maintenance of an American drivetrain and the unparalleled prestige of a European grand tourer.

With only 26 units ever produced, the Ghia L6.4 remains one of the rarest production cars in history. Discover the car that captivated Hollywood’s biggest stars with these stunning photos of the ultra-rare 1961 Ghia L6.4 Coupe.

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22 Fascinating Photos of a Young Catherine O’Hara in the 1980s

Catherine Anne O’Hara (March 4, 1954 – January 30, 2026) was a Canadian and American actress, comedian, and screenwriter, whose career spanned over 50 years. She came to prominence in the sketch comedy series SCTV (Second City Television), which ran from 1976 to 1984. She left SCTV in 1980 briefly for a spot on the newly retooled Saturday Night Live, but left after a week without appearing in any episodes, then rejoined SCTV for the 1981–82 season. Her iconic characters included Lola Heatherton and Dusty Towne, and she earned an Emmy for her writing work on the program in 1982.

She made her feature debut in the 1980 film Double Negative, which also starred her SCTV co-stars John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty. By the time SCTV ended in 1983, O’Hara was more widely known and began to get better roles, including secondary characters in Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (1985) and Mike Nichols’s Heartburn (1986).

She gave a memorable performance as Delia Deetz, the overbearing stepmother, in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988). It was on that set that O’Hara met her future husband, production designer Bo Welch, and decided to move to the United States.

The 1980s were essentially O’Hara’s transition from beloved Canadian TV comedian to internationally recognized film actress, setting the stage for Home Alone (1990) and everything that followed.

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40 Vintage Photos Capture Teenager Style and Culture in the 1950s

The 1950s teenagers were the first generation to truly define “youth culture,” breaking away from adult fashion to create a style that was both rebellious and iconic.

For girls, the silhouette was often defined by poodle skirts with voluminous crinolines, crisp white bobby socks, and saddle shoes or saddle oxfords. High ponytail hairstyles, often tied with a silk scarf, and form-fitting cardigans (sometimes worn backward) became the hallmark of the “girl next door” look.

For the boys, style split into two distinct paths: the clean-cut preppy look and the edgy “Greaser” aesthetic. The former featured letterman jackets, chinos, and crew cuts, while the latter, inspired by icons like James Dean and Elvis Presley, focused on cuffed denim jeans, white T-shirts, and black leather jackets, topped off with heavily pomaded hair.

Whether they were hanging out at a local soda fountain or attending a high school record hop, the teenagers of the ’50s used their clothing to signal a new era of independence and rock-and-roll energy. Travel back to the era of jukeboxes and drive-ins with these vintage photos of 1950s teenager style.

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Lee Radziwill and Jackie Kennedy Onassis Photographed by Cecil Beaton for Vogue at a Debutante Ball, 1951

In 1951, the photographer Cecil Beaton captured an iconic series of portraits of the Bouvier sisters, Jacqueline (the future Jackie Kennedy Onassis) and Lee (the future Princess Lee Radziwill), for Vogue. Jackie was around 22 and Lee around 18 at the time.

The photos were staged to evoke the atmosphere of a debutante ball, marking the sisters’ official “coming out” into high society. While Jackie had already been named “Debutante of the Year” in 1947, this 1951 shoot for Vogue magazine served as a high-fashion introduction of the sisters as a duo.

Jackie wore a white silk organdie gown with a red faille sash, while Lee wore yellow and white tulle with yellow roses. The dresses were originally credited to Elizabeth Arden, but contemporary fashion historians often attribute the designs to Ann Lowe, the Black couturier who later designed Jackie’s wedding dress.

Beaton used an elaborate set with “extras,” couples in formal evening wear dancing in the background, to create a sense of movement and aristocratic glamour.

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