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Preserving the Memory of Marilyn Monroe with Dignity and Grace

Posts Tagged with Jane Russell

Published July 15, 2018

GENTLEMEN STILL PREFER BLONDES 65 YEARS ON


“I remember when I got the part in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.’ Jane Russell – she was the brunette in it and I was the blonde. She got $200,000 for it, and I got my $500 a week, but that to me was, you know, considerable. She, by the way, was quite wonderful to me. The only thing was I couldn’t get a dressing room. Finally, I really got to this kind of level and I said, “Look, after all, I am the blonde, and it is ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes!'” Because still they always kept saying, “Remember, you’re not a star.” I said, “Well, whatever I am, I am the blonde!” Marilyn Monroe

On the 15th July 1953, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” made its big screen debut, today we are celebrating 65 years since Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell sang and danced into our hearts and minds and made us realise that “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend!”

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” started life as a novel, written by Anita Loos in 1925 and later became a successful Broadway hit in 1949. Marilyn first heard she had secured the role of Lorelei Lee, the lovable gold digging blonde on June 1st 1952, her 26th birthday. She was to co star with Jane Russell, who although at the time had only made 9 pictures to Marilyn’s 19, Jane was undoubtedly the bigger star, having been catapulted into stardom with her debut feature film, “The Outlaw.” The film also had a strong supporting cast, Elliot Reid, Tommy Noonan, George “Foghorn” Winslow and Charles Coburn, who along with Winslow had acted alongside Marilyn in the 1952 screwball comedy “Monkey Business” starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers.

Filming commenced November 17th 1952 and according to her co star Jane Russell, Marilyn showed no signs of forgetting lines or being late on set which she became more and more notorious for later on in her career. “I didn’t experience any of the lateness or unprofessionalism you hear about, that came way later. She worked very hard and always knew her lines and was absolutely determined to get ahead.” Russell remembers, “we got along very well and when I found out she was a little nervous about going out on the set, I’d stop by her dressing room and you know, say ‘come on Blondel, it’s time to go! We’re due…’ and she’d say ‘oh! alright Jane’ and we’d trot on the set together.”

The film had 5 songs which showcased Marilyn and Jane’s vocal abilities beautifully: “Two Little Girls From Little Rock,” “Bye Bye Baby,” “When Love Goes Wrong,” “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” and “Ain’t There Anyone Here For Love?” …. the latter was set around Jane Russell’s character Dorothy Shaw attempting to flirt with the Olympic team on the cruise ships gymnasium and swimming pool. Jane bent down at the edge of the swimming pool so that the dancers could dive over and around her into the water. The problem was, one of them clipped Jane on the head with his foot and she rolled into the pool, even though her tumble did look intentional. Jane remembers: “It was an accident and we had to go back and re-shoot the whole number, but they ended up using that footage. We had a long time in those days to rehearse the numbers and we’d worked every day for a couple of months. I wasn’t supposed to end up in the pool at all, but it turned out better the way it happened, although the poor dancer got fired! I mean, it didn’t hurt.” Ron Nyman, who managed to avoid Jane Russell with his own well-excecuted dive, added, “The guy’s name was Ed Fury, he caught her by accident and the reason he was fired is because he then insisted on getting a co-choreography credit!”

Of course, the big musical number that most people remember from the film is the iconic “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” which sees Marilyn in a stunning pink evening gown, singing and dancing on a backdrop of red and black, surrounded by men in suits, vying for her attention. One of the backing dancers was a young George Chakiris, who would later go on to win an Academy Award for his performance in “West Side Story.” “One of my favorite credits is to say that I worked behind Marilyn Monroe and I love saying that.” George remembers fondly, “ She was phenomenal. She only about twenty six when she made that film but Marilyn was an actress who was deeply concerned about her work and was very conscientious. Let me give you an example of her professionalism: If there ever was a cut for any reason, she never went back to her trailer to check her makeup. She’d be there on her starting mark and ready for the next take. “

Filming finished on 22nd January 1953, but it wouldn’t be unleashed to the world for another 6 months. Meanwhile, Marilyn was appearing in cinemas around the world in her 1953 film noir thriller “Niagara” which was her first major starring role, backed by a huge publicity campaign by FOX Studios. If there was anyone who by this point hadn’t heard of Marilyn Monroe, they were sure to by now! It catapulted her into stardom and the public couldn’t get enough of her. With the release of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” it would cement her as a major star in Hollywood an an even bigger box office draw.

