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Ava Gardner

An MGM discovery who developed from glamour casting into a strong dramatic presence with an independent public persona.

Why they matter

Gardner’s career shows the tension between studio-created image and the self-possession of a star who resisted easy categorization.

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The KillersMogamboThe Barefoot Contessa

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Films in the collection

1 connected title in the current build.

1946 · Film noir

The Killers

A doomed ex-boxer’s past is reconstructed after his murder in a shadowy adaptation inspired by Hemingway.