A collection of photographs taken by John R. Hamilton.
Featuring famous Hollywood stars and Western icons.
Available online.
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Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot on the set of Viva Maria in Mexico, 1964.
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Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen during the filming of The Sand Pebbles in Taiwan, 1966.
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Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor (16 years old) as a batgirl at the Hollywood Stars Baseball Game, Hollywood, California, 1949.
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Paul Newman
Burbank, California, 1958
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Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood on the set of The Searchers, 1955.
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Clint Eastwood
North Hollywood, California, 1958
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was an American actor and one of the biggest stars of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen starred in many classic films, such as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, and The Thomas Crown Affair. He had a reputation for being a bit of a rebel. He was a skilled motorcycle and race car driver and was passionate about racing.
McQueen's popularity can be attributed to his ability to embody the tough, cool, and confident persona of the era. He was a symbol of the counter-culture and appealed to audiences who were drawn to his rebellious image. McQueen's iconic roles and personal interests made him a cultural icon that still resonates with audiences today.
Hollywood and
thE American west
The history of Hollywood and American western films dates back to the early 20th century. In the early days of the film industry, westerns were one of the most popular genres of films, and Hollywood quickly became the center of western film production.
The first western film was The Great Train Robbery, released in 1903, which set the tone for the genre with its portrayal of lawlessness and violence in the American west. The popularity of western films grew throughout the silent era, with stars such as Tom Mix and William S. Hart becoming popular in the 1910s and 1920s.
In the 1930s, the western genre reached new heights of popularity with the introduction of sound in films. Some of the most iconic western films were made during this era, including John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and Howard Hawks' Red River (1948).
The 1950s and 1960s saw a shift in the western genre, with filmmakers exploring more complex themes and characters. Films such as High Noon (1952) and The Searchers (1956).
Rod Taylor
Clint Eastwood
Kirk Douglas
Frank Sinatra
Natalie Wood
Elvis Presley
Yvette Mimieux
Paul Newman
John R. Hamilton
John Ralph Hamilton was an American photographer considered among the most prolific of the 20th century for his intimate portraits and sweeping landscapes that capture the gritty glamour of celebrity life, filmmaking, and the Western Frontier. A child of the Depression, Hamilton captured the allure of the American Dream, and his images serve as a lens through which to view timeless American themes: a love of celebrity and the freedom of the American West.
His first movie was The Searchers, a classic 1956 film starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford. The film catapulted Hamilton’s career as a cinema lensman and served as the catalyst for an enduring partnership between Hamilton, Ford and Wayne.
Over the next 30 years, Hamilton chronicled some 77 movies (many of them Westerns), photographed 300 magazine covers, and shot hundreds of commercials. While he worked across all genres, Hamilton became known as "Remington with a camera" for his iconic Western photography. The long list of leading men and women, musical legends, distinguished film directors, and household names Hamilton photographed reads like a “Who’s Who” of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Hamilton worked until his death in 1997 at the age of 74.
A photographer who captured some of the most legendary celebrities of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