As a testiment to how popular Marilyn had become over the last 12 months or so and as a tribute to Jane Russell’s everlasting appeal and celebrated career, the two were invited to place their hands and feet in wet cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on 26th June as promotion for the up and coming release of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” on July 15th. More can be read about that here:  http://www.marilynrememberedfanclub.com/65-years-of-marilyn-at-graumans-chinese-theatre/

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” was a huge success when it was released earning over $12 million at the Box Office after its initial budget of $2.3 million.
“The reviews were great and so was the box office” Jane Russell remembers. “Apparently everyone loved the Monroe-Russell combination, the New York Herald Tribune called it the “Haystack Brunette versus the Blowtorch Blonde.” and said how very well we worked together. They loved the singing, our dancing- even our acting- and especially the ‘Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend’ number. We were delighted with the reaction the film got from both the press and the public. I was especially happy and I had a ball on that picture.”
Although it was cruely overlooked at every single major awards ceremony, only achieving one nomination at the Writers Guild Of America Awards 1954 for ‘Best Written American Musical’ it went on to be the 6th highest grossing film of 1953 and incidently Marilyn’s second highest grossing film of her career – second to ‘Some Like It Hot.’
It is also safe to say that “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is a firm favourite among Marilyn fans and Jane Russell was once quoted as saying “It really was the best thing that either of us was ever involved in.”


65 YEARS OF MARILYN AT GRAUMAN’S CHINESE THEATRE
Published June 26, 2018

65 YEARS OF MARILYN AT GRAUMAN’S CHINESE THEATRE


“I’ll never forget Marilyn saying, “It’s for all time, isn’t it?” “Yes,” I told her, “it’s for all time, or as long as the cement lasts.” She made me cry, she was so sweet. I believed in her. We made a hell of a team and I wish we had done another picture together.”
– Jane Russell

June 26th 1953 marks an incredible 65 years since Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell both placed their hands and feet in wet cement and were forever immortalised in the forecourt of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollwood Boulevard. “Filmdom’s first blonde and first brunette” as the newsreels proclaimed, earned their place in the forecourt of the movie theatre as promotion for their up and coming feature film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” which was due to hit theatres on July 1st, 1953.

“When I was younger, I used to go to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and try to fit my foot in the prints in the cement there. And I’d say “Oh, oh, my foots too big. I guess that’s out.” I did have a funny feeling later when I finally put my foot down into that wet cement, I sure knew what it really meant to me, anything’s possible, almost.”

On some occassions however, Hollywood stars would also leave the imprint of something more suited to their personalities .. Betty Grable, famous for her ‘Million Dollar Legs’ left her leg imprint and Joe E. Brown famous for his… well… large mouth, left his mouth imprint! Marilyn had the rather fun and cheeky suggestion that she should sit down in the wet cement and Jane Russell should lean over in the wet cement, leaving their most famous assets immortalised for the whole world to see! Unfortunately, this request was denied. Instead, Marilyn dotted the “i” in her name with a rhinestone (which was sadly chisled out soon after.) Across both squares the ladies wrote “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” forever tying them together with such a wonderful movie. I wonder how many tourists have watched the film after seeing its name in wet cement?

Here we are, 65 years on and Marilyn’s hand and footprints are still by far the most popular and most photographed at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Of course, it wasn’t just Marilyn’s big day, Jane Russell was right by her side. Taken from “Jane Russell: An Autobiography,” Jane shared her thoughts on the day:

“Marilyn and I were invited to add our footprints to those already cemented in at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. We were both wearing summer dresses and high heels as we posed, arms linked together, for the photographers. We were thrilled beyond words. While I was placing my my feet in that square of soggy cement, I thought of all the times when Pat Alexander and I tried to fit our feet in the footprints of various actresses and how we figured that they must have worn the tiniest shoes for the occassion. Our feet never fit in. Now my prints were in that cement and I couldn’t believe it. I’m sure Marilyn felt the same. Always one for personal comfort, I was wearing my usual big shoes, so no aspiring actress will have any trouble whatsoever getting their feet into my footprints!”



