Ah, Jane Russell. She formed a very large part of my childhood in a most bizarre manner: back when I was a lad, my sister and I would watch Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. We watched a few musicals back then, but this is the one I remember, not just because of the decidedly mercenary motivations of the two lead characters, or the catchy tunes, but because of Jane Russell. Somehow, she shared the screen with Marilyn Monroe, and didn't whither like a pallid bloom in the shadow of some ethereal, otherworldly flower. Indeed, her incredible confidence and physical presence actually somewhat eclipsed Monroe - not least due to her height and powerful personality. Plus she was pure sonsy.
She lived to a ripe old age, and courted no small amount of controversy. Fare thee well, Ms Russell, in whatever dark worlds unguessed by man lie beyond the void of night.
For me Russell > Monroe. Big time. My first and fondest memories of her, though, are from her many tv commercials in the early seventies rather than from her movies. If you recall those commercials, you'll see what an interesting little kid I was :)
ReplyDeleteI always thought Russell was a lot more attractive than Monroe, but I'm a woman so what would I know. ;)
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