G.A.W. (Ginger Appreciation Week), Day 4: Classic Hollywood Ladies
The very lovely Maureen O'Hara was featured on Day 1 of G.A.W., but she wasn't the only glamorous red-head in old Hollywood. A close second in terms of red-headed loveliness was
Rita Heyworth
Most famous for her role in "Gilda" (a movie I hate with a passion as I can't see anything "romantic" in a violent obsessive-controlling "relationship"), the trained dancer also starred in classics like "Pal Joey" with Frank Sinatra and "Cover Girl" with Gene Kelly.
If we're talking of "red", then Lucille Ball wears certainly the crown in terms of TV royalty. Actress, singer, comedienne, producer, sharp business woman - she excelled in everything. Her show "I Love Lucy" with husband Desi Arnaz is legend, and especially the Star Trek fans among us owe her a lot for producing Star Trek with her company Desilu.
Austen-fans will probably have suffered at one point in time through the 1940 movie version of "Pride and Prejudice", in which gorgeous red-headed British-later-American actress Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennett sported leg of mutton sleeves, huge bonnets and a giant hair ribbon. Not even Larry as Mr. Darcy could save that one. Greer was a critically highly acclaimed actress who'd probably best remembered for her Academy Awarded role as Mrs. Miniver in the WWII drama of the same title.
Despite the blonde locks she sported in many of her movies, Ginger Rogers was actually a red-head. She and genius Fred Astaire formed one of movie histories most elegant and productive dancing team; the two left a legacy of ten movies. Ginger Rogers starred in a series of highly succesful solo movies; aliens placed her pod next to Charlton Heston's.
Looking at Esther Williams, "competitive swimmer" is probably not the first thing that you'd come up with, but that's how the career of this beautiful American actress started. The "Million Dollar Mermaid" featured in a string of Acquamusicals, modelling some of the most stunning swimwear in existence and doing more for the popularity of synchronized swimming than anybody else.
Going back a long way in movie history, Clara Bow can probably claim to be the first red-headed mega filmstar in history, along with carrying the title of the first "It-Girl". If you say "roaring 20ies", you say "Clara Bow"; she was the perfect representative for that wild decade. As one screenwriter said: "Clara is the total nonconformist. What she wants she gets, if she can. What she desires to do she does. She has a big heart, a remarkable brain, and the most utter contempt for the world in general. Time doesn't exist for her, except that she thinks it will stop tomorrow. She has real courage, because she lives boldly. Who are we, after all, to say she is wrong?"
A big leap in time and a hop across the pond will lead us to Italian/Tunisian superstar Claudia Cardinale. She was one of the sex symbols of 1960ies/70ies cinema, but Claudia had more to offer than "just" looks. She worked with Visconti and Fellini, and you'll find her name attached to some of the most iconic movies, like Once Upon A Time In West and Pink Panther. She's also a feminist and lifelong strong supporter of GLBT rights.
Last but not least in the ginger-parade, we have Ann-Margret, Swedish/American actress and one of the leading pepperpots of the 60ies. Starring next to Elvis in "Viva Las Vegas" and opposite Steve McQueen in "The Cincinnati Kid", she had her big break-through in "Bye Bye Birdie". Ann-Margret was also a dedicated and succesful singer.
Not *really* Hollywood, but my sister used to be a huge fan of the great Janis Joplin, and she insists the legendary singer and songwriter was red-haired ("that's why I dyed my hair back then, stupid! I wanted to look like Janis!")
She certainly has red hair on the picture above, and anyway, any excuse is fine for me to play some Janis.
Tomorrow: contemporary male gingerness!
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/364711.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.
Rita Heyworth
Most famous for her role in "Gilda" (a movie I hate with a passion as I can't see anything "romantic" in a violent obsessive-controlling "relationship"), the trained dancer also starred in classics like "Pal Joey" with Frank Sinatra and "Cover Girl" with Gene Kelly.
If we're talking of "red", then Lucille Ball wears certainly the crown in terms of TV royalty. Actress, singer, comedienne, producer, sharp business woman - she excelled in everything. Her show "I Love Lucy" with husband Desi Arnaz is legend, and especially the Star Trek fans among us owe her a lot for producing Star Trek with her company Desilu.
Austen-fans will probably have suffered at one point in time through the 1940 movie version of "Pride and Prejudice", in which gorgeous red-headed British-later-American actress Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennett sported leg of mutton sleeves, huge bonnets and a giant hair ribbon. Not even Larry as Mr. Darcy could save that one. Greer was a critically highly acclaimed actress who'd probably best remembered for her Academy Awarded role as Mrs. Miniver in the WWII drama of the same title.
Despite the blonde locks she sported in many of her movies, Ginger Rogers was actually a red-head. She and genius Fred Astaire formed one of movie histories most elegant and productive dancing team; the two left a legacy of ten movies. Ginger Rogers starred in a series of highly succesful solo movies; aliens placed her pod next to Charlton Heston's.
Looking at Esther Williams, "competitive swimmer" is probably not the first thing that you'd come up with, but that's how the career of this beautiful American actress started. The "Million Dollar Mermaid" featured in a string of Acquamusicals, modelling some of the most stunning swimwear in existence and doing more for the popularity of synchronized swimming than anybody else.
Going back a long way in movie history, Clara Bow can probably claim to be the first red-headed mega filmstar in history, along with carrying the title of the first "It-Girl". If you say "roaring 20ies", you say "Clara Bow"; she was the perfect representative for that wild decade. As one screenwriter said: "Clara is the total nonconformist. What she wants she gets, if she can. What she desires to do she does. She has a big heart, a remarkable brain, and the most utter contempt for the world in general. Time doesn't exist for her, except that she thinks it will stop tomorrow. She has real courage, because she lives boldly. Who are we, after all, to say she is wrong?"
A big leap in time and a hop across the pond will lead us to Italian/Tunisian superstar Claudia Cardinale. She was one of the sex symbols of 1960ies/70ies cinema, but Claudia had more to offer than "just" looks. She worked with Visconti and Fellini, and you'll find her name attached to some of the most iconic movies, like Once Upon A Time In West and Pink Panther. She's also a feminist and lifelong strong supporter of GLBT rights.
Last but not least in the ginger-parade, we have Ann-Margret, Swedish/American actress and one of the leading pepperpots of the 60ies. Starring next to Elvis in "Viva Las Vegas" and opposite Steve McQueen in "The Cincinnati Kid", she had her big break-through in "Bye Bye Birdie". Ann-Margret was also a dedicated and succesful singer.
Not *really* Hollywood, but my sister used to be a huge fan of the great Janis Joplin, and she insists the legendary singer and songwriter was red-haired ("that's why I dyed my hair back then, stupid! I wanted to look like Janis!")
She certainly has red hair on the picture above, and anyway, any excuse is fine for me to play some Janis.
Click to viewTomorrow: contemporary male gingerness!
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/364711.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.