Remembering Marilyn
Year of Jane Russell: Day 152
Holding a good thought for Marilyn Monroe on what would have been her 95th birthday. Jane’s work opposite Marilyn in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was arguably the best of her career, and the affection Dorothy has for Lorelei in the film mirrored how Jane felt about Marilyn when the cameras weren’t rolling.
“We Looked Like We Deserved Each Other”
Year of Jane Russell: Day 151
Jane and Robert Mitchum only made two films together, but the pairings were unforgettable and their chemistry undeniable. When asked later on why they came off so well onscreen together, Jane replied, “We looked like we deserved each other.”
The Delays of Howard Hughes
Year of Jane Russell: Day 150
After production wrapped on His Kind of Woman, director John Farrow thought he was turning in a finished film. Howard Hughes thought otherwise and would spend months and hundreds of thousands of dollars revising the last act of the movie.
Jane Sings!
Year of Jane Russell: Day 149
Jane enjoyed making His Kind of Woman, and became lifelong friends with co-stars Robert Mitchum and Vincent Price. She especially appreciated that her character in the film was a nightclub performer which gave her the opportunity to sing onscreen again.
Jane and Mitch in “His Kind of Woman”
Year of Jane Russell: Day 148
By 1950, Howard Hughes had gained a controlling interest in RKO Pictures, so it was only natural that Jane would become a marquee player on the lot and appear opposite one of RKO’s biggest stars – Robert Mitchum. Jane and Mitch started shooting Smiler With a Gun aka His Kind of Woman in March 1950.
Kisses and Tears
Year of Jane Russell: Day 147
Double Dynamite gave Jane the opportunity to sing the song “Kisses and Tears” with Frank Sinatra which was the high point for her. She later said, “He was playing a dumb little guy and I was playing a dumber little girl and it was a stupid picture, but we sang in it.”
Jane, Groucho, & Frank in “It’s Only Money” aka “Double Dynamite”
Year of Jane Russell: Day 146
After Montana Belle, Jane’s next film was It’s Only Money co-starring Frank Sinatra and Groucho Marx. Howard Hughes also shelved this one for a while before finally releasing it under the title Double Dynamite.
“Montana Belle” Italian One-Panel
Year of Jane Russell: Day 145
Montana Belle was a lower budget, independent production, but had some gorgeous artwork for posters, like this stunning Italian one-panel.
Live Event on May 30th: Classic Movie Hub Screen Classics Discussion Series
Year of Jane Russell: Day 144
On Sunday, May 30th at 6pm PST, I’ll be talking all about Jane Russell live with Andrew Erish, author of the upcoming Vitagraph: America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio, as well as Col. William N. Selig, the Man Who Invented Hollywood. It should be a blast so tune in at: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicMovieHub/
Jane is “The Gilded Lily”
Year of Jane Russell: Day 143
Montana Belle gave Jane the first of many opportunities to sing onscreen. For this film, she hit up friend Portia Nelson who was an actress and songwriter. Nelson gave Jane a song called “The Gilded Lily,” which is a highlight of the film.