AVA GARDNER (1944) Early beach portrait with news snipe

[Los Angeles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1944]. Vintage original 7 1/2 by 9″ (18 x 22 cm.) black-and-white single weight glossy silver gelatin print still photo. Minor waviness at bottom edge due to attached paper blurb on verso, which is partially detached. Wide World News Agency stamp on verso as well, about fine.

Ava Gardner is shown in her youthful glory in a posed but rather candid beach photo. Likely photographed at the beach in Santa Monica. it is a bit rare to find an image which combines this type of glamour and candidness. Her stunning beauty, which brought her to the attention of MGM executives in 1941, is vividly displayed.