AVA GARDNER | THE KILLERS (1946) Publicity portrait by Ed Esterbrook

[Los Angeles]: Universal, [1946]. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm) black-and-white glossy silver gelatin photo. Attached typed paper blurb and photographer Ed Esterbrook ink stamp on verso, fine.

After nearly five years of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer training during which she spent being photographed on screen with walk-ons, Follies girl duties and small roles, Ava Gardner was loaned to Universal for her leading lady debut in Ernest Hemingway’s short story adaptation directed by Robert Siodmak, The Killers. Gardner was an ultimate femme fatale.