Forget today’s tawdry spectacle, this was the Cannes Film Festival when stars still shone

Decades ago, Cannes epitomized glamour during the Fifties and Sixties, serving as the prestigious backdrop for the world’s most illustrious film festival. However, its former allure has waned, now attracting a different crowd—primarily from the porn industry, the realm of tacky TV movie moguls, and those deemed second-rate.

Yet, these photographs harken back to the resort town’s golden era when it drew Hollywood’s elite and aspiring starlets vying for their moment in the spotlight or, better yet, under the shade of a wealthy producer’s parasol.

Offshore, renowned producers like Sam Spiegel and Darryl F. Zanuck anchored their opulent yachts in the bay, negotiating deals over makeshift menus.

Meanwhile, the Carlton Terrace buzzed with Dom Perignon champagne and juicy gossip, hosting luminaries such as Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and David Niven. Against this backdrop, icons of the silver screen like Sophia Loren, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and Joan Crawford mingled, enhancing the festival’s allure. Brigitte Bardot’s bikini-clad presence on the beach further heightened the town’s appeal.

Yet, the stars of that era exuded a subtle charm, contrasting with today’s ostentatious A-listers. It was in Cannes where Alfred Hitchcock introduced Tippi Hedren to the world, advising her to maintain an aura of aloofness and mystery. Reflecting on her career, Hedren expressed her appreciation for solitude, elegantly smoothing her white kid gloves.

While the era of big stars and white gloves at Cannes may have passed, these images beautifully capture its bygone splendor.