There’s The Impossible Cool, and then there’s this collection of home movies from Roddy McDowall’s personal archive featuring many an iconic actor and actress enjoying themselves on the California coast. Paul Newman (with his can of Busch beer) is present, as is Jane Fonda (looking exceptionally young and beautiful), Kirk Douglas, Anthony Perkins, Judy Garland and many more of their famous friends who make appearances.
While it is truly amazing to see all of these stars relaxed and having fun with one another, it is also amazing to see what they are wearing. The clothing in these films are incredible. The only branding I noticed during the whole series was a few shots of one perfect red Lacoste polo shirt. A fascinating glimpse into an otherwise private and decidedly stylish life. Thanks to Andy for the tip.
The cool thing about these videos is that they could be today, except the granny panties and the odd hair style, of course!…
Loved them!…
Newman! What a stud!
Good work Mr. Williams. Threw a link for this in The Standard Relay this morning on The American Classic (click my name to view).
There are certain parts I wish weren’t silent. I’d love to know what they’re laughing and carrying on about… guess i’ll have to work on my lip-reading skills.
Not so “impossibly cool” as Plausibly Normal! The house looks like any middle-class beach house and the woman walking across the street to the (self-parked and -driven) UNLOCKED Rolls Royce was remarkable…talk about a bygone era….thx.
Looks like Nick & Lenny Dunne in #3 as well…
…wow!, look at all of the litter in along the beach/water line. It reminds me of a Mad Men episode where the Drapers go on a picnic—when it’s time to leave Betty picks up the picnic blanket, shakes off all of the bottles, cans, paper plates and walks to the car. Never realized that littering was so bad!, especially along the beach in Malibu of all places! Great films!
I’m taking up smoking.
In my college years I used to deliver liquor to many of these folks The biggest change is the houses, the ones in the clips are real beach bungalows. It’s all McMansions now. My friends and I often remark as to how what was good enough for mere actors like Cary Grant or Gary Cooper is not up to snuff for todays Hollywood brats.
stripey shorts, polo tees, ringers,chinos,ray bans, cigarettes and Paul Newman looking cool as fuck
Very cool, except for Hanoi Jane.
Nice to see people chatting, versus immersed in their cellphones.
Natalie Wood is the perfect woman
Of course, the indomitable Newman is sporting cuts on his face and has his fist wrapped up in that second video. Granted, those (tube?) socks with the loafers are unfortunate, but it’s good to see that he wasn’t perfect after all.
Natalie Wood was some kind of looker! Man was she hot or what? and nothing fake like today. So tragic she died young….And yes! Paul Newman cool…enuf said.
Michael, I thought this may be of interest to you….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036932/New-York-City-photos-Charles-W-Cushman-reveal-1940s-life-Big-Apple.html
I do believe one of these actors–Mr. Cool Hand is a fraternity brother of yours Michael…great post!
Thanks for posting! One of my friends is the grandson of George Axelrod and he hadn’t seen these until I posted them on his Facebook!
Speedo make a red trunk with two white stripes like the one Kirk Douglas has on. Everything comes back.
How about Robert Redford? Incredibly cool.
How refreshing, to see such stylish and cool people being even more cool and stylish by just being themselves.
Hard to imagine Paul Newman dropping $300 for his swim trunks or Anthony Perkins forking over $200 for his ring-neck T… But damn, they look so cool and the women were so hot. And not a Kardashian in sight…
So much smoking/cigarettes!