Raquel Stecher's Blog, page 11
June 14, 2021
Mean... Moody... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend by Christina Rice
Mean... Moody... Magnificent!Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend
by Christina Rice
University Press of KentuckyISBN: 9780813181080June 2021392 pages
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powells
“The movie star turned out to be devastatingly human.”
Jane Russell was larger than life. A bonafide movie star. She first made a splash as the sultry lead in Howard Hughes' western The Outlaw (1943). The marketing campaign for that film lasted years thanks to Hughes' penchant for controversy and control. She was dubbed the "motionless picture star" as she traveled to promote her first film for months before its release. The wait was worth it because it cemented her place as a Hollywood celebrity. Russell was an entertainer through and through. She had great screen presence, could sing and had a figure that caught the attention of moviegoers, something Hughes had banked on from the very beginning. Russell was under contract with Hughes for over 30 years, working with him at RKO and beyond, and was often loaned out to studios when she wasn't making a film for her boss. While Hughes was controlling and their working relationship could sometimes be contentious, Russell remained loyal to her boss, a trait that Hughes both valued and rewarded. The pinnacle of her acting career was her co-starring role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) opposite Marilyn Monroe. Taking the role was a total gamble. Russell had to be okay with being overshadowed by her costar. And just like The Outlaw, this gamble paid off.
Russell collaborated with Robert Mitchum on two noirs for RKO: His Kind of Woman (1951) and Macao (1952). The two had great chemistry on screen and off-screen became lifelong friends. Russell was great to work with and even had a core team from RKO that she took with her on other studio gigs. She married three times, first to Robert Waterfield, a professional football player with whom she later ran Russ-Field Productions. Russell was deeply religious, passionate about adoption and lived to perform. After making Darker Than Amber (1970), she retired from films. In the years that followed, Russell performed on stage and on television, wrote a memoir, gave interviews about her career and made countless appearances. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 89.
Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum in His Kind of Woman (1951)June 21st marks the 100th anniversary of Jane Russell's birth and to celebrate we have Mean... Moody... Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend, a delightful book from the capable hands of librarian, researcher and archivist Christina Rice. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of Rice's biography Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel . It's one of my top favorite classic film biographies so needless to say I had high expectations for Rice's biography on Jane Russell. Rice did not disappoint.
Mean... Moody... Magnificent! paints the portrait of a complicated woman who stumbled upon fame and soon found her calling as an internationally renowned entertainer. As Rice says in her book, Russell was "more of a movie personality than a serious actress,... [she] could electrify a screen and was a true star of the old studio system.” I really admire how Russell found her confidence to perform even as she was being objectified for her naturally curvy body. One could say that Russell and her body type paved the way for curvaceous entertainers to come, like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)“During production Jane adopted Marilyn as a kind of kid sister, exhibiting a tremendous amount of empathy for Monroe, who was experiencing the same type of amped-up sex symbol publicity Jane had been enduring for over a decade.”
Russell's religious beliefs were often in conflict with her actions, something Rice adeptly explores in the book. There is lots to garner from this biography including how Hollywood packaged and promoted their movie stars for public consumption, how sometimes movie stars were made from being in the right place at the right time, and how networking and close working relationships were key to survival in this cutthroat industry. This biography is laid out chronologically with each chapter focusing on a particular theme. This made the book flow very well. Rice's research shines through and her storytelling skills make this for an engrossing read. There's lots of great behind-the-scenes information, especially as it relates to how Russell was styled for her movies. Even if you're not particularly interested in Jane Russell as a person, this is still a must read for anyone who loves stories from old Hollywood.
This is my first review for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.
Thank you to University Press of Kentucky for a copy of the book for review.
All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
May 27, 2021
Physical Media Tour
Ever wonder what's inside the collection of a classic movie fan? Here's an opportunity to explore my big collection of DVDs, Blu-Rays and boxed sets (and a few extras). Over the years I've collected lots of great classic movies, many of which I've reviewed here. In this video you'll see goodies from the Warner Archive Collection, Kino Lorber Classics, the Criterion Collection, Olive Signature and more. Take a peek!
