From Picture Show Annual 1951
comes delectable Jane Russell, one of
my top babes of all time. It's been said that
gentlemen prefer blondes, but surely not
when jaw-dropping Jane's around.
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
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One of Jane's best cinematic moments occurs when she plays Calamity Jane in THE PALEFACE. Pursued by a couple of owlhoot assassins, she ducks into a women's bath. The killers follow, causing other women to flee screaming. The killers see Jane's dress on a stall and they shoot into it. Jane, clad in her undergarments, springs out from somewhere and guns down the gunmen. Seen that one?
ReplyDeleteSeen it and the follow-up (Son Of Paleface) several times, GP, and have both of them on DVD. Have you seen Bob in The Ghost Breakers? If not, you really must watch it.
DeleteHah, your post moved me to reread my review of THE OUTLAW, and you mentioned your having seen the two PALEFACE films in the comments. I was trying to think which films would go on a "most exceptional" list of Russell films, and I'd definitely include all three of those westerns, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, and that crime film HIS KIND OF WOMAN. I'm beginning to think "most exceptional" is a better metric than "best" because people like movies and other things for all sorts of reasons, not just technical excellence.
ReplyDeleteGHOST BREAKERS is probably one of Hope's top five. I think the only one I didn't see at least once is some strange thing he did with Katharine Hepburn, which sounds like a real dog.
If memory serves, I think the Hope/Hepburn movie was called The Iron Petticoat, GP. It's been decades since I saw it, so can't remember whether I enjoyed it or not. As for Jane, one of those days I must track down Montana Belle as I don't think I've seen that one.
Deletei saw MONTANA BELLE years ago and remember liking it. Sooner or later I imagine everything will show up on some streaming service.
ReplyDeleteMore than likely, GP. It's always possible I saw it years ago as a kid or teen and don't remember, but it's something to look forward to for the future.
DeleteI didn't find MONTANA BELLE anywhere but I also looked up IRON PETTICOAT and found a free copy. "It's only 90 minutes, how bad could it be?" Put it this way, I thought the director was some guy who'd never done a comedy; easily one of the most unfunny films I've ever seen. Turns out the guy directed or wrote a bunch of the UK "Doctor" series, which are at least serviceable joke-fests. The guy Ralph Thomas also directed the two Bulldog Drummond films of the sixties, and the first one is good fun even if the second is a bore. From what I've read, he was forced to go along with what Hope's writers put into the script. Original screenwriter Ben Hecht took out an ad in Variety to complain about Hope having trashed his script.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I recall about it was thinking at the time that Hepburn and Hope were an odd mix, but I'd have to see it again before I could give a verdict on it. I have the impression it wasn't originally written as a comedy and was intended as more of a romance movie, but at least it managed to make a modest profit at the end of the day.
DeleteWhat's that on the front of her dress? Did someone throw a custard pie at her?
ReplyDeleteShe put that custard pie there herself, CJ, then commanded me to lick it off her, the saucy minx.
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