In the fantasy world of the cinema, cigarettes have always been one of the ultimate props. On the silver screen, a lit square can lent an air of rebellion to the smoker, who suddenly becomes more charming or sultry. Yes, filmmakers know that smoking leads to increased risks of stroke and lung diseases like emphysema. In the 1980s, Hollywood responded to no-smoking campaigns by cutting the rate at which its stars lit up on-screen to 4.9 times per hour, less than half the 1950s rate of 10.7. But in a recent study, the on-screen smoking rate has shot back up to 10.9. Twelve postcards that show that smoking often looks cool. Often, not always.
![Pola Negri]()
Pola Negri. Italian postcard by Ed. Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze. Photo: publicity still for Good and Naughty (Malcolm St. Clair, 1926).
![Rina de Liguoro]()
Rina de Liguoro. Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 381.
![Ossi Oswalda]()
Ossi Oswalda. French postcard in the Europe series, no. 590. Photo: Agence Européenne Cinematographique.
![René Alexandre]()
René Alexandre. French postcard by A.N., Paris, no. 57. Photo: Sabourin. Caption: Alexandre de la Comédie Française.
![Gustav Fröhlich]()
Gustav Fröhlich. German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 5196/1, 1930-1931. Photo: Ufa.
![Jean Servais in Jeunesse]()
Jean Servais. French postcard. Photo: Forster / Films Epoc. Publicity still for Jeunesse/Youth (Georges Lacombe, 1934).
![André Luguet]()
André Luguet. French postcard by Editions Chantal, Rueil, no. 587a. Photo: Sirius.
![Willy Fritsch]()
Willy Fritsch. German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 5858/4, 1930-1931. Photo: Ufa. Publicity still for Im Geheimdienst/In Secret Service (Gustav von Ucicky, 1931), a spy film set in Russia in World War One.
![Annabella and Gustav Fröhlich in Sonnenstrahl]()
Annabella and Gustav Fröhlich. Dutch postcard by City Film, no. 512. Photo: publicity still for the Austrian film Sonnenstrahl/Ray of Sunlight (Pål Fejös, 1933).
![Adrian Hoven]()
Adrian Hoven. German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 1888. Photo: Eva-Film / RKO-Film. Publicity still for Solange Du Lebst/As Long as You Live (Harald Reinl, 1955).
![Xavier Cugat]()
Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat. Promotion card by Philips, no. GF 025 66/13.
![Serge Gainsbourg]()
Serge Gainsbourg. French postcard, no. A100.
And no, here at EFSP, we don't smoke.
This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth at the The Best Hearts are Crunchy. You can visit her by clicking on the button below.
![]()
Sources: Gerard Gilbert (The Independent), and Javy Rodriguez (Complex).
Pola Negri. Italian postcard by Ed. Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze. Photo: publicity still for Good and Naughty (Malcolm St. Clair, 1926).
Rina de Liguoro. Italian postcard by Ballerini & Fratini, Firenze, no. 381.
Ossi Oswalda. French postcard in the Europe series, no. 590. Photo: Agence Européenne Cinematographique.
René Alexandre. French postcard by A.N., Paris, no. 57. Photo: Sabourin. Caption: Alexandre de la Comédie Française.
Gustav Fröhlich. German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 5196/1, 1930-1931. Photo: Ufa.
Jean Servais. French postcard. Photo: Forster / Films Epoc. Publicity still for Jeunesse/Youth (Georges Lacombe, 1934).
André Luguet. French postcard by Editions Chantal, Rueil, no. 587a. Photo: Sirius.
Willy Fritsch. German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 5858/4, 1930-1931. Photo: Ufa. Publicity still for Im Geheimdienst/In Secret Service (Gustav von Ucicky, 1931), a spy film set in Russia in World War One.
Annabella and Gustav Fröhlich. Dutch postcard by City Film, no. 512. Photo: publicity still for the Austrian film Sonnenstrahl/Ray of Sunlight (Pål Fejös, 1933).
Adrian Hoven. German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 1888. Photo: Eva-Film / RKO-Film. Publicity still for Solange Du Lebst/As Long as You Live (Harald Reinl, 1955).
Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat. Promotion card by Philips, no. GF 025 66/13.
Serge Gainsbourg. French postcard, no. A100.
And no, here at EFSP, we don't smoke.
This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth at the The Best Hearts are Crunchy. You can visit her by clicking on the button below.
Sources: Gerard Gilbert (The Independent), and Javy Rodriguez (Complex).