I'll have whatever Judy's having...
Monday again - and it's Midsummer's Day, to boot! Not that we've had much of a summer for it to be the "Mid" of, mind you. Typical Britain - a week of blazing sunshine followed by a storm. But I digress...
We have not one, but two centenaries to to celebrate today, dear reader!
Miss Judy Holliday was something of a "contradiction in terms" - she made her name portraying molls and ditzy blondes, yet had an IQ of 172. On screen, she was the "arm candy"; in real life she fought against the system (and fought off Daryl F. Zanuck's advances), to her detriment when she was blacklisted for alleged "communism". Notorious as the actress whose Oscar win in 1951 beat off competition from both Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard and Bette Davis in All About Eve, had she not died tragically young (at 42) of cancer, who knows what more success she might have had?
This being a Tacky Music Monday, of course, here's a double-bill of the lady's song-and-dance and comedic talents:
Sharing the occasion is a far more familiar diva, Miss Jane Russell! As famous for captivating Howard Hughes with her impressive décolletage as she was for her numerous, usually humorous and sassy roles in films such as Bob Hope's The Paleface or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, she inevitably ended up a gay icon, landing camp roles in Westerns and TV soaps, and even taking over from Elaine Stritch as "Joanne" in Sondheim's Company on Broadway.
Of course, throughout her career she always was admired as a singer and dancer as well, so let's have another double-bill featuring the great lady herself [NB I have, of course, featured her many times before - see here and here for more]...
Class.
Have a good week, folks.
All that and Diana Ross is on the comeback trail.
ReplyDeleteShe'll never keep up with Cher on that front. Jx
DeleteI've always liked Judy Holliday. A broad with brains.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. A sad loss. Jx
DeleteJudy was glorious, but if cancer hadn't snatched her, I feel she probably would've ended up on a sitcom. Maybe something like Green Acres?
DeleteShe would have been a contender for Golden Girls, surely? Jx
DeleteGood point.
DeleteThe only way to handle Monday is with a bit of Razzamatazz! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteSx
Always my rule Ms Scarlet! Always. Jx
DeleteA fun way to start the week indeed. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Jx
DeleteAh, Judy. Bells Are Ringing had a couple of great numbers. She was always fun to watch. A type. For sure. And Jane! Gave old Howard Hughes the blues. And all those wonderful Playtex bra commercials... adored! Thanks for providing such a sweet 'double-bill'. And for including Ms. Holiday, as well. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteBoth ladies were wonderful... Jx
DeleteOf all her stellar performances, I think my favourite of Holliday's is "Born Yesterday."
ReplyDeleteAnd Jane phwor Russell....
Born Yesterday is the film that won her the Oscar. Jane was never even nominated, not even for the Lifetime Achievement one... Jx
DeleteThere was a re-make a few years ago.Not bad, but not Judy.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Griffith, John Goodman and Don Johnson do not a great movie classic make, in my opinion. Jx
DeleteStill can't watch the last video and not think - French and Saunders
ReplyDeleteThat's the case with soooo many films - I can't see Cyd Charisse without thinking of Dawn French, and then there's Silence of the Lambs, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, The Exorcist and, of course, anything by Fellini. They've replaced them all in the collective memory... Jx
DeleteSame here!!
DeleteSx