Toki-no-Wasuremono is introducing 50 works by the "Special" photographer Bob WILLOUGHBY (1927-2009), who has photographed countless Hollywood films with actors such as Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Jean Seberg and Sophia Loren. WILLOUGHBY, who passed away at his home in Vence at the age of 82, south of France in December 2009, was not an employee of a studio nor a magazine publisher. He was the first freelance photographer, referred to as the "Special", hired by major studios.
He worked between major publishers such as "Life" and "Look", and studios. He was the first pioneer to explore this special job in the 1950s when Hollywood was at its golden age.
Born 1927 in Los Angeles, America, Bob WILLOUGHBY met his first camera, Argus C-3 when he was 12. From then on, he begun to move towards film making for his career. After graduating the high school, he learned about films in evenings at USC cinema department, and also studied design at Kahn Institute of Art. A lifelong fan of Jazz, he took every opportunity to photograph musicians, while at the same time, working for a number of Hollywood photographers.
In 1954, he became known with the photo of Judy Garland's final scene on the set of "A Star Is Born", when it was used for the front cover of "Life" magazine. Since then, he has photographed the making of over 100 films including Audrey Hepburn's films, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Rosemary's Baby", "Can Can" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips".
In this historic era of filmmaking, WILLOUGHBY had the talent to capture stories into his photographs. He has caught unguarded moments of repose, vulnerability and high drama of famous actors and directors of the time, on and off the set. Working for cinema section for several magazines such as "Life", "Look", "Vogue" and "Harper's BAZAAR", it is said that, there was not a week without his work published between 50s to early 70s.
He was also responsible for a number of technical innovations, including the silent blimp for 35mm still cameras, which became common on film sets. He was the only photographer working on films at the time to use radio- controlled cameras allowing him unprecedented coverage in otherwise impossible situations, and he had special brackets built to hold his still cameras on or over the Panavision cameras.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood honored Willoughby with a major retrospective exhibition of his work. He was awarded the Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Still Photography in New York in 2004. His photographs are in the permanent collections of The National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.; The National Portrait Gallery, London; The National Museum of Photography, Bradford, UK; Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris; The Museum of Modern Art, Film Department, New York; The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Tate Gallery Collection, London; Musee de la Photographie et de Image, Nice; and Musee de la Photographie, Charleroi, Belgium.
In Japan, there are photo collections such as "Hollywood Special" (1993, Takarajimasha Inc.) and "Audrey Hepburn: Photo document Bob Willoughby" (1993, Asahi Shinbun Company) published.
Jazz, Body and Soul. Photographs and Recollections, 2011 Evans Mitchell Books.
Born 1927 in Los Angeles, America. Begun photography at the age of 12 with a camera which was a birthday present from his father. After graduating the high school, he studied under Hollywood photographers, practicing his skill with jazz musicians. He studied photography in the night class at USC, and design at a college. Later he begun to work with a drama and a cultural events, leading to work for magazines on films. Over 30 years he has photographed still images of around 120 films such as works starring Audrey Hepburn, "From Here to Eternity", "A Star Is Born", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "The Graduate", and provided them to globally known magazines such as "Life" and "Vogue". "The Platinum Years" (1974), "Jazz in LA" (1990), "Hollywood Special" (1993) and others are available for collection of photographs. His works are displayed in museums of many countries. Passed away at his home in Vence, south of France in December of 2009, Aged 82.
|
No. |
Image |
Title |
Date |
Medium |
Measurement |
Ed. |
Sign |
|
1 |
|
Taylor, Elizabeth, 1956
Elizabeth Taylor throws a dressing gown over her costume on the MGM set of "Raintree County," 1956.
（A004）
|
1956
Printed in 1985 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
16/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
2 |
|
Farrow, Mia, 1967
Mia Farrow perched long-legged on the scaffolding of the Paramount set for "Rosemary's Baby," 1967.
（A007）
|
1967
Printed in 1978 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
5/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
3 |
|
Monroe, Marilyn, 1960
Marilyn Monroe lost in her own thoughts on set of "Let's Make Love," 1960.
（A013)
|
1960
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
39/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
4 |
|
Seberg, Jean, 1956
Jean Seberg in NYC's Central Park after she won the title role in Otto Preminger's film "Saint Joan," 1956.
（A015)
|
1956
Printed in 1987 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
10/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
5 |
|
Garland, Judy, 1954
Judy Garland dressed as a tramp for the "Lose That Long Face" sequence in "A Star Is Born," Warner Bros., 1953.
（A017）
|
1954
Printed in 1978 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
8/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
6 |
|
O'Toole, Peter, 1962
Peter O'Toole at the Beverly Hills Hotel on his first trip to Hollywood after filming "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962.
