** Recently there was a discussion about movies people defend that are disliked
by others.
** Well, the other day I was arguing with my brother about actresses who aren't
traditionally thought of as being sexy. He completely trashed Bette Davis's
"hot factor." I argued that before Davis got serious roles, she was cast in a
lot of pictures highlighting her oomph factor, the stand out for me being
1937's "Marked Woman," which also features Humphrey Bogart; Bette is slinky in
that movie, bouncing around in tight outfits and negligees and still speaking
with her signature mile-a-minute voice. That film is worth renting on DVD not
because of the story, but because Bette is stunning-looking throughout. I even
chased the best scene card to that film at Heritage today but it went for more
than $1300 with 19.5% premium included, way out of my budget.
** As far as Stanwyck "hot factor," he "sort of" agreed with me, esp. her trim
figure in films like Ball of Fire and Lady of Burlesque and Double Indemnity --
but he said mean things about her face. I told him he was dead wrong about her
face -- because there are tabloid and publicity photos of Barbara without the
pancake make-up you see in most of her movies -- that were taken during the 30s
and 40s which prove she was cute.
** I submit for your review and enjoyment, both the image of Bette on that
"Marked Woman" lobby card -- PLUS a sexy picture of Barbara Stanwyck taken from
a 1943 "all swimsuit" issue I recently shipped to Bruce for consignment (Motion
Picture, July 1943). That magazine, which is bound to turn up soon in one of
Bruce's Sunday auctions, has Rita Hayworth wearing a two-piece on the cover --
but is wall-to-wall jammed with swimsuit babes, some in color, including Betty
Grable in her world famous pin-up shot, Lana Turner, Esther Williams, Linda
Darnell, Lucille Ball and others. It was an obvious war-time issue aimed
boosting morale for GIs overseas. I think Stanwyck looks adorable, almost the
opposite of the tough femme fatale image she projected on-screen. - d.
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