May 21, 2021
2021 Summer Reading Challenge
The warmer days of summer are just around the corner and that means it's time to announce the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge. (Winter Reading Challenge for my friends on the southern hemisphere!).
Since 2013, I've been hosting a classic film themed summer reading challenge. I ask participants to read and review up to 6 classic film related books. If you don't think you can read all 6 that's fine! Read as many as you can. However, if you do complete the 6 books by the September 15th deadline, you are automatically entered into a giveaway to win one Kino Lorber DVD or Blu-ray.
Visit the official Summer Reading Challenge page for all of the details including the sign-up form, link submission form and which types of books qualify.
Here are some basic details:
And for fun make sure you share on your blog or social media what books you plan to read for the challenge.
Happy reading!
All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
May 7, 2021
TCM Classic Film Festival: Nichols and May: Take Two (1996)
Premiering tomorrow on TCM as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival is Nichols and May: Take Two, director Phillip Schopper's documentary on the famous comedy duo. It previously aired on PBS back in 1996 but it has been unavailable for many years. This will be the first time TCM is airing it.
Elaine May and Mike Nichols were a powerhouse comedy team in the late 1950s and the late 1960s. In an era of conventionality, they broke through with their wit and humor about subjects that were considered taboo. They had a synchronicity that made them electric. Nichols and May took America by storm with their best-selling comedy albums and various television appearances. They were new, fresh voices on the comedy scene and influenced the work of many comedians that followed. Nichols and May: Take Two captures the magic and subsequent influence of this comedic duo with four archival comedy sequences and interviews with comedians Richard Lewis, Steve Martin and Robin Williams. Also interviewed in the film are Tom Brokaw, Jules Feiffer, Arthur Penn, as well as their manager. The skits are shown in full which allows audiences unfamiliar with Nichols and May to really get a sense of their special brand of comedy.
The documentary airs Saturday at 11;45 AM ET on TCM for their virtual TCM Classic Film Festival and includes an introduction by Mike Nichols' biographer Mark Harris.All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
May 6, 2021
TCM Classic Film Festival: Doctor X (1932)
This year's virtual TCM Classic Film Festival kicks off with some special presentations including the late night premiere of Doctor X (1932), recently restored by UCLA Film and Television Archive and The Film Foundation in association with Warner Bros. Entertainment. Doctor X was the first of three horror films, including Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and The Walking Dead (1936), that director Michael Curtiz made for Warner Bros.
The film stars Lionel Atwill as Doctor Xavier, one of several scientists who are being probed for their possible involvement in a string of murders. A killer is on the loose, searching for his victims during the full moon, brutally murdering them and mutilating their bodies afterwards. Doctor X theorizes that the murderer is triggered by a past trauma and that this will help them solve the mystery. Newspaper reporter Lee Taylor (Lee Tracy) is desperate to get the scoop and infiltrates the home of Doctor X to get insider information. There he meets the doctor's daughter Joanne (Fay Wray) who is protective of her father yet concerned about his involvement in the matter. Doctor X rounds up all the scientists including Wells (Preston Foster) Haines (John Wray), Duke, (Harry Beresford) and Rowitz (Arthur Edmund Carewe) for an unusual experiment to uncover the identity of the Moon Killer.
Doctor X is a wonderful mad scientist mystery with plenty spooks, a few laughs and some sex thrown in for good measure (it is a pre-code film after all). The film was shot in black-and-white by Richard Tower and in two-strip Technicolor by Ray Rennahan. The color version was considered lost for years until a print was recovered in Warner Bros.' executive Jack L. Warner's belongings after he died in 1978.
The restoration of Doctor X (1932) in its original two-strip Technicolor premieres tonight on TCM as part of their late-night line-up for the TCM Classic Film Festival. Film historian and Michael Curtiz biographer Alan K. Rode will be presenting the film. Rode will explain how Doctor X fits into Curtiz' filmography, the history of Warner Bros., its importance as an early horror film and a side-by-side comparison of the old and new print. The restored Technicolor version of the film looks incredible. This is a real treat and one you won't want to miss.
