Michelle Yeoh Photographed by Joe Mcnally Flying Over the Iconic Hollywood Sign, 1998

In 1998, Michelle Yeoh performed a daring stunt for a National Geographic photo shoot captured by photographer Joe McNally. The photograph was part of a feature story titled “The Globalization of Culture,” which examined the rapid international exchange of cultural icons via film, television, and the burgeoning internet.

“The idea sprang up as I was shooting a story for the National Geographic, conceived, edited and supervised by my dear friend Bill Douthitt...,” Mcnally said. “The story was termed ‘The Globalization of Culture,’ and it examined the rapid rate of the exchange of cultural items and icons, worldwide, via the hyper fast engines of TV, movies, fashion, cuisine and (at that point) the coming ubiquity of the internet. I needed an Asian star, capable of daring stunts, to do something with me to emphasize the growing global influence of movie personalities from Asia in big budget, mainstream Hollywood films.

“Michelle agreed, and I gave her the Hollywood treatment, flying her via helicopter to a dry lake bed considerably outside LA. I made lovely, fashion-driven photos. She’s magnetically beautiful in front of the lens, and I shot pictures like crazy, growing all the more pleased with myself during the course of the day.”

Yeoh did not climb out of the helicopter mid-flight; instead, she was rigged with cables and a harness while still in a hangar. She was then suspended beneath the helicopter and flown for approximately 20 to 25 minutes to reach the Hollywood sign. Despite wearing a “slinky” dress for the shot, Yeoh recalled in a 2022 interview with Jimmy Kimmel that the most challenging aspect was the intense cold at that altitude.

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Studio Portraits of Michael Biehn as Sgt. Kyle Reese in “The Terminator” (1984)

Michael Biehn’s portrayal of Sgt. Kyle Reese is often cited as the emotional heartbeat of The Terminator. While Arnold Schwarzenegger was the spectacle, Biehn provided the high-stakes desperation that made the sci-fi horror elements feel grounded and urgent.

Biehn famously played Reese not as a typical 1980s action hero, but as a hunted animal. He captured the trauma of a man who grew up in the ruins of civilization, looking constantly for threats even in a “peaceful” 1984.

Biehn stayed lean and wiry rather than bulky, emphasizing that Reese was a product of famine and guerrilla warfare. His improvised civilian outfit, the stolen gray trench coat and Nike Vandals, became an iconic silhouette of 1980s cinema.

Though The Terminator series has seen many actors step into the role of Kyle Reese, including Anton Yelchin and Jai Courtney, Biehn’s version remains the definitive take for most fans. He balanced intensity with tenderness, making the audience believe that a man from a cold, mechanical future could still possess a deeply human soul.

Interestingly, Biehn almost missed out on the role because he initially used a Southern accent during his audition (he had been practicing for a stage play), which director James Cameron felt didn’t fit the character. Luckily, a second audition sans-accent secured him the part.

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Geraldine Fitzgerald: The Irish Soul of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Geraldine Fitzgerald was a distinguished Irish actress whose intelligence and emotional depth made her one of the most respected figures of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She is perhaps best remembered for her hauntingly beautiful performance as Isabella Linton in the 1939 classic Wuthering Heights, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Unlike many of her contemporaries, Fitzgerald was known for her fierce independence, often prioritizing the artistic integrity of her roles over studio expectations. Beyond the silver screen, she enjoyed a prolific career on Broadway and later became a pioneer in street theater, proving that her passion for storytelling extended far beyond the glamour of Hollywood.

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of young Geraldine Fitzgerald in the late 1930s and 1940s.

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Playful Photos of James Dean and Valley Keene (Elizabeth Taylor’s Double] During the Filming of “Giant” in 1955

During the filming of the 1956 epic Giant in Marfa, Texas, James Dean was famously photographed with Valley Keene, who served as Elizabeth Taylor’s stand-in and double. A series of candid, behind-the-scenes images captured by photographer Frank Worth show a playful side of the notoriously moody Dean. The most well-known shot depicts Dean and Keene showing off their acrobatic skills in an open field, with Dean holding Keene aloft.

The primary outdoor filming took place at the Ryan Ranch in Marfa, while the iconic Reata mansion was actually just a three-sided façade built for the production. Giant was Dean’s third and final leading role; he died in a car accident on September 30, 1955, just days after completing his scenes.

The 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead Coupe: An Icon of British Elegance

The 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Drophead Coupe is the ultimate expression of mid-century British open-top luxury. As a "Special Equipment" (SE) model, it featured a high-performance 3.4-liter engine producing 180 bhp, dual exhausts, and a stiffer suspension for a more spirited drive.

Unlike the more basic Roadster, the Drophead Coupe offered a refined interior with a polished walnut dashboard and a heavy, lined canvas top that provided excellent weather protection. Combining the raw speed of a record-breaking sports car with the elegance of a grand tourer, this 1954 classic remains one of the most prestigious and collectible Jaguars ever built.

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50 Stunning Black and White Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Kim Novak in the 1950s

Kim Novak (nborn February 13, 1933) is an American retired actress and painter. Her contributions to cinema have been honored with two Golden Globe Awards, an Honorary Golden Bear, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In the 1950s, Novak was one of Hollywood’s most successful and distinctive “it” girls, known for her “lavender-tinted” blonde hair and an enigmatic, “glacial cool” screen presence. After being discovered as a model in The French Line (1953), she signed with Columbia Pictures, which marketed her as a sophisticated alternative to Marilyn Monroe.

She was the top box-office star for three consecutive years during the mid-to-late 1950s. Despite her fame, she often felt uncomfortable with the studio system’s control over her image and was famously involved in a controversial relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. that was reportedly ended due to pressure from studio head Harry Cohn.

By the end of the 1950s, Novak began to distance herself from Hollywood’s “bombshell” expectations, eventually retiring in the mid-1960s to pursue a career in painting.

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Masked Spectators Pose With Dalmatian Dogs After a Screening of “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” in 1961

Masked spectators pose with dalmatian dogs after a screening of Walt Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on December 14, 1961.

Based on the children’s novel by Dodie Smith and released in 1961, it became the first animated film to take $10 million at the box-office. As of this year and including reissues, it ranks third in the highest-grossing animated features of all time.