MARILYN MONROE Norma Jean, circa 1946, printed later

Bruno Bernard (1912-1987) He has been called the "Rembrandt of the Photographic Portrait", the "King of Hollywood Glamour", the "Vargas of Pin-Up Photography" and the "Discoverer of Marilyn Monroe" - Bruno Bernard was one of the most sought after photographers of Hollywood's golden era. Born in Berlin in 1912, Bruno Bernard became interested in photography as a child. Although he had no formal training, he worked as a photographer and reporter during his college years while studying for a Ph.D in criminal psychology. In 1937, as the Nazi regime intensified, he left Germany and was able to emigrate to America after winning a prize through an international student league which allowed him to take up a post-graduate place at UC Berkeley. Bernard's interest in photography developed while studying acting and directing under the great theatre director, Max Reinhardt in 1940. Shortly afterwards he moved to the famous Sunset Strip, Hollywood, where his landmark studio remained for over a quarter of a century. During the following years he established additional successful studios across America, in Palm Springs, Laguna Beach and the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. During his prolific and lengthy career, Bernard's accomplishments included the elevation of the pin-up photograph into an art from and the re-definition of photo-journalism. These achievements evolved into the publication of eight books, which were translated into six languages (see below). In 1984, Bernard became the first stills photographer to be honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a 50-year retrospective exhibition of more than 120 of his legendary portraits, including those of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, John Wayne and Brigitte Bardot. In the same year, the Palm Springs Racquet Club honoured hime with a black-tie gala and an exhibition of a quarter of a century of images which captured the bygone glamorous era of the once exclusive hideaway of the stars. In 1986 Bernard attended the Munich Film Festival which honoured him by exhibiting his portraits and candid (unposed photographs) of international stars and personalities. Posthumously, in 1990, the first Palm Springs International Film Festival saluted him with a Lifetime Achievement Award and exhibit. Bruno Bernard's 'Flying Skirt' image of Marilyn Monroe is the highlight of his retrospective exhibitions. Bernard also captured the true friendship he had with Marilyn through his lens. He documented a number of the turning points in her career including her first professional studio sitting in 1946 which in turn led to Marilyn's first screen test at 20th Century Fox, where she landed her first film contract. When the studio subsequently dropper her, Bernard cheered Marilyn up by taking her on an assignment to the exclusive Palm Springs Racquet Club. Here by chance he introduced her to Johnny Hyde the influential Vice President of the William Morris agency, who became her mentor and propelled her to stardom. Years later, when Bernard surprized Marilyn in New York on the set of The Seven Year Itch, she stopped the cameras and exclaimed "Remember, Bernie, everything started with you!". Since his death, in 1987, his daugher Susan Bernard, a former actress turned author and producer, founded Bernard of Hollywood Publishing, which internationally preserves, exhibits, publishes and licenses his photographs. In only two years, she has expanded her west coast offices to New York and London. Her latest book Bernard of Hollywood's Marilyn, a pictorial essay of the quintessential Marilyn, was published in London in September 1993 (Boxtree Publishing). The launch of her book was held in conjunction with the opening of an exhibition of Bruno Bernard's photographs at London's Museum of the Moving Image. The British Film Institute are currently touring the exhibition throughout the U.K. Susan Bernard Books: Pin-Ups - A Step Beyond Figure Photography Mood Photography Workbook for the Three Penny Opera Israel, Bernard's Photographic Impressions Libelei mit der Kamera (Love Affair with the Camera) Schoenheit war Ihr Schicksal (Beauty was their Destiny) Requiem for Marilyn The photographs in the following lots 324-357 from the Bernard of Hollywood collection are all signed on the reverse by Susan Bernard. The measurements of each photograph include the border. c Susan Bernard Bernard of Hollywood Publishing Los Angeles and London.

Details

MARILYN MONROE Norma Jean, circa 1946, printed later
Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11in., numbered 10/250 in ink in margin.

Literature

BERNARD, Susan Bernard of Hollywood's Marilyn, London: Boxtree, 1993, p.4. & p.10.

Lot Essay

Lots 324 & 325 represent Marilyn's first professional studio sittings at Bruno Bernard's Hollywood studio on the Sunset Strip. Bernard gave some examples of the colour photos to a friend at 20th Century Fox. He wrote in his journal ...Ben was so impressed with the colour photos I sent him that he met with her...and wants to give her a screen test option. He was struck by her beauty and childlike quality, her inexpensive cotton dress encasing her "astonishing figure"...

More from Film and Entertainment

View All