Screen Legend Jane Russell dead at 89

[Dennis Donovan]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-star-jane-russell-dies-162533



Jane Russell, whose voluptuous good looks won the attention of Howard Hughes and launched her on a movie career, has died. She was 89.

Generally cast in fluff films like 1943’s The Outlaw that showed off her well-endowed beauty, Russell reached the pinnacle of her career with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), starring in the comedy with Marilyn Monroe.

During the 1970s, Russell was widely recognized as the spokesperson for Playtex bras, appearing in national TV commercials for the “Cross Your Heart” bra campaign.

Although best known for her figure, Russell showed a comic sensibility in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and again with Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) and The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956). Nevertheless, most of her movie roles were designed around her towering physicality and frontal amplitude. Soft-spoken and well-regarded, Russell received the Women’s International Center Living Legacy Award in 1989.
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[Liberal Veteran]

1. Rest in peace.

You always stood out ahead in your Playtex bra.

[NMDemDist2]

2. ...

:spank:

[mike_c]

3. "frontal amplitude..."

:rofl:

RIP Jane.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. That's definitely getting added to the mental phrase book.

Best euphemism ever.

[panader0]

5. I'm remembering the 'Aviator'

When Howard Hughes defended her cleavage in the 'Outlaw' by comparing it to other actresses. RIP
Man, what a woman.

[steve2470]

6. RIP Jane nt

[jberryhill]

7. "Lookin' for Trouble" -

It's kind of amazing they could get away with moves like this in the movies back then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_TCVOfARKI

[Canuckistanian]

8. I had no idea she was still with us until today

She must have lived a VERY private life after her film career.

Still, she was great actress.

RIP, Jane.

[jberryhill]

13. She still got out now and then

There is something of a business in Hollywood of gaining access to exclusive parties.

The way it works is that stars such as "Jane Russell and guest" will be invited to a party, and "guest" is a commercial asset.

About a year and a half ago, an acquaintance of mine was Jane Russell's date at such a party. He told me she was a million laughs.

[Canuckistanian]

21. What a great story

I would have loved to have seen that.

[Imagevision]

9. She was a cutie...

[blogslut]

10. Goodbye Lady

I thought you were wonderful.

[Raine]

11. Another legend gone

R-I-P Jane. :-(

[devilgrrl]

12. Someone check out some of her quotes. Especially concerning politics....

eom

[defendandprotect]

14. Yep -- sad to read some of that stuff, especially her anti-abortion idiocy....!!

And I say that because she almost lost her life when she had an

illegal abortion at 18 -- and and the "butchering" was so bad that

she was never able to have children after that.



http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000066/bio

[defendandprotect]

15. Some more ...

I've been working a lot to get the Bible back in schools because I think a great deal of our loss of wisdom as a society results from the fact that a lot of children have never read the Bible. I've been helping Elizabeth Ridenour get the Bible back in school by going on television shows for her. She's gotten it into 38 states and 117 school districts, and as a result of this effort 60,000 children have now been able to read the Bible.

My father was a Republican, and he couldn't stand what Franklin Delano Roosevelt was doing to the country. I always say I'm a mean-spirited narrow-minded right-wing, conservative Christian ... I start out with that, and if you don't like it, you can lump it. I am not politically correct.


Her favorite book is the Bible. She reads a passage from it every day.

A longtime pro-life activist, she opposes the use of abortion in any circumstance including rape or incest.

People should never, ever have an abortion. Don't talk to me about it being a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body. The choice is between life and death.


Describing her shock at finding herself pregnant at eighteen: "The only solution was to find a quack and get an abortion. I had a botched abortion and it was terrible. Afterwards my own doctor said, 'What butcher did this to you?' I had to be taken to hospital. I was so ill I nearly died. I've never known pain like it."



:eyes:

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Now that's disappointing. I always liked her, she seemed kind of forward thinking.

I guess those were only her roles. I'd attribute her views to her age and generation, but my grandmother, a lifelong Republican, woke up and switched parties to vote for Bill Clinton at age 92... :) :eyes:

[defendandprotect]

17. Well, here she was having lost her ability to have children because of illegal abortion ....

and yet she was willing to leave other women in that same lousey situation!!

Had she had a legal abortion, she would not have come near losing her life --

she would have had her own children -- and adopted children if she wished.

Just -- mean-spirited -- not strong, but callous.

Not even allowing sympathy for herself, imo!



:(

[LeftinOH]

18. Right-wing crone. n/t

[CTyankee]

19. Bras for "us full figured gals." I remember that Playtex commercial...

[closeupready]

20. Oh well - people die. I wish she'd used her time here more constructively, but

she didn't. I'm sad for her loved ones, though.

[malaise]

22. I saw a clip about her life

She was a genuine progressive - seriously pro choice and fought for abortion rights because she had a botched backroom abortion which prevented her from having children.

[closeupready]

23. Wait - what?? We have two diametrically opposed views as to whether she was left or right.

Not saying you are wrong or lying, but everything I've ever read about her was that she was as extreme right-wing as they come.