WILLY RIZZO

For the first time since the war, the players, actors and actresses, the atmosphere and the restored decor of the casino are photographed at the exclusive request of François André, Director of the Deauville Hotels and Casino, who wants to modernize the image of the Casino. As if to add an even more glamorous note to the city, the Pavillon d'Or's world-class nautical rally joined the whirlwind of celebrities: Heddy Lamar, George Raft, Sophie Desmarets, Ludmilla Tchérina, Tilda Thamar, Vincent Scotto, Serge Reggiani, Albert, the first maître d'hôtel of Maxim's, Jane Wyman, Lord Rothschild...Seventy-two yachts from the four corners of the world brought a sporting and festive dimension to Deauville. From the boards, where the ladies wear their whalebone bathing suits and stretch out their beautiful legs, where the parasols form a multicolored forest, to the Bar du Soleil, Ciro's, Chez Carpentier, Le Grill du Casino, Les Ambassadeurs, and Le Brummell, the laughter flows, the animated conversations are lively, and the good mood is masterful. It is this very special atmosphere that Willy Rizzo has captured, invited with his friends the Kessel brothers to spend a few days in Deauville. Armed with a 6x6, he photographed the city with the ardor of his 21 years and a very sharp eye. His photos, taken five years after D-Day, are the first published photos of post-war Deauville. Willy Rizzo was then one of the most talented photographers of the brand new Paris Match, and he quickly became a legend and a prince of photojournalism. After a long career at Paris Match, he became artistic director of Marie-Claire in the 1960s and collaborated with the biggest fashion magazines, including Vogue.