 

The forecourt is nearly full to the brim with the hand and footprints of famous names spanning the last 8 decades. You can definitely spend an entire afternoon feasting your eyes on the imprints of old favourites and new talents.
There are also plenty of Marilyn’s contemporaries immortalised at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. They include:

Jack Lemmon
Co star in “Some Like It Hot.” He had a joint imprint ceremony with Shirley MacLaine as promotion for “Irma La Douce.” Notice Jack has left a cork imprint after toasting the occassion with a bottle of bubbly!


Anne Baxter
Co star in “All About Eve.”

Bette Davis
Co star in “All About Eve.”

Betty Grable
Co star in “How To Marry A Millionaire” Notice her leg imprint!

Clark Gable
Co star in “The Misfits.”

Donald O’Connor
Co star in “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” He very sweetly brought his Mother along to the ceremony.

Ginger Rogers
Co star in “Monkey Business” and “We’re Not Married!”

Dean Martin
Co star in the uncompleted “Something’s Got To Give.”

Jeanne Crain
Co star in “O’ Henry’s Full House.”

Gene Kelly
Co star in “Let’s Make Love.”

Joe E. Brown
Co star in “Some Like It Hot.” Notice his mouth imprint!


Cary Grant
Co-star in “Monkey Business.”

 

Charles Laughton
Co star in “O’Henry’s Full House.”

The Marx Brothers
Co stars in “Love Happy.”

Mickey Rooney
Co star in “The Fireball.”

Natalie Wood
Co star in “Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!”

Barbara Stanwyk
Co star in “Clash By Night.”

Richard Widmark
Co star in “Don’t Bother To Knock.”

William Powell
Co star in “How To Marry A Millionaire.”

Monty Woolley
Co star in “As Young As You Feel.” Notice his beard imprint!

Jean Harlow
Marilyn’s childhood idol.

Frank Sinatra
Close personal friend

Jack Benny
Marilyn appeared on his tv show in 1953.

Doris Day
After Marilyn passed away, her final uncompleted film “Something’s Got To Give” was remade into “Move Over Darling” starring Doris Day and used much of the same sets and props.

Jerry Lewis
Friend of Marilyn’s.

Humphrey Bogart
Husband of Lauren Bacall during the filming of “How To Marry A Millionaire.”

Of course, there are so many other big Hollywood names that never managed to get their hand and footprints immortalised over the years. One of which was Marilyn’s “How To Marry A Millionaire” co-star Lauren Bacall.

Around premiere time for “How To Marry A Millionaire”, Lauren Bacall got an invitation to place her hand and footprints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater. “I said to Bogie [Humphrey Bogart] that it seemed to me anyone with a picture opening could be represented there, standards had been so lowered. Bogie, loving a chance to puncture Hollywood’s ego, said, ‘Why don’t you refuse?’”

[Hollywood columnist] Joe Hyams printed Bacall’s refusal to accept the tribute in the Tribune. It read, “’Before I came to Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese was something very special to me – it meant not only achievement – it was the Hall of Fame of the motion picture industry and the people in it were unforgettables and irreplaceables. I don’t think of myself as either – I feel that my career is undergoing a change and I want to feel I’ve earned my place with the best my business has produced.’”

More than 20 years passed, and Bacall did not earn another invitation to place her hand and footprints outside the theater. She wrote about this with some regret in her 1979 memoir By Myself: “A tourist or aspiring actor going to Grauman’s Chinese to see the legendary stars’ footprints will not see mine – or miss them.”

Placing your hands in Marilyn’s hands is an incredible experience and I’m sure she would be so thrilled to know that so many people travel from all over the world just for the experience. Here’s to the next 65 years of Grauman’s!

