Classic Taint: Jane Russell
By: Sweepea
She was born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in 1921. She did some modeling work and was actively sought after because of her figure, but ultimately signed with Howard Hughes for his production of The Outlaw in 1943, the film that was to make her famous. Hughes even invented a bra to help hold her physical endowments for the movie but Russell insists in her biography that she ended up not wearing a bra in the film. The film wasn't a great western by any means, but was a success at the box office. But Jane's ample physical assets were enough to get moviegoers. The film caused quite a stir for the censorship board, but they finally allowed its release. Quite tame by today's standards, The Outlaw is being planned for re-release in 2007 as a second colorized version, produced by Legend Films.
Russell personified the "sweater girl" look of the day. This began a stream of jokes from comedians, including Bob Hope who once introducing her as "the two and only Jane Russell." And the photo of her sulking sexily on a haystack was a popular pin-up with service men during World War II.
Jane didn't make another film until 1946 when she starred in Young Widow in 1946. She had signed a seven-year contract with Hughes and it seemed the only films he would put her in were those that displayed her body. Her films did nothing to showcase her true acting abilities. Probably the pinnacle of her career was in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953 with Marilyn Monroe, a film that showed Jane's comedic side. She continued to make films throughout the 1950s, but the films were at times not up to par, particularly with Jane's talents being wasted in forgettable movies in order to show off her sexy side.
She continued to dabble in movies and television throughout the 60s and 70s, but had Jane not been wasted during the Hughes years, she could have been a greater actress than what she was permitted. She is still alive today.