May 3, 2021
Warner Archive Mega Haul
When it was announced that the WBShop was closing down in its current form and that they would be having their last 4 for $44 sale for Warner Archive titles, I pounced. On March 12th I bought a whopping 32 discs. I used both the sale and a special 15th anniversary coupon code for an extra deal. Then on the last day of March, I bought 4 sets that weren't part of the original sale but I could still use the coupon code for. While we don't know what the future holds for Warner Archive, I did want to buy what I could before it was too late. Warner Archive titles are currently available at a variety of online stores including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Deep Discount, TCM Shop and more and they have new releases scheduled throughout this year. Shop while you can!
Now on to the haul.
Did you partake in the Warner Archive 4 for $44 sale? If so, what did you get?
March 31, 2021
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (16)
I'm way overdue for another new book round-up. Better late than never! Get ready for a wave of new classic film books!
Are you new to my list? Here are the details. The books include biographies, memoirs, scholarly texts, coffee table books and more from a variety of publishers. Publication dates range from January to July 2021 and these are subject to change.
Links go to Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Powell's. I receive a small commission if you shop through some (not all) of my buy links. With that said if you're going to buy from any of these links, make sure you click through to Larry Edmunds Bookshop and support that fantastic book store!
Just as I Am: A Memoir by Cicely TysonHarperCollins432 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds — Powell's
Film Noir Style The Killer 1940sby Kimberly TruhlerGoodKnight Books288 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble —Larry Edmunds — Powell's
Anita Page A Career Chronicle and Biographyby Allan R. Ellenberger and Robert Murdoch PatonMcFarland226 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
Hedy Lamarr A Life from Beginning to Endby Hourly History46 pages— January 2021Amazon
I Died a Million Times Gangster Noir in Midcentury Americaby Robert MiklitschUniversity of Illinois Press304 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Josephine Baker's Cinematic Prism by Terri Simone FrancisIndiana University Press216 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Karloff and the East by Scott Allen Nollen and Yuyun Yuningsih NollenMcFarland484 pages— January 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Quick Takes: The Movie Musical
by Desiree J. Garcia
Rutgers University Press
110 pages— January 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Silent Hollywood by Karl K. Kitchen and edited by Paul Duncan256 pages— January 2021Amazon — Powell's
The Film Book A Complete Guide to the World of Film (New Edition)by Ronald BerganDK360 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Hunting Marlon Brando A True Storyby Mike SagerThe Sager Group LLC 172 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Jumping the Color Line Vernacular Jazz Dance in American Film, 1929-1945by Susie TrenkaJohn Libbey Publishing256 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Love and Loss in Hollywood Florence Deshon, Max Eastman, and Charlie Chaplinedited by Cooper C. Graham and Christoph IrmscherIndiana University Press474 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Mike Nichols
A Life
by Mark Harris
Penguin Press
688 pages— February 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds — Powell's
Musicals Second EditionDK360 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
ShaneParamount's Classic Westernby Aubrey MaloneBearManor Media184 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
Sharp Cut Harold Pinter's Screenplays and the Artistic Processby Steven H. GaleUniversity Press of Kentucky538 pages— February 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
A Chronology of Film A Cultural Timeline from the Magic Lantern to Netflix by Ian Haydn Smith Thames and Hudson272 pages— March 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
My West Side Story by George Chakiris with Lindsay HarrisonLyons Press232 pages — March 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds — Powell's
Patricia Neal An Unquiet LifeNew Editionby Stephen Michael Shearer520 pages— March 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's

Ride the Pink Horse
Reprintby Dorothy B. Hughes
American Mystery Classics
288 pages— March 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Struggles For Recognition Melodrama and Visibility in Latin American Silent Filmby Juan Sebastian Ospina LeonUniversity of California Press252 pages— March 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Always Audrey Six Iconic Photographers, One Legendary Starby variousAcc Art Books288 pages— April 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Billy Wilder on Assignment Dispatches from Weimar Berlin and Interwar Viennaedited by Noah IsenbergPrinceton University Press224 pages— April 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Consider Your Ass Kissedby Ruta LeeBriton Publishing274 pages —April 2021Amazon
Douglas Sirk Filmmaker and Philosopherby Robert B. PippinBloomsbury Academic168 pages— April 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
