The Cannes Film Festival and the charm of the tiny French coastal city that has hosted it since 1949 offer all things to all people. For two weeks out the year, Hollywood insiders, tourists and locals convene to celebrate the art of film. They shop, drink, party and flock to the golden sand beaches at La Croisette promenade, one of the town’s famous hotspots, and take refuge in its iconic Victorian-era Carlton Cannes Hotel—mixing work and pleasure in the town that made resort vacationing the perfect escape from the everyday.
The festival and its famous 24-step red carpet brings all the glitz and glam Hollywood has to offer—and fashion-worthy moments too. For decades, WWD has had its “Eye” page candidly on Cannes. Catching glimpses of the filmmakers, locals and new and known celebrities: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Isabelle Rupert, Cary Grant, Dustin Hoffman, Fred Astaire and actress Edy Williams, whose topless arrivals barely raised an eyebrow in the 1970s.
Today, things are different, but the event that set the tone for fashionable, globetrotters and summer forays remains camera-ready.
Here is a candid look back at the Cannes Film Festival from WWD and the Fairchild Archives.
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Louis Malle’s Cannes Film Festival Premiere Party and Press Event for ‘Le Souffle Au Coeur’.
Image Credit: Reginald Gray French actress Jeanne Moreau, author Susan Sontag, artist Yoko Ono, musician John Lennon and guest arrive at Louis Malle’s party and press event for ‘Le Souffle Au Coeur’ during the 1971 Cannes Film Festival.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Farichild Archive Rachel Roberts (L) Helen Mirren (C) and Alan Price attend the 1973 Cannes Film Festival for the film “O lucky man!” in Cannes, France.
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Louis Malle’s Cannes Film Festival Premiere Party and Press Event for ‘Le Souffle Au Coeur’
Image Credit: Reginald Gray Actors Fabien Ferreux, Benoit Ferreux and guest arrive at a party for director Louis Malle’s 1971 Cannes Film Festival premiere party and press event for ‘Le Souffle Au Coeur in Cannes, France.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive A billboard for Roger Moore as James Bond 007 in the film “Live and Let Die” on the entrance to the Carlton Cannes Hotel during the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive A woman in a lacy daytime shawl outside a restaurant in Cannes, France during the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Ingrid Bergman (C) and guests attend an event at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Andre Olivier (L) and Pierre Cardin attend the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Vivienne Ventura and John Bentley attend an event during the 1973 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
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1976: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Beach views during the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Manouche, doyenne of the French underground attends the 1973 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
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1973: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Clarence Williams III (R) from Mod Squad series and guest at a cafe in Canne, France during the 30th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in May, 1973.
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1975: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Valerie Perrine (C) attends the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1975.
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1975: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Dustin Hoffman attends the 28th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1975.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau A billboard advertisement for “All the President’s Men” starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman photographed during the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Canne, France.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Marcello Mastroianni (2nd from L) and Claudia Cardinale (C) attend the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Cary Grant (C) at the Carlton Cannes hotel during the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Charlotte Rampling (L) and guest attend the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Locals captured near La Croisette promenade in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Gene Kelly (L) and Fred Astaire attend the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1976 Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Guests attend the 1976 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1976.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Marthe Keller and Roberto Rossellini attend the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Edy Williams, appearing topless, at the 30th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Actress Tatiana Papamoschou (C) and guests attend the 30th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Guest attend the 30th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
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1977: Cannes Film Festival
Image Credit: Michel Maurou Isabelle Huppert (L) and guests attend the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 1977.