（A035）
|
1962
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200 |
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
7 |
|
O'Toole, Peter, 1967
Peter O'Toole as Henry in "The Lion in Winter," Montmajour Abbey, France, 1967.
（A037）
|
1967
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200 |
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
8 |
|
Hoffman, Dustin, 1967
Dustin Hoffman checks the lines with the script supervisor on set of "The Graduate," Paramount Studios, 1967.
（A062）
|
1967
Printed in 1986 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200 |
Signed by Bob Willoughby |
|
9 |
|
Bancroft, Anne, 1967
Anne Bancroft seen through the louvres of a French blind, on set of "The Graduate," Paramount Studios, 1967.
（A065）
|
1967
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
10 |
|
Ross, Katharine, 1967
Portrait of Katharine Ross in her Paramount dressing room during "The Graduate," 1967.
（A068）
|
1967
Printed in 1986 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
11 |
|
Hoffman & Ross, 1967
Katharine Ross and Dustin Hoffman running away from the church at the end of "The Graduate," Paramount Studios, 1967.
（A070）
|
1967
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
10/200 |
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
12 |
|
Hudson, Rock, 1957
Rock Hudson trying to type in his trailer, but the fans are a bit distracting. On location in Grado, Italy for "A Farewell to Arms," 1957.
（A080）
|
1951 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
13 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1962
Audrey Hepburn on set of "Paris When It Sizzles" at Boulogne Studios in Paris, 1962.
（A086）
|
1962
Printed in 2004 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
12/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
14 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1953
On her first trip to Hollywood after finishing "Roman Holiday," Audrey Hepburn is photographed in the Portrait Gallery of Paramount Studios by Bud Fraker, 1953.
（A093）
|
1953
Printed in 1988 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
15 |
|
Bogarde, Dirk, 1962
Dirk Bogarde musing to himself on the set of "I Could Go on Singing," Shepperton Studios, UK, 1962. (Movie title started out being "The Lovely Stage")
（A099）
|
1962
Printed in 1999 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
9/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
16 |
|
Wood, Natalie, 1964
Deliciously attractive Natalie Wood in rehearsal on "The Great Race," Warner Bros. Studios, 1964.
（A103）
|
1964
Printed in 1978 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
17 |
|
Burton, Richard, 1965
Richard Burton teaching his daughter Kate to fish on location in Northampton, Massachusetts for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", 1965.
（A107）
|
1965
Printed in 1965 |
Vintage gelatin silver print |
11x14in. |
|
Stamped |
|
18 |
|
Taylor, Elizabeth, 1956
Elizabeth Taylor portrait in white dress on MGM set of "Raintree County," 1956.
（A108）
|
1956
Printed in 1995 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed by Bob Willoughby |
|
19 |
|
Dean, James, 1955
James Dean going over his script on the Warner Bros. set of "Rebel Without a Cause," 1955.
（A110）
|
1955
Printed in 1991 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
21/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
20 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1958
Audrey Hepburn visits her pet deer Ip on the MGM set of "Green Mansions," 1958.
（A113）
|
1958
Printed in 1993 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200
|
Signed by Bob Willoughby |
|
21 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1962
Photographed for French Vogue, Audrey Hepburn on set of "Paris When It Sizzles" at Boulogne Studios in Paris, 1962.
（A119）
|
1962
Printed in 2004 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
20/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
22 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1953
Audrey Hepburn getting into a car after her first photo shoot at Paramount, having recently finished her first film "Roman Holiday," 1953.
（A120）
|
1953
Printed in 2004 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
19/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
23 |
|
Wayne, John, 1971
Taken on set of "The Cowboys," John Wayne as the American icon of the West, Warner Bros., 1971. This black and white image was the cover of LIFE magazine, January 28, 1972.
（A121B）
|
1971
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
15/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
24 |
|
Hitchcock, Alfred, 1964
Alfred Hitchcock, the famous "profile" on the set of "Marnie" at Universal Studios, 1964.
（A141）
|
1964
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
7/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
25 |
|
Lean, David, 1969
Director David Lean on location in Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, for "Ryan's Daughter," 1969.
（A144）
|
1969
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
26 |
|
Lester, Richard, 1967
Richard Lester on set of "Petulia" in San Francisco, 1967.
（A145）
|
1967
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
27 |
|
Edwards, Blake, 1964
Director Blake Edwards makes a direct hit on Natalie Wood with a cream pie, on set of "The Great Race," 1964.
（A154）
|
1964
Printed in 1985 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
28 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1963
Audrey Hepburn and director George Cukor chat after filming has finished for the day, on the Covent Garden set of "My Fair Lady," 1963.
（A160）
|
1963
Printed in 1985 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
5/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
29 |
|
Burton, Richard, 1953
Close portrait of Richard Burton in his 20th Century Fox Studios dressing room during filming of "The Desert Rats," 1953.
