Veronica Lake -The Woman Who Smiled Little

[MK]

I started hijacking a previous thread and decided this should stand on it's own.

Some people smile alot. Some have a million dollar smile. They smile and the world smiles with them. They are contagious. You can't help but smile too. Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise are in that camp. They rely on their smiles.

Veronica Lake had a lot of style. She is probably most known for her hair....and her lack of height. She was a petite little thing but she had a lot of pizzazz.

One think I find interesting about her was that she rarely smiled for the camera. I am not sure if it was an effort to create mystery or alluring sex appeal, but you didn't see her smile much. When she did, she looked very different.

This also a great example of the Hollywood machine creating a star out of normal gal. They created images to suit their needs. Make-up, wardrobe, lighting, camera and in Veronica's case.....especially hairstyling. Here she is in a posed Hollywood shot in 1941:

Here is a candid photo of her that same year:

Isn't amazing?

Also I am fascinated on how people age and their various stages. So since we are talking a about Veronica, here she is in 1948:

1952

1969

1970

Veronica died in 1973. She looks like she had pizzazz right up to the end.

 

[Laura Chase]

Nice array of photographs!

I think Cate Blanchett has much of the same mysterious look and allure (and cheekbones!) as Veronica Lake, and you also rarely see her smile with her teeth showing.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

"Pizzazz" lol

I cannot believe the difference between her casual smiling face and the glamourous image! In one, she's a siren. In the other, she's a skinny kid! Wow.

 

[MK]

.

"Pizzazz" lol

Thank you. I have never had to spell that before and couldn't find a proper spelling.

I cannot believe the difference between her casual smiling face and the glamourous image! In one, she's a siren. In the other, she's a skinny kid! Wow.

It just shows how glamorous women can look with help.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Wow. A little lighting, a little makeup, and viola! Silver screen siren.

Clearly, what I need is a makeup crew and my own portable lighting system.

 

[retrogirl1941]

I'm with shore road! I always look like a co-ed circa 1942, hhhmmmm.... I think a hollywood stylist is in order!lol Veronica was so pretty,I am forever envious of that hairstyle!

samantha

 

[Jovan]

I think I like both sides of Veronica a lot.

Cate Blanchett is a great comparison. They ought to hire her if there's ever a "The Veronica Lake Story" biopic.

 

[lyburnum]

In reply to what you said in the other thread:

I think for me the lack of a smile in most of my pictures is to do with the fact I'm taking 'factual' images. Mostly I just post in the 'What did you wear today' thread, and I guess I see no need to smile, as I don't really see that the photo is about my face, but more about my clothes. On top of that it's also a comfort thing. I feel incredibly uncomfortable taking photos of myself smiling when it's actually just false, and I feel that shows a lot in the photos. I'd rather just take something quickly and painlessly. Smiling takes a lot of effort for me for the camera when it's unnatural.

Anyway, to prove I do smile, just only when I'm around people...

 

[MissS]

Ah, yes, lyburnum, how could you not smile with such a cute boy and even cuter 4-legged friend?

 

[MrNewportCustom]

Thank you, MK. This is a very nice collection of images of my favorite vintage actress. Many of these I'd never seen before.


Lee

 

[cherry lips]

I found these pictures of VL's different faces so intriguing that I failed to notice the really scary face in pic #2!

 

[cherry lips]

Bette Davis had a sweet little smile that didn't show her teeth. Here's an exception:

 

[MK]

.

Anyway, to prove I do smile, just only when I'm around people...

See! I knew you could.

 

[Naama]

I often wish I had a more mysteriouse thing going on.... But I just smile way too much and too bright But once a classmate told me that my smile is just "movie star like" so at least people like my smile I guess.... Still, I would like to be more mysteriouse... *sigh*




Naama

 

[pretty faythe]

as a rare toothy smiler....

And looking at her toothy smile, I feal I might have some insight. (of course I could be totally off too) but it could be age just didn't like the way she appeared with it, the big cheeks goin on and all. That's one of the reasons I don't.

 

[cherry lips]

Naama if you've got a movie star smile, use it! The charm of a blinding, winning, "unforced" smile knows no limits. A Doris Day smile makes your day! If I had a Rita/ Marilyn/ Naama smile I'd flash it all the time. As it is I have a lips only Bette smile, I think it has to do with how my face is built since it's been like this since childhood, which I compensate for with a loud open mouth laugh! lol

I often wish I had a more mysteriouse thing going on.... But I just smile way too much and too bright But once a classmate told me that my smile is just "movie star like" so at least people like my smile I guess.... Still, I would like to be more mysteriouse... *sigh*
Naama

 

[Hondo]

Naama if you've got a movie star smile, use it! The charm of a blinding, winning, "unforced" smile knows no limits. A Doris Day smile makes your day! If I had a Rita/ Marilyn/ Naama smile I'd flash it all the time. As it is I have a lips only Bette smile, I think it has to do with how my face is built since it's been like this since childhood, which I compensate for with a loud open mouth laugh! lol

Thanks MK one huge Veronica Lake fan here, image is everything in Hollywood.
Cherry-Lips: I agree, You could also see it in Doris, Rita and Marilyn early in their careers.
And "Laura Chase" is also correct with Cate Blanchett woman is beautiful, not sure I want to see her without makeup Pizzazz!!! well done, Thank You!

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

Is this the same person?

 

[Jovan]

Again, I really like the cute, sweet side of her that shows in some of these photos.

Sorry, I know I ain't female, but the reason I don't smile much (much less with teeth showing) is because my teeth are somewhat crooked. I'm getting braces this year as well, so...

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Just bumping this as I've been away and just read KittyT's commentn in the thread this one sprung from, about me being one who doesn't tend to smile in photos. I'll tell you for why. I can't!

Well, when I started modelling, I tried smiling. I looked ridiculous! I couldn't do a smile that looked both good and natural. It's so hard to do model smiles! But I have been practicing and my very latest pictures are all toothy grins. I think I am getting there! lol