 

 

Published May 31, 2018

“GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES” AT THE EGYPTIAN

Southern California friends–“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is coming to the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in June. Before the movie starts, there will be a lecture about 1950s costumes and fashion. This will also be fun because Norma Jeane used to come to this theatre as a little girl!

For more information, head here:

http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/fashion-film-the-1950s-gentlemen-prefer-blondes

Published June 20, 2016

Happy Birthday Jane Russell! June 21

13450969_10153689739322688_8246095680997731258_nToday we are taking a brief look at the life and career of Jane Russell who was born on this day in 1921. Jane was born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in Minnesota, the only girl out of five children. Her father was in the US Army and her mother was an actress. After a brief move to Canada the family settled in Southern California where Jane attended Van Nuys High School along with a young man named James Dougherty, the future husband of Norma Jeane Mortenson.  After graduating high school Jane worked as a receptionist. She did a little modeling on the side and studied acting at Max Reinhardt’s Theatrical Workshop.

In 1940 she was discovered by Howard Hughes and he signed her to a seven year contract. Her first role was in The Outlaw which was filmed in 1941 but not released until 1943 due to problems with the Hays Code over her ample cleavage. Hughes reportedly designed a special bra for her to wear in the film but in her autobiography Jane said that the bra was extremely uncomfortable and she ended up wearing her own, with Hughes being none the wiser.

Although she co-starred with some of the most popular actors of the era – Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Clark Gable, Victor Mature, Vincent Price and Robert Mitchum (another alum of Van Nuys HS) – she is best remembered today for her role as wise-cracking Dorothy Shaw alongside Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Jane was married three times (her first marriage to her high school sweetheart lasted 25 years) and adopted three children.
She died on 28th February 2011 at the age of 89 in Santa Maria, California.

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    Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with M Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with Marguerite Masi, the wife of Victor “Chic” Masi, a childhood friend of Joe DiMaggio. 
#marilyn #joedimaggio #gentlemenpreferblondes #marilynremembered #realmarilynmonroe #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend" musical number from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" started filming 70 years ago this week!❤️

George Chakiris, Oscar Winning Actor, was a background dancer for the number, recalled these memories of filming the legendary musical number:

“One of my favorite credits is to say that I worked behind Marilyn Monroe and I love saying that.” George remembers fondly, “ She was phenomenal. She only about twenty six when she made that film but Marilyn was an actress who was deeply concerned about her work and was very conscientious. Let me give you an example of her professionalism: If there ever was a cut for any reason, she never went back to her trailer to check her makeup. She’d be there on her starting mark and ready for the next shot."

"Jack Cole was clearly Marilyn's favourite choreographer.  She loved him and he was absolutely perfect for her.  He was one of the great choreographers not only for film but for the stage as well, and for the musical numbers he took over the direction.  The work was very demanding and he was very demanding. 

We rehearsed three weeks or more for the 'Diamonds' sequence, and it took three days to shoot.  The last day they went overtime, because Jack had to go back to New York to do a show, so instead of working until 6pm, I believe we worked up until 9pm, and then Jack raced off to the airport.."
#marilynmonroe #georgechakiris #jackcole #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #diamondsareagirlsbestfriend #realmarilynmonroe
    A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952 #marilynm A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952
#marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #1950s #1950style
    ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️ Happy bir ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️

Happy birthday to the one and only King of Hollywood, Clark Gable on what would have been his 122nd birthday.

Marilyn spoke about her time working with Gable on the set of The Misfits:
“The place was full of so-called men, but Clark was the only one who brought a chair for me between takes. He never got angry with me once for blowing a line or being late or anything — he was a gentlemen. The best.”

Gable was equally as complimentary about Marilyn, he once said:
"Marilyn is a kind of ultimate.  She is uniquely feminine.  Everything she does is different, strange and exciting, from the way she talks to the way she uses that magnificent torso.  She makes a man proud to be a man.”

