28 Fabulous Photos of Glenn Close as Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil on the Set of “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988)

On the set of Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Glenn Close’s transformation into the Marquise de Merteuil was a masterclass in using physical restriction to build a character. The 1988 production, filmed in various French châteaus, was famously grueling due to the commitment to historical accuracy.

Close arrived in Paris with a seven-week-old daughter and described her body at the time as “looking like a loaf of bread.” To achieve the required 18th-century silhouette, she was first “wrestled into a modern girdle” and then a “beautifully fitted, very tight corset.” The restriction was so severe, reducing her waist to 24.5 inches. that she occasionally felt like she would faint and had to lie flat on the floor during fittings to recover.

She often described her costumes, designed by James Acheson, not as clothing, but as armor. To capture the rigid social structure of 1700s France, the production used period-accurate corsetry and underpinnings. The corsets were so restrictive that Close reportedly had difficulty breathing and eating during long shoot days. However, she credited this physical “trap” with helping her find Merteuil’s controlled, predatory stillness.

During the character’s climactic mental breakdown, Close was so immersed in the role that she reportedly lost bladder control while kneeling on the floor, only realizing what had happened after the scene ended. She personally conceptualized the film's final shot after director Stephen Frears told her the goal was to show that “her soul was on her face.”

Frears encouraged a sharp, intellectual atmosphere on set to match the wit of Christopher Hampton’s script. Unlike the more fluid, romantic approach seen in other adaptations of the novel (like 1989’s Valmont), Close maintained a formidable, intellectual authority on set. Crew members often noted how she could switch from a lighthearted conversation to the Marquise’s lethal coldness the moment the cameras rolled. Her chemistry with John Malkovich (Valmont) was built on a shared background in theater. On set, they approached their scenes like a high-stakes chess match, often rehearsing the biting dialogue until the rhythm was perfect.

Dangerous Liaisons was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on December 21, 1988. Grossing $34.7 million against its $14 million budget, the film was a modest box-office success. It was nominated for seven awards at the 61st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.

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36 Amazing Photos of Ursula Andress in the 1970s

Ursula Andress (born March 19 1936) is a Swiss actress and former model who has appeared in American, British, and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962).

In the 1970s, Andress transitioned from the “Bond Girl” icon of the previous decade into a staple of European genre cinema. While she remained a massive international sex symbol, her career during this era was defined by a prolific run in Italian films, ranging from cult comedies to gritty adventures.

Andress spent much of the decade working in Italy, often starring in “Commedia sexy all'italiana” or “Poliziotteschi” (crime) films. In 1971, she starred in Red Sun, a unique “East meets West” crossover featuring an incredible international cast including Charles Bronson, Alain Delon, and Toshirō Mifune.

By the mid-1970s, she was one of the highest-paid actresses in Italy. Films like The Sensuous Nurse (L'infermiera) were massive commercial hits in Europe, cementing her status as a screen siren even as her Hollywood roles became less frequent.

In 1978, she starred in The Mountain of the Cannibal God (La montagna del dio cannibale). This film remains a significant (and controversial) entry in the Italian cannibal subgenre, marking a shift toward more visceral, gritty roles.

Throughout the 1970s, Andress maintained a high-fashion, athletic image. She was frequently photographed by the era’s top photographers and remained a fixture in magazines like Playboy, often praised for her “Amazonian” physique and timeless aesthetic.

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Kathleen Turner: The Sultry Force of 1980s Cinema

Kathleen Turner burst onto the silver screen in the early 1980s, instantly becoming one of the most commanding and versatile leading ladies of her generation. With her signature husky voice and a screen presence that balanced fierce intelligence with undeniable allure, she redefined the modern “femme fatale” in the neo-noir classic Body Heat (1981).

Turner’s range was extraordinary, she could pivot effortlessly from the romantic adventure of Romancing the Stone to the dark, biting comedy of The War of the Roses. Beyond her stunning looks, it was her bold, unapologetic energy and mastery of both drama and humor that made her a true powerhouse.

Kathleen Turner remains a celebrated icon, a woman who owned the screen with a rare combination of grit, glamour, and a voice that could command an entire room. Take a gentle pause to admire the captivating charm and bold elegance of Kathleen Turner through these vintage photos.

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Actor Buster Keaton Listening to His Own Voice, ca. 1920s

Actor Buster Keaton listened to recordings of his own voice in the late 1920s to ensure his natural speaking voice aligned with his established “Great Stone Face” persona for the upcoming transition to “talkies.” The advent of synchronized sound posed a major threat to silent film stars because audiences often had a preconceived notion of what a star should sound like.

Keaton wanted to confirm that his voice which turned out to be deep, slightly Midwestern, and gravelly matched the stoic, uncommunicative character he had spent a decade building. Early sound technology (like Vitaphone) was primitive and could distort certain tones or pitches; Keaton, being fascinated by the mechanical aspects of filmmaking, tested how his voice would actually register on the equipment.

Unlike many peers who struggled with the shift, Keaton’s voice was deemed “perfectly acceptable” because its flat, serious tone mirrored his deadpan facial expressions. His first feature-length talking film, Free and Easy (1930), eventually proved that his voice was well-suited for sound, though his career later suffered due to a loss of creative control at MGM rather than vocal failure.

The 1949 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster: A Masterpiece of Speed and Style

The 1949 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster remains one of the most breathtaking achievements in automotive history. When it first debuted at the London Motor Show, its flowing, aerodynamic curves caused a sensation, instantly redefining the post-war sports car.

