 |
| Jane Russell, 1921 - 2011; RIP. |
It's a term we rarely hear anymore.
But there was a time when female beauty and star-quality and sex-appeal were defined by the term.
There was a time when many of Hollywood's biggest bombshells really were voluptuous.
Jane Russel was voluptuous. And Howard Hughes knew it.
So Hughes made her a star before she even completed her first film. Via strategic publicity and countless pinups, Hughes promoted Jane Russel to the point where men the world over were salivating and women were using every tactic imaginable to look like the buxom brunette with the devilish eyes, the tempting lips and the . . . well, you know.
So fascinated was Howard Hughes with Jane Russell's ample endowments that he designed a special bra for her. And though she said she never wore the bra, Russell did later become a spokesperson for Playetx bras. She appeared in many TV commercials marketing Playtex products to "full-figured gals."
But Jane Russel was a fine actress as well. You may remember her singing with Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Or maybe you remember her sultry take in The Outlaw or her comedic turn with Bob Hope in The Paleface. In that one, Russell played Calamity Jane.
And yes, Jane Russell once appeared on Broadway. She replaced Elaine Stritch in Stephen Sondheim's Company. In that show she she got to sing the memorable "Ladies Who Lunch."
Jane Russell died yesterday at 89 of respiratory illness.
Successors? The only one who even comes close is Penelope Cruz. Now, she really is voluptuous.
But such stars are all too rare in today's Hollywood.
Click here for more on the life of screen legend Jane Russell.
No comments:
Post a Comment