
It's fall 1938, perhaps a bit too early to welcome in 1939 in real life, but that's probably not why Carole Lombard is grimacing as she sits opposite James Stewart on the set of "Made For Each Other" and its pivotal New Year's Eve scene. Maybe she's listening to a suggestion from director John Cromwell. Maybe it's a repeated take, and Carole's getting slightly upset. Or maybe it's something else entirely.

I have no idea whether the top photo was taken prior to or following an accident that took place on the set the morning of Saturday, Oct. 1, when Edmund Fellegi, a 25-year-old property man, fell from a scaffold into a crowd of extras while preparing a batch of balloons that were to be released (http://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/169187.html). Fellegi fell into a coma and died the following Monday. (The Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express listed the man's address, and I note it's not that far from where I currently live.) And yes, Lombard -- along with the 150 extras gathered for the scene -- witnessed the fatal fall.
Anyway, the 8" x 10" picture, not an original, is available via eBay. The minimum bid is $6.75, with bidding slated to end at 5:01 p.m. (Eastern) Saturday, or you can swoop in and buy it right off the bat for $9. If you're interested in this image, one I've never come across before, visit http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carole-Lombard-Jimmy-Stewart-1939-Made-for-Each-Other-Set-8x10-rare-photo-/261572607134?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3ce6f13c9e.
We've got Carole facing us again in our latest Lombard LiveJournal header. This one, where she tries to look dramatic in a wide-brimmed hat, is Paramount p1202-502.