The Mysteries of Cinema
Movies and Imagination
by Peter Conrad
Thames and Hudson
320 pages— April 2021
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward WhiteW.W. Norton and Company 336 pages —April 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Cars on Film A Celebration of Cars at the Moviesby Giles ChapmanThe History Press128 pages —April 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Eartha & Kitt A Daughter's Love Story in Black and Whiteby Kitt Shapiro with Patricia LevyPegasus Books288 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Elizabeth and Monty The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendshipby Charles CasilloKensington352 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Lost in the Dark A World History of Horror Filmby Brad WeismannUniversity Press of Mississippi256 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Norman Jewison A Director's Lifeby Ira WellsThe Sutherland House Inc.400 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Off-White Yellowface and Chinglish by Anglo-American Cultureby Sheng-mei MaBloomsbury Academic264 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
Rebecca by Patricia WhiteBFI Film Classics120 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Summer Movies 30 Sun-Drenched Classicsby John MalahyTCM and Running Press208 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
The Terminator by Sean FrenchNew EditionBFI Film Classics80 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Underexposed! The 50 Greatest Movies Never Madeby Josh HullAbrams256 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown by Peter William EvansNew EditionBFI Film Classics80 pages —May 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Charles Laughton A Filmography, 1928-1962by David A. RedfernMcFarland249 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Hollywood's Melodramatic Imagination Film Noir, the Western and Other Genresfrom the 1920s to the 1950sMcFarland275 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Martin Scorsese and the American Dream by Jim CullenRutgers University Press180 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Mean... Moody... Magnificent! Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legendby Christina RiceUniversity Press of Kentucky392 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds
Movie Workers The Women Who Made British Cinemaby Melanie BellUniversity of Illinois Press288 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
Projections of Passing Postwar Anxieties and Hollywood Films, 1947-1960by N. Megan KelleyUniversity Press of Mississippi288 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble
Quick Takes: Haunted Homes by Dahlia SchweitzerRutgers University Press188 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Sinatra and Me In the Wee Small Hoursby Tony Oppedisano and Mary Jane RossScribner320 pages —June 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Dark City The Lost World of Film NoirRevised and Expanded Editionby Eddie MullerTurner Classic Movies/Running Press272 pages —July 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Larry Edmunds (signed copy pre-order) — Powell's
Forever Lucy A Complete Illustrated Biography of America's Comedy QueenCentennial Books192 pages —July 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Michael Caine Photographed by Terry O'Neillby James ClarkeAcc Art Books224 pages —July 2021Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Powell's
Do any of these titles pique your interest? Let me know in the comment section.
Here are my previous round-ups:
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (1)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (2)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (3)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (4)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (5)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (6)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (7)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (8)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (9)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (10)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (11)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (12)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (13)
New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (14)New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (15)
All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
February 4, 2021
Sundance: The Most Beautiful Boy in the World (2021)
Director Luchino Visconti spent months traveling to Russia, Hungary, Poland, Finland and elsewhere in search of the most beautiful boy in the world. When he traveled to Stockholm, Sweden in February 1970, Visconti found him. Björn Andrésen had just turned 15 years old when his grandmother encouraged him to participate in Visconti's casting call. With his mop of blonde hair, blue eyes, feminine features and slender frame, he was the perfect choice to play Tadzio in Visconti's Death in Venice (1971). Tadzio is the son of a wealthy woman vacationing in Venice. He soon becomes the object of fascination (and more disturbingly desire) for Gustav von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde), a dying composer. The role of Tadzio required no dialogue. Andrésen just had to look good for the camera.
