Jane Russell

His Kind of Woman

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Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell look at each other

Witty, pretty, slick and desperately all over the place, His Kind of Woman throws Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum together for an adventure down Mexico way. Starting out as noir, it goes into a strange, almost existential holding pattern for its curiously satisfying central section before eventually deciding on a comedy finish, helped along by Vincent Price’s amiable buffoonery. Mitchum plays Dan Milner, a teetotal (clearly an industry joke) gambler on his uppers who’s persuaded by some heavies to go to Mexico and await further orders. In exchange Milner will have his debts wiped out and get a nice payout on top. What Milner doesn’t know is that he’s been chosen for the … Read more

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

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Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

A movie for every day of the year – a good one 26 April Anita Loos born, 1889 On this day in 1889, or possibly 1888, Corinne Anita Loos was born. Always cagey about her true age, Anita became best known for her comic novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She grew up in a theatrical family – her father managed a theatrical stock company – and she was performing on stage as a young girl. Her father wrote one-act plays for the company and a precocious Anita started turning them out too. Having seen an early silent film in 1911 she decided to turn her hand to a screenplay for one-reelers. Over the next … Read more