70 Years Ago...

This iconic photograph of Rita Hayworth was first published in the August 11, 1941 issue of Life magazine. She was not yet a major star when she was photographed by Bob Landry in Los Angeles for a cover story. She was under contract to Columbia and had already established herself with impressive supporting parts in important pictures like Only Angels Have Wings (1939) and Susan and God (1940). However, despite a major publicity campaign mounted by the studio to promote her, she had not yet been propelled to that next level of stardom.

In the summer of 1941, she could already be seen by audiences in two hit movies, The Strawberry Blonde and Blood and Sand, but she was on the cusp of something even bigger. Her next film, You'll Never Get Rich, was to be her first as a full-fledged leading lady and would also give her the opportunity to dance with screen legend Fred Astaire. It would mark the culmination of years of hard work and planning, not just by the studio's publicity department, but by Hayworth herself. She would be, in Life's words, a "triple threat singing, dancing glamor star."

According to Life, the photograph was taken at the home she shared with her husband, Edward Judson. She posed atop a bed in a slinky satin-and-lace nightgown, on her knees, and looking away from the camera with a slightly bemused expression on her face. She was undeniably sexy and absolutely smoldered on film but there was something deeper on display here. Rita's on-screen persona was that of a bold, passionate, and extroverted woman. However, in reality, she was more sensitive, reserved and quiet. This startling combination of tempestuous outer beauty and inner vulnerability contributed to her enormous appeal, especially with male moviegoers, and is captured perfectly in Landry's snapshot.

Several months after this photograph was published, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and America found itself at war. For obvious reasons, Rita instantly became one of the most popular pin-up girls among American servicemen stationed around the world and this picture in particular was a favorite. In fact, the picture became so well-known that Life published it again a few years later, in the November 25, 1946 issue, referring to it as "the best girl picture ever taken."

That praise may still hold true today. Bob Landry captured Rita's magic in his lens that summer day. It certainly stands as one of the most iconic photographs of a very special Hollywood star.