Louise Brooks with John Wayne
Personal Candid Photograph
Wrap Party for OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS
1938 · Hollywood, California

Brooks called John Wayne "a purely beautiful being" and "the hero of all mythology miraculously brought to life." Louise rarely expressed such unmitigated enthusiasm for anyone—especially fellow actors—and the adoration for him is unmistakably written on her face in this surreal photo. One would be hard pressed to find another image of prickly, no-nonsense Brooksie looking so vulnerable.