The “120” in its name proudly signified its top speed of 120 mph, making it the fastest production car in the world at the time. These early models were meticulously handcrafted with aluminum bodies over ash wood frames, a rare feature that added a layer of artisanal exclusivity to their raw power.

With its long bonnet and elegant silhouette, the XK120 wasn’t just a machine built for the track, it was a rolling work of art that captured the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of perfection on the open road. Over 12,000 XK120s were built through 1954, with more than 85 percent going to export markets.

Slow down for a moment and enjoy the legendary silhouette and timeless craftsmanship of the Jaguar XK120 in these beautiful photos below.

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The “Death Diary” of Renowned Herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt in 1957

In 1957, renowned herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt documented his own death in a meticulous scientific account that newspapers later dubbed his “death diary.” After being bitten by a juvenile boomslang (Dispholidus typus), he refused medical treatment, choosing instead to record the clinical progression of the venom's effects until he lost consciousness.

On September 25, 1957, while identifying a 30-inch snake at the Chicago Natural History Museum (now the Field Museum), the snake bit Schmidt on the fleshy part of his left thumb. Schmidt wrongly believed a juvenile, rear-fanged snake could not deliver a lethal dose to a human. When colleagues urged him to seek help, he reportedly replied that medical intervention would “interfere with the symptoms” he was observing.

“I took it from Dr. Robert Inger without thinking of any precaution, and it promptly bit me on the fleshy lateral aspect of the first joint of the left thumb,” Schmidt wrote in his journal. 

Over the next day, he documented a terrifying sequence of symptoms: nausea, chills, gum bleeding, fever, and urination of blood. He maintained his routine, eating meals and taking the train home while recording every detail with meticulous precision. Even his breakfast the following morning was logged, complete with a note about continued bleeding from his mouth and nose, which he understated as “not excessive”—a chilling understatement, as it would be the last word he ever wrote.

September 25, afternoon: He noted the bite, described the snake, and recorded early mild symptoms before taking the train home.

September 26, 6:30 AM: He ate cereal, poached eggs on toast, applesauce, and coffee for breakfast, and noted continuous bleeding from the mouth and nose, though “not excessively.” “Excessively” was the last word Schmidt wrote.

After lunch, he vomited, called his wife, and soon became unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive him, Schmidt was pronounced dead at 3 PM. Schmidt was advised to seek medical help just hours before he died, but refused, saying “No, that would upset the symptoms.”

Boomslang venom causes disseminated intravascular coagulation, a condition in which so many small clots form in the blood that the victim loses the ability to clot further and bleeds to death. Schmidt’s autopsy revealed extensive internal bleeding. When he was brought into the hospital, he was bleeding from his eyes, lungs, kidneys, heart, and brain.

Boomslang antivenom is monovalent, it only works for boomslangs, and it certainly was not available in Chicago in the 1950s. However, in 2017, venom researchers tested a modern antivenom similar to what would have been available to Schmidt at the time and found it did a decent job neutralizing several deadly proteins in the boomslang venom. They noted that reducing the activity of a venom by even 25 percent can mean the difference between life and death.

Schmidt’s death raised awareness of the potential toxicity of rear-fanged colubrid snakes to the scientific community, resulting in a number of important studies in the 1960s and 1970s. His meticulous final diary remains one of the most extraordinary first-person scientific documents ever recorded — a scientist, true to his calling, observing nature even as it killed him.

Milunka Savić, a Serbian War Heroine Who Became the Most Decorated Female Combatant in the History of Warfare

In 1912, Milunka Savić made a decision that would define her life and etch her name into history. When her brother was too ill to serve in the Balkan Wars, she cut her hair, donned men’s clothing, and joined the Serbian army under the name Milun Savić.

Milunka fought undetected for nearly a year, proving herself to be an elite soldier and a gifted grenadier. Her secret was only revealed during the Second Balkan War (1913) at the Battle of Bregalnica, where she was wounded in the chest by a Bulgarian shell. While treating her injuries, army doctors discovered “Milun” was actually a woman.

When her true identity was revealed, her commanding officer was in a bind. She was one of his best soldiers, but military law didn’t exactly have a “decorated female infantry” clause. He offered her a transfer to a nursing division. Milunka refused, insisting she belonged on the front lines. The officer told her he would think it over and give her an answer the next day. Milunka reportedly stood at attention and replied: “I will wait.” After standing in the cold for only an hour, the officer relented and sent her back to the infantry.

During the Great War, Savić’s reputation reached international proportions. She was a key member of the elite “Iron Regiment.” Her skill with hand grenades was particularly feared; she was known for her "accuracy of a sniper" when clearing enemy trenches.

In 194, she earned her first Order of the Star of Karađorđe with Swords (Serbia’s highest award) after capturing 20 Austrian soldiers single-handedly. In 1916, she captured 23 Bulgarian soldiers alone. For this, she received a second Star of Karađorđe. She is the only woman to ever receive the French Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with a gold palm. She was also awarded the British Order of St Michael and St George, the Russian Order of St. George, and the French Legion of Honour (twice).

Despite her fame, Milunka’s later years were defined by quiet selflessness. After the war, she turned down an offer to move to France (where she would have received a comfortable pension) to stay in Belgrade. She worked as a cleaning lady, a bank teller, and a factory worker. However, she used her modest means to adopt and raise over 30 orphaned children in addition to her own daughter. She was largely forgotten by the public until the 1960s, when a resurgence of interest in WWI veterans brought her story back to the forefront.

Milunka Savić died in 1973 at the age of 84. Today, she is remembered as a national hero in Serbia, a woman who went to war for her brother and ended up becoming a legend of the 20th century.

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