"Grace - An Intimate Portrait" by Howell Conant - Page 2

LadyMacAlpine · #1 01-24-2008, 01:20 PM

During the filming of High Society, David Niven and his wife offered Grace their home so she could meet privately with Prince Rainier, away from the eyes of the press. Howell was invited to one of the gatherings and took photo's. "Life Remembering Grace" from last year was the first time these photo's have been published
Grace
Rainier
Rainier
Rainier and the ladies
Rainier and David Niven
Grace and David Niven
Rainier
Grace and Rainier

Tzu An · #2 01-24-2008, 03:35 PM

Like a lot of royal brides who were commoners, I don't think Grace was properly trained for her eventual role as Princess Consort. She went from freedom to a heavily restricted life and wasn't eased into her role. I think it's a pretty big mistake to throw someone used to being in charge of their life to the restricted lifestyle of of a full fledged royal. I personally think she should have undergone a brief time where she would train and then marry Ranier. If they had been more discreet, Grace could have secretly trained, fulfilled her contractual obligations to MGM, and then married Ranier.

sandsla · #3 01-25-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tzu An

Like a lot of royal brides who were commoners, I don't think Grace was properly trained for her eventual role as Princess Consort. She went from freedom to a heavily restricted life and wasn't eased into her role. I think it's a pretty big mistake to throw someone used to being in charge of their life to the restricted lifestyle of of a full fledged royal. I personally think she should have undergone a brief time where she would train and then marry Ranier. If they had been more discreet, Grace could have secretly trained, fulfilled her contractual obligations to MGM, and then married Ranier.

Where exactly do you think she failed? And where were they not discreet? Considering both were high profile personalities, Grace more than Rainier? i thought they did a pretty good job? Most people didn't even know where Monaco was until Grace married Rainier? I personally think they were very discreet, and I don't understand how Grace could have fufilled her contractual obligations with MGM and at the same time, train for her role? Travel then wasn't a puddle jump away? Plus Grace had a lot of films to make to fulfill her contractual obligations. She had been loaned out to Paramount fot many of her roles? Plus she gave MGM the rights to film her wedding and that was in lieu of fulfilling her contractural obligations. Her wedding put Monaco more on the map than her becoming the Princess of Monaco, mainly because it was pretty much a Hollywood production. She could not be shooting films and training at the same time? Not even close to a possibility? She shot two films after she met Rainier, at least one after she was engaged. There was a reason Rainier had to come visit her. Her career as an actress was demanding and I believe she had quite a few more films to complete for MGM. I think Grace was not the average commoner, she was an Oscar winning actress, she was use to the press and knew how to handle it. She was use to being in the limelight, so the transition there was probably an easy one! Grace was the one that was surprised that the Palace didn't even have a Press Office? She got pregnant on her honeymoon and had two babies in quick succession. I think she balanced her children and palace duties very well, especially for the time. She created much in the way of culture for Monaco including many foundations. I just can't imagine anyone, a consort who could bring more than Grace did for Monaco especially for the 1950's. I do agree that since she was at the top of her career and still young, that if she had been allowed a few more years to fulfill her own needs, she would have evolved more naturally into the role, meaning she would be ready to move on in her life and find other things more fulfilling. But it was the 50's and she was 26 and eager also to have a family. For a Hollywood actress I'm sure her life might have seemed restricting at first, but had she been given too much a glimspe she may have change her mind altogether?

Once you own yourself, you own yourself, there is no way of going back or easing out of it! That is equal to unlearning something - How do you ease yourself into being less smart? For me that is the equivalent? No one wants to be owned! But remember it was the 50's.

mdeledda · #4 04-28-2008, 12:45 PM

Grandiose, graziöse Grace

attaininggrace · #5 04-30-2008, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandsla

Where exactly do you think she failed? And where were they not discreet? Considering both were high profile personalities, Grace more than Rainier? i thought they did a pretty good job? Most people didn't even know where Monaco was until Grace married Rainier? I personally think they were very discreet, and I don't understand how Grace could have fufilled her contractual obligations with MGM and at the same time, train for her role? T.