（A169）
|
1953
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
11/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
30 |
|
Streisand, Barbra, 1963
Barbra Streisand sitting on her husband Elliott Gould's shoulders in the Beverly Hills Hotel pool, 1963.
（A172） |
1963
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
31 |
|
Streisand, Barbra, 1963
Close portrait of Barbra Streisand at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 1963.
（A183） |
1963
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
2/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
32 |
|
Sinatra, Frank, 1959
Frank Sinatra sitting in the open doorway on the 20th Century Fox Studios soundstage, during filming of "Can-Can," 1959.
（A194）
|
1959
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
9/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
33 |
|
Novak, Kim, 1955
Kim Novak on the RKO set of "The Man with the Golden Arm," 1955.
（A202）
|
1955
Printed in 1979 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
9/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
34 |
|
Taylor & Burton, 1965
Elizabeth Taylor screaming at Richard Burton in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Warner Bros. Studios, 1965.
（A212）
|
1965
Printed in 1984 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed by Bob Willoughby |
|
35 |
|
Taylor, Elizabeth, 1965
Elizabeth Taylor on the Warner Bros. set of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", 1965.
（A213）
|
1965
Printed in 1979 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
36 |
|
Lemmon, Jack, 1966
Jack Lemmon quietly smokes his cigar on the Columbia Studios set of "Luv," 1966.
（A214）
|
1966
Printed in 1978 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
37 |
|
Holden, William, 1962
William Holden waits for his entrance on "Paris When It Sizzles," Boulogne Studios, Paris, 1962.
（A221）
|
1962
Printed in 1987 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
38 |
|
Hudson, Rock, 1954
Rock Hudson in his Universal Studios dressing room for "One Desire," 1954.
（A222）
|
1954
Printed in 1981 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200 |
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
39 |
|
MacLaine, Shirley, 1959
Shirley MacLaine watching the dance rehearsal for "Can-Can" (reflected in mirror), 20th Century Fox, 1959.
（A223）
|
1959
Printed in 1995 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
6/200 |
Signed by Bob Willoughby |
|
40 |
|
Hepburn, Audrey, 1953
Audrey Hepburn in her hotel room in L.A., on her first trip to Hollywood after filming "Roman Holiday," 1953.
（A226）
|
1953
Printed in 1999 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
15/200 |
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
41 |
|
Loren, Sophia, 1958
Sophia Loren surrounded by other actresses' dress forms in the Paramount Studios Wardrobe Department, 1958. She was working on the film "Black Orchid."
（A242）
|
1958
Printed in 1987 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
10/200 |
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
42 |
|
Curtis, Tony, 1964
Tony Curtis profile with pipe on Warner Bros. set of "The Great Race," 1964.
（A255）
|
1964
Printed in 1985 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
43 |
|
Seberg, Jean, 1956
Jean Seberg by the banks of the Loire River in France, where she made a pilgrimmage to the places that Joan of Arc lived and died in, just before she made the film "Saint Joan," 1956.
（A265）
|
1956
Printed in 1982 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
44 |
|
Seberg, Jean, 1957
Jean Seberg at Maxime's Restaurant in Paris during filming of "Bonjour Tristesse," 1957.
（A283）
|
1957
Printed in 1996 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
3/200
|
Stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
45 |
|
Seberg, Jean, 1957
Jean Seberg reading paper in bed, during filming of "Bonjour Tristesse" in France, 1957.
（A284）
|
1957
Printed in 1996 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
1/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
46 |
|
Davis, Miles, 1950
Miles Davis resting backstage at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1950.
（W248） |
1950
Printed in 1994 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
12/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
47 |
|
McNeely, Big Jay (concert), 1951
Big Jay McNeely driving the crowd into a frenzy at his concert at Olympic Auditorium; Los Angeles, 1951. (Note: photo caption says 1953, but it's 1951)
（W258） |
1951
Printed in 1985 |
Gelatin silver prin, pen |
12x16in. |
21/200
|
Initialed by Bob Willoughby, stamped and signed by Christopher Willoughby |
|
48 |
|
Armstrong, Louis, 1956
Louis Armstrong on the stairs at MGM between takes on "High Society," 1956.
（W264） |
1956
Printed in 1978 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
11/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
49 |
|
Baker, Chet, 1953
Chet Baker resting after a recording session with Gerry Mulligan, Los Angeles, 1953.
（W266） |
1953
Printed in 1990 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
22/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
|
50 |
|
Holiday, Billie, 1952
Billie Holiday singing her plaintive songs at the Tiffany Club, Los Angeles, 1952. (Note: photo caption says 1951, but file and other sources say 1952)
（W272） |
1951
Printed in 2001 |
Gelatin silver print |
12x16in. |
23/200
|
Signed and initialed by Bob Willoughby |
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