T

HE sun-drenched beaches of Cannes are filled with celebrities and photographers eager to snap them at this time of year. The famous film festival has long been one of the highlights of the celebrity calendar and Hollywood’s biggest stars have been flocking there for decades.

South Pacific star Mitzi Gaynor was mobbed by fans when she stepped out of her hotel during the 1958 festival... and she was even given a cheeky kiss by a French sailor.

Fred Astaire’s dancing partner Ginger Rogers and Vertigo actress Kim Novak were also kept busy giving autographs in 1956. Ginger once quipped: “There’s nothing a man can do, that I can’t do better and in heels.”

Elizabeth Taylor brought out the diamonds for the opening night of the 1957 festival when she and her husband, film producer Mike Todd, arrived to promote new film Around The World In 80 Days starring David Niven.

The movie was the first to feature multiple movie cameos with Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, John Gielgud, Buster Keaton, John Mills and George Raft among those making an appearance. Ronald Colman also came out of a five year retirement to be in the movie.

Gone With The Wind star Olivia de Havilland headed to the beach in 1953 to play in the sand and Doris Day and Grace Kelly both kept it low key at the festival in 1955.

Italian star Sophia Loren was the most photographed star that same year and was still creating a stir in 1958 and once declared: “Sex appeal is 50% what you’ve got and 50% what people think you’ve got.”

Britain’s Diana Dors was the beach beauty at the festival in 1956 when she attended to promote her film Yield Of Night about a woman unlucky in love. Diana once pointed out: “I was the first home-grown sex symbol, rather like Britain’s naughty seaside postcards. When Marilyn Monroe’s first film was shown here (The Asphalt Jungle in 1950) a columnist actually wrote ‘How much like our Diana Dors she is.’”

One of the most memorable Cannes debuts was in 1953 when French teen Brigitte Bardot became an overnight sensation. The 18-yearold had no film at the festival, but her carefree look captured the spirit of the time and photographers took her photo as she posed on the beach.

However, Brigitte later said: “If this fame, which people call my lucky break, were to stop tomorrow, I shouldn’t care.” Diana Dors – rockingocking this look before Marilynarilyn Monroe

Brigitte used to o take dance classes with fellow w French actress Leslie Caronron when she was 13 and the Gigi star also proved a beach favourite avourite in 1953 and later became a memberer of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980.

The 1960s saw British star Janette Scott, the daughter of actress Thora Kirk Douglas Telly Savalas - enjoying every minute Peter O’Toole and Jack Hawkins share a drink and a joke Mitzi Gaynor enjoys the amorous attentions of a French sailor Taxi for – Robert De Niro and a freshfaced Jodie Foster Hird, enjoyingenjoyin the Cannes sunshine while Joan CollinsCo kept her cool in 1977. Film actors have been less revealing ove over the years and have kept covered up on the beach. Kirk Douglas opte opted for a long-sleeved jersey instead of swimwear when he attended in 19531 and Robert De Niro added a jacketjac in 1976 when he appeared at the festival with Jodie FosterF to promote Taxi Drive Driver. Kojak star Telly Savalas e enjoyed the Cannes Brigitte Bardot – already rocking the film world at 18 Cannes’ own queen Elizabeth – Taylor, that is Janette Scott is the catch of the day Joan Collins and Sophia Loren (below) experience in 1977 when he arrived to promote thriller Mati, which he wrote, directed and appeared in. He said that year: “It will be a sad day when I begin thinking of all this as work. I enjoy every minute of it.”

Legendary hellraiser Peter O’Toole enjoyed a toast with fellow actor Jack Hawkins in 1972 and Paul Newman sported shades in 1987 for the premiere of The Glass Menagerie, which he directed. He once joked: “I picture my epitaph: ‘Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.’”