Hurrell, Jane Russell, and The Outlaw
Year of Jane Russell: Day 32
Once production on The Outlaw wrapped, Jane’s full time job became posing for photographers, who produced thousands of publicity shots that landed in newspapers and on the covers of magazines around the world. It was inevitable that publicist Russell Birdwell would send Jane to George Hurrell.
Hurrell, now considered the grandfather of Hollywood glamour photography, was a master at his craft. His use of light and shadow was extraordinary and many have tried to replicate his style. He photographed pretty much all of the big stars of the day and was well established by the time Jane showed up at his studio. Both were no-nonsense types and got along great.
Hurrell photographed Jane on at least three different occasions for The Outlaw. The first time, was a very typical Hurrell glamour shoot which was covered in the January 1942 issue of US Camera. Not only did they have a behind the scenes pictorial of Hurrell and Jane during the shoot, but they put her on the cover.
Jane, Jane Everywhere
Year of Jane Russell: Day 31
The Howard Hughes/Russell Birdwell publicity machine hit the ground running in 1941, and for Jane didn’t let up for over a decade. The effectiveness of the campaign for The Outlaw is evident with this March 1941 issue of the short-lived Friday, a far-left progressive magazine that appears to have only been published from 1940-1941. Interesting side note, the photo of Jane used on the cover was taken by Tom Kelley and was the one Levis Green spotted in the photographer’s studio which the agent showed to Howard Hawks and Howard Hughes.
On a personal note, when my grandpa passed away in 1991, we were cleaning out his garage and found his membership card to the Communist Party, a copy of The Communist Manifesto and a stack of issues of Friday. I don’t think his membership in the party lasted long, but it was some amazing insight into his young life that I didn’t know about.
International Press
Year of Jane Russell: Day 30
Russell Birdwell was the publicist mastermind behind the media campaign for The Outlaw, and was very good at his job. Even though the film would not be released (on a limited basis) until 1946, he managed to keep Jane’s name and frame out there for the entire time. The early success of the marketing of Jane Russell is evident with this French Canadian publication who put Jane on the cover before the film was complete.
Remote Communication
Year of Jane Russell: Day 29
The Arizona location shoot on The Outlaw was so remote, that cast and crew had to live in platform tents, and on the weekend would treat themselves to excursions into Flagstaff. Much ado was made about the radio telephone that was used to connect with the outside world. Here’s Jane calling her mom via radio.
Let the Marketing Begin!
Year of Jane Russell: Day 28
Even though Jane joined the cast and crew of The Outlaw in Arizona, she didn’t film a single scene. Before she had the chance to do so, Howard Hawks clashed with producer Howard Hughes, causing the director to quit. Production was ordered back home.
During the scant weeks she was on location, Jane instead appeared before the still cameras. A small brigade of photographers had been dispatched by publicist Russell Birdwell to capture the “assets” of the new Hawks/Hughes discovery and Jane being young and naive, posed in any position they asked, not realizing what they were up to when they requested she bend over and pick up buckets.
This February 1941 issue of Pic, an oversized pictorial publication, is how Jane was launched onto the international stage. The 16-photo layout inside, showing Jane naively posing in ways that showed a lot of cleavage sparked a great deal of controversy. It also caused Jane to wise up about what she had gotten herself into in Hollywood.
Odd Location Shoot Photo
Year of Jane Russell: Day 27
Here’s another photo taken on location in Moekopi, Arizona where The Outlaw initially began production in December 1940. Pros of the image? The fresh-faced and smiling 19-year-old Jane at the beginning of her career, in a shirt from Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors. Cons? Screaming infant. Production took place on a Hopi reservation, and it’s odd that the photographer not only thought that using the baby as a prop was a good idea, but stuck with it even though this was the result. Even odder, that the photo was printed and distributed! Jane actually loved children, so we’ll hope neither subject of the photo was subjected to this for too long!
Jane in Nudie’s
Year of Jane Russell: Day 26
When Jane was cast in The Outlaw, she was only nineteen and far from being the polished movie star we’ve come to know. She also had a limited wardrobe, which would not do for an actress on a major Howard Hughes film production. So, prior to traveling to Arizona for the location shoot, director Howard Hawks paid for a new set of clothes for Jane. Hawks personally took Jane to Nudie’s Rodeo Tailors in North Hollywood to get some appropriate western wear for Jane to be seen in when she wasn’t done up as Rio. Nudie Cohn would become legendary for his embellished designs, including Elvis’s fabled gold lame suit for the cover of his album 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong.
The film shoot took place in and around a Hopi Village, which is where this image of Jane was taken. The use of local Native American children as props is a weird choice, but it’s a great shot of Jane in her shirt from Nudie’s.
On Location
Year of Jane Russell: Day 25
The Outlaw started production under the direction of Howard Hawks in December 1940. Looking to achieve that sweeping Western look (and to put some distance between producer Howard Hughes and himself), Hawks opted to shoot the film in Moenkopi, Arizona. Here’s Jane and co-star Jack Buetel on location.
Natural Beauty
Year of Jane Russell: Day 24
This is a favorite from the collection I’ve amassed while working on the Jane Russell biography. It’s an original 11×14 matte portrait of Jane wearing one of her costumes from The Outlaw, but without the heavy makeup and hair fall she wears in the film. I wasn’t able to use it in the book because I have sooooo many photos from The Outlaw, but I’m pleased to be able to share it now!
Rio
Year of Jane Russell: Day 23
Here’s another shot of Jane fully made up as Rio for The Outlaw. At one point during filming, Jane, considered a minor, had to go to the courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles to have her contract approved by a judge. He was so outraged by her movie make-up that she had to run to the bathroom and wash it off before would agree to review the case.