Jane Russell: 1921-2011

Sad news to report:  Movie bombshell of the 1940's and 50's, Jane Russell, passed away today at her home in Santa Maria, California.  She would have turned 90 in June.
One of the last living major sex symbols of that era, Jane Russell simply radiated sex.  Everything about her was on a grand scale--most notably, her ample bosom (reportedly, in her prime, her measurements were 39D-24-36).  Howard Hughes "discovered" her in 1943, starring her in his torrid big-screen Western, The Outlaw--which was "condemned" by the Legion of Decency for its graphic depiction of lust and sex in the old West. 



Hughes even took it upon himself to design a cantilevered brassiere just for her.  In truth, the ads and posters for the film were much more lurid than the film actually was (and the film is pretty terrible, too).  Russell was seen everywhere, languidly sprawled across a pile of hay, her poitrine in full display.  Playwright George S. Kaufman uttered one of the greatest puns in Hollywood history, in regard to Hughes's huge press buildup for The Outlaw, quipping, "They ought to call it A Sale of Two Titties!".


But Russell overcame her "sex bomb" image and actually became an excellent actress, as well as comedienne, singer and dancer.  Her greatest film is undoubtedly Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, where she more than held her own alongside Marilyn Monroe.  They played off each other beautifully (and were close friends off-screen as well).


And, boy, she was gorgeous!  But she never took herself too seriously, and always came across as a "good time gal"...sort of a really va-va-voom "one-of-the-guys" type of dame.  Perhaps that was her greatest appeal.  It's sad to see her go...