I absolutely agree, Sandsla. I recently read Grace by Robert Lacey (which I reviewed on my blog) and I thought that she handled her situation extremely well and she put Monaco on the map, as you say!

bookaddiction

Elly C · #6 01-24-2008, 06:00 PM

There's a lovely relaxed & happy mood to these photos. Howell Conant was clearly a trusted friend. I hope some more previously unseen photos will come to light soon.

queenofthelight · #7 01-29-2009, 07:29 AM

ZUBIAUR · #8 01-30-2009, 05:34 PM

Thanks for the beautiful photos

There are no wods to describe her.She was perfect
She is very natural in these photos.Thanks for posting

udyusa · #9 01-30-2009, 07:02 PM

Absolutely astounding!! I have never seen photos like this of Grace and Rainier. How wonderful to have stumbled upon this thread. I also appreciated the personal comments from the photographer! Just wonderful...

Great shot!! I love it...Grace definately isn't posing here.

EmpressRouge · #10 02-18-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queenofthelight

This amazing photo was a creation, which Howell Conant made!!!
http://s5.tinypic.com/2eft5is.jpg (Jamaica, 1955)

I remember from the book Conant saying that Grace was wearing no make-up in that picture except maybe some white eye-liner. Show what a completely natural beauty Grace was.

udyusa · #11 02-19-2009, 12:22 AM

An amazing photo indeed!! But she appears to have Some make-up on such as abit of eyebrow pencil and definately some lip color. Conant is not about to tell all of her secrets! Whatever, with or without make-up, Grace was just an exquisite beauty.

In my opinion All of Grace's features were perfection!

ZUBIAUR · #12 02-20-2009, 03:48 PM

Of course she had beautiful blue eyes,but in my opinion, her most beautiful feature ,was her nose.
I agree with you,but the nose was extremely beautiful

iowabelle · #13 02-20-2009, 06:18 PM

Grace had such a lovely face. If she had a fault it might have been a rather square jaw line, but I think she was probably one of the most delicately beautiful women I've ever seen.

And if you compare her to another beauty, Princess Diana, it makes you appreciate them for their differences. Diana was very asymmetrical, her eyes were quite different in size and her nose leaned to one side with that awful bump. (I make her sound quite awful.) But I think it was Diana's personality that made her beautiful.

Grace had an aura of serenity which I find very attractive, but I think she was a much more classical beauty, with fewer "flaws". It's a shame we never got to see Grace and Diana age. I am sure they would have been great inspirations to us ladies.

udyusa · #14 02-20-2009, 08:23 PM

A beautifully written post, iowabelle, and one in which I totally agree with. You brought up the qualities of Grace and what made her such a great beauty..both inside and out.
I really don't think that anyone can compare Grace's beauty to Diana's as they are so different. Diana was young, fresh, and innocent and just cried out for a make-over. She rose to the 'challenge' and then some! She was not a classic beauty but was tall, long legs to die for, and just wore clothes like no-one else could, and managed to look like everyone would have Wished to look. She was modern, whereas Grace was Hollywood. One could relate to Diana in more ways, perhaps.
I for one, would give anything to have seen both as they aged...We were able to see more of Grace and she remained regal and beautiful to the end. Diana, if only.....

Grace Angel · #15 03-20-2009, 01:32 PM

I really like this book. He took some amazing pictures of her particularly if I remember right ( although it's been some eight years since I've seen a copy of this book) some pictures of her in a black (?) dress in the book and also the pictures of her in the water.

queenofthelight · #16 04-02-2009, 05:14 AM

I like the book of Howell Conant, he was a pro cameraman. Howell often said that Grace was beautiful in each angles, especially Grace's eyes. Peeping in her eyes you could see everything, what sort of a person Grace was - funny, lovely, tender and, of course, very beautiful.
I love most of all photos of Grace in the water as she is so natural and beautiful at the same time, without any pretence.
I could say that this book was made with the openhearted sense.

EmpressRouge · #17 04-02-2009, 10:31 AM

Howell Conant described Grace's best feature was her luminous skin, which couldn't be completely captured on camera (esp. black and white). If Grace had one flaw, it would have been that her jawline/face shape a little bit square. That's why his portraits of Grace were at a 3/4 angle and not straight on.

Grace Angel · #18 04-02-2009, 02:01 PM

Some of the best photos ever taken of Grace in my opinion were those ones in the water.

queenofthelight · #19 04-06-2009, 05:37 AM

Yes, it's true. She was a pro model, as felt suitable moments for shooting.

boots · #20 05-24-2009, 10:05 AM

does anyone have the grace howell conant book with the colour cover not the black and white, as i would like to know if there is any difference as i have the black and white cover version, i have seen some pics which are ment to be from the colour covered version of grace in jamaica wearing a short black dress/skirt which are not in my version of the book, can anyone clear this up before i pay for the colour covered book.

thanks in adavance,

also thanks to all the posters of the wondefull pictures many of which are new to me.

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