CLAUDETTE COLBERT | IMITATION OF LIFE (1934) Promotional photo

[Los Angeles: Universal Pictures, 1934]. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white single weight glossy silver gelatin photo. Minor corner wear, near fine.

Wearing a lovely, tasteful gown by Travis Banton, elegant clip, bracelet, earrings and with her cropped hair, Claudette Colbert displays a style which is still contemporary (thanks to makeup artist Dottie Ponedel). This publicity image is to promote the original filmed version of Fanny Hurst’s groundbreaking story of interracial friendship, Imitation of Life.

1934 proved to be Colbert’s stellar year, not only with this performance but for those in Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra, Four Frightened People and her Academy Award-winning characterization for It Happened One Night. The book, of course, is a first edition. Stars promoting the book their film is based on is a genre of collecting of its own.