After Clark’s death on Novemeber 16th, 1960, Marilyn was quoted as saying:
“Clark Gable was one of the finest men I ever met. He was one of the most decent human beings anyone could have encountered anywhere. He was an excellent guy to work with. Knowing him and working with him was a great personal joy. I send all my love to and deepest sympathy to his wife, Kay.”

Happy Birthday Clark, forever the King of Hollywood.
#marilynmonroe #clarkgable #king #longlivetheking #oldhollywood #classichollywood #realmarilynmonroe #marilyn #birthday #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #gable #hollywoodhistory
    Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th 1914 - 9th February 1995.)

David Wayne was an American stage and screen actor with a career spanning over 50 years.  Marilyn fans will recognise him as being her most frequent co-star, sharing the billing with Marilyn in no less than 4 of her movies: 
"As Young As You Feel"
"We're Not Married!"
"O Henry's Full House"
"How To Marry A Millionaire"

With little or no screen time shared in "As Young As You Feel" and "O Henry's Full House," they were on screen lovers in "We're Not Married!" and "How To Marry A Millionaire."

Wayne was quoted as saying (on her performance in "How To Marry A Millionaire")
"Negulesco (the Director) was very good with her and handled her beautifully.  Of course she was always late, but I don't think either Betty Grable or Lauren Bacall minded her.  They were tough old pros and knew their business.  There again, I also recall Marilyn being quite capable in her scenes with the other two girls.  I wasn't necessarily in the scene with them, but I'd sit next to Negulesco and watch the three of them work and by that time I thought that Marilyn had got a little technique under her belt."

Happy birthday David! 😃
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    This is what a Queen looks like walking down the s This is what a Queen looks like walking down the street.
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️

George spoke about his time photographing Marilyn on the set of the "Seven Year Itch" in 1954 and recalled this:

“Finally when they started filming, (Joe ) DiMaggio walked right off the set, right in the middle of the film shoot, right in front of the camera, everything stopped... And that's where I had my favourite photograph of serious Marilyn, she just stopped.  And the light is just coming down, light, light, light, light right on top of her head and it's all black except for her.  It was a heavy moment.”

Quote taken from the fantastic documentary: "Marilyn: Still Life."
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #joedimaggio #thesevenyearitch #sevenyearitch #marilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️ ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️

With the sad news of Mr Zimbel's passing, let's show love for some of his stunning photographs of Marilyn, taken on the night of September 1954 in New York, whilst the filming of the famous 'upskirt' scene from "The Seven Year Itch" was taking place.

For more photos, check out his website:

https://georgezimbel.com/
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    ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️ Maril ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️

Marilyn Monroe enjoyed a good working relationship with her co-stars, in particular with her leading man, Joseph Cotten: 

“I enjoyed her company. I enjoyed working with her,” Cotten said  about working with Marilyn Monroe in her first starring role. He said  she had an appetite for laughter and was aware of her sense of humor  describing her as a “pretty clown.  Cotten recalls hearing about her  death and receiving a phone call from the Associated Press for a  comment. “At first I was sure it had to be an accident. Such buoyancy  of spirit, such sparkling anticipation, such a happy and comic attitude  would deny support to any theory,” he wrote. “But she had such moments  of fear and insecurity….As to all the other furtive theories-cover-up,  murder, etc. – I have no knowledge or interest in such sordidness. I  knew and acted with Marilyn Monroe. I am proud of having that  privilege.”
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    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ "Do you walk i ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️

"Do you walk in real life the way you do in 'Niagara?' "

Marilyn: "I never think about the way I walk.  But since I was playing a certain type of girl in the picture who was not myself, and since the way I walked helped emphasize her, I walked as I did.
I'm sure my real-life walk is not exactly the same."
#marilyn #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #realmarilynmonroe
    <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3 These stunnin <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3

These stunning costumes from the movie 'Niagara,' (screen worn and used in publicity photos) have been auctioned in recent years.
#marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynremonroe #niagara #costumetest #costume #costumedesign
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ Which of these ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️
Which of these screen worn outfits that Marilyn wears in "Niagara" is your favourite?
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