Death in Venice made Björn Andrésen a celebrity overnight. He became the poster boy for ideal beauty and everyone seemed to want him. The young Andrésen was terrified by the press and remembers that time as both a "living nightmare" and a "surreal dream." When you watch Andrésen in Death in Venice and in archival press footage you will clearly see a young boy who is uncomfortable with all this newfound attention. The sudden fame and admiration, which he felt he had done nothing to earn, took a toll on his self-esteem. Andrésen couldn't even capitalize on his fame in Europe as Visconti had complete control over the newcomer with a three year contract. However, Andrésen became particularly famous in Japan. When he visited that country he was treated like a rock star. He was lavished with attention, he modeled for photo shoots, was drawn into a manga series and even made a record. Andrésen has worked as an actor ever since, most recently appearing in the horror film Midsommar (2019). But events from his past, including his mom's mysterious death and the making of Death in Venice, still haunt him to this day.
Directed by Kristina Lindström, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World is fascinating look into the life of Björn Andrésen. It tells the story of Björn Andrésen both as a young boy objectified by a famous film director and a man haunted by past traumas. It's an intimate documentary. We hear from Andrésen himself with narrations, interviews and both old and new footage. It also features interviews with his sister, daughter, childhood friend and others close to him.I had known very little about both Death in Venice and Andrésen so I made sure to watch the film immediately after watching the documentary. Lindström's film is as exquisite as it is eye-opening. Highly recommended.
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World premiered at the virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival as part of their World Cinema Documentary Competition. It's distributed by Juno Films but there is no news yet about a theatrical or virtual release to the public. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Death in Venice (1971). The film is available on Blu-ray and DVD from the Criterion Collection and can be rented on DVD.com and iTunes.
All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
January 31, 2021
Sundance: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It
"She's an original and can't being that every minute of her life." — Norman Lear
Actress, singer, dancer, speaker, activist. Rita Moreno can do it all. Not only is she a natural performer but she lives for the spotlight. For someone who has such energy and passion for what she does, it's natural that her career as an entertainer has lasted as long as it has. Moreno battled sexual harassment, racism and toxic relationships and continued to thrive, broadening her horizons to work in every aspect of the entertainment industry. In doing so it is fitting that Moreno would become the first Latinx performer to earn the label of EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). In paving her own way she helped forge a path for Latinx performers to come.
Directed by Mariem Pérez Riera, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It is a celebratory documentary that offers a polished look at Moreno's life and career. Talking heads include George Chakiris, Norman Lear, Justina Machado, Lin Manuel Miranda, Hector Elizondo, Mitzi Gaynor, Morgan Freeman, Eva Longoria, Gloria Estefan, Terrence McNally, Moreno's daughter, manager, among others. There are also interviews with scholars who offer perspectives of how Moreno's story fits into the history of Latinx performers. Front and center is Rita Moreno herself who shares her trials and tribulations as a Puerto Rican woman coming up in an industry that didn't quite know what to do with her. We learn about what she calls her "dusky maiden roles", her incredible rise to fame, her work in Singin in the Rain (1954) and West Side Story (1960), her torrid romantic relationship with Marlon Brando, her activism and her constant evolution as an artist. Along with interviews there are paper doll animations, scenes from her 86th birthday part and plenty of archival footage. The documentary paints a portrait of a woman who loves life and bursts with joy but also suffers from self-loathing. As a biographical documentary it's quite ordinary. It does allow its subject to shine which many will appreciate. Perhaps the most eye-opening moments for me were when Moreno divulged about her experience with sexual harassment and how that mirrored her role in West Side Story and her troubled marriage.
Highly recommended for fans of Rita Moreno and for Latinx viewers who want to learn more about one of our most important entertainment icons.
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It premiered at the virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival as part of their US Documentary competition.
There is no trailer for the documentary so here is an introduction by the director.
All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018
December 21, 2020
Podcast: Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary's
Here's a holiday treat! Listen to the latest episode of The Movie Palace Podcast where host Carl Sweeney and I discuss two classics: Going My Way (1944) and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945).
Happy holidays!
Listen to "Going My Way/The Bells of St. Mary's" on Spreaker.All content is property of Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog. Copyright © 2007-2018


