“Mean…Moody…Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the
Marketing of a Hollywood Legend”
We have Four Books to Giveaway this Month!
CMH is happy to announce our next Classic Movie Book Giveaway as part of our partnership with University Press of Kentucky! This time, we’ll be giving away FOUR COPIES of “Mean…Moody…Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend” in celebration of the book’s release on June 15th!
And — stay tuned right here on the CMH blog, because in a few days we’ll be announcing our next Screen Classics Discussion Video Series Event with University Press of Kentucky and co-host Aurora from Once Upon a Screen, in which author Christina Rice will be discussing the book! This time it will be a live Facebook Chat, so you’ll be able to comment and ask questions!
In the meantime, please don’t forget to check out our first video of the Series, in which author Alan Rode chats with Victoria Riskin and William Wellman Jr. about growing up in Hollywood. We’ve embedded it down below for you as well.
…..
…..
In order to qualify to win this book via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, June 5 at 6PM EST. Winners will be chosen via random drawings.
We will announce our four lucky winners on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub on Sunday, June 6, around 9PM EST. And, please note that you don’t have to have a Twitter account to enter; just see below for the details.
To recap, there will be FOUR WINNERS, chosen by random, all to be announced on June 6.
…..
And now on to the contest!
ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 6PM EST
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message*:
Just entered to win the “Mean…Moody…Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend” #BookGiveaway courtesy of @KentuckyPress & @ClassicMovieHub – #EnterToWin here: http://www.classicmoviehub.com/blog/mean-moody-magnificent-jane-russell-and-the-marketing-of-a-hollywood-legend-book-giveaway-may/
THE QUESTION:
What is your favorite Jane Russell film and why? And, if you’re unfamiliar with her work, why do you want to win this book?
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.
ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…
…..
If you missed the premiere of our Screen Classics Discussion video event, you can catch it here on YouTube:
…..
About the Book: By the early 1950s, Jane Russell (1921–2011) should have been forgotten. Her career was launched on what is arguably the most notorious advertising campaign in cinema history, which invited filmgoers to see Howard Hughes’s The Outlaw (1943) and to “tussle with Russell.” Throughout the 1940s, she was nicknamed the “motionless picture actress” and had only three films in theaters. With such a slow, inauspicious start, most aspiring actresses would have given up or faded away. Instead, Russell carved out a place for herself in Hollywood and became a memorable and enduring star. Christina Rice offers the first biography of the actress and activist perhaps most well-known for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). She worked with some of Hollywood’s most talented directors―including Howard Hawks, Raoul Walsh, Nicholas Ray, and Josef von Sternberg―and held her own alongside costars such as Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, Clark Gable, Vincent Price, and Bob Hope. She also learned how to fight back against Howard Hughes, her boss for more than thirty-five years, and his marketing campaigns that exploited her physical appearance. This stunning first biography offers a fresh perspective on a star whose legacy endures not simply because she forged a notable film career, but also because she effectively used her celebrity to benefit others.
Click here for the full contest rules.
Please note that only United States (excluding the territory of Puerto Rico) and Canada entrants are eligible.
Good Luck!
And if you can’t wait to win the book, you can purchase them on amazon by clicking below:
…..
–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
,
My favorite Jane Russell film is Young Widow, released in 1946 and her first film to receive wide distribution. My reason is personal: her leading man, Louis Hayward, was my friend and associate for just a bit more than twenty years. Thank you.
I do not have a Twitter account so I am posting here to enter but cannot Tweet the message.
It would have to be Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
I think she is fantastic in the film. I honestly am unsure if I’ve seen any of her other films!
Recommendations?
Hope I win the book!
I’m not overly familiar with Jane Russell’s work but I did enjoy her performance alongside Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I should probably see a few more of her films, heaven knows I’ve got the time. Thanks for the chance to win this cool book.
I love Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blonds. She’s the perfect foil to Marilyn Monroes character. Her scene in the gym is just delicious. I want to learn more about her so I’d like to win this book
I love lots of Jane Russell films…my two favorite are The Las Vegas Story (love the era and her of course and Victor Mature!) Also have great love for Macao-cast is amazing!!!
It should also be noted that if Bosley Crowther doesn’t like a film then it must be good!
I’d love to read about Miss Russell-a beautiful and intriguing actor!
I love her in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes but I’m not very familiar with her other films. I would love to learn more about her!
The paleface, her and mr bob hope are very funny together in the western comedy
Jane Russell was at her best in THE PALEFACE (and for that matter, SON OF PALEFACE). She played so well opposite Bob Hope with her mean girl ways! She would also share Bob with Roy Rogers in SON. She was such a great talent!!
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I’ve watched HIS KIND OF WOMAN multiple times and never tire of Jane Russell and Robert Mitchum’s romantic tussling, and Vincent Price’s scenery chewing.
From all the pictures with Jane Russell, I always favourited two: “His Kind of Woman” and “The Las Vegas Story”. The energy with both, Robert Mitchum and Victor Mature was nothing short of amazing.. To the point that it would make you question whether they were acting, or was it real..
From the two, if I had to choose, it would be “His Kind of Woman”. As for why? It was only her 4th film, probably the first with a big role and she played wonderfully. Mitchum and Price turned out to be great companions to Russell who seemed like she could swim with the big fish from the very start. She always looked so fearless and dauntless, which made her a pleasure to watch, especially with an equally fearless co-star like Mitchum..
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is my favorite Jane Russell film due to it being the first film I saw her in. It is a fun film and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen it. Jane was so captivating in it and it made me want to look up more of her films to watch.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
His Kind of Woman, with her lifelong friend Robert Mitchum, is my favorite Jane Russell because the relaxed nature of her performance captured her at her best! Stunningly beautiful as always, the performance proved that even with Howard Hughes ridiculous interference, a good film good result
Favorite Jane Russell films: Definitely Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but any of them where she gets to sing, such as His Kind of Woman or Las Vegas Story. I got to meet Jane once and found her to be very friendly and down-to-earth, but it struck me that she was much shorter than she looked on screen.
I haven’t seen too many of Jane’s movies, but I watched “The paleface” recently and loved it.
Craig
Don’t have a fave, frankly.. as a younger TV kid, I first came to know of her via her ad campaign for Playtex(!). Much later, I learned about the Hughes brouhaha and her films, but I’ve never really sat and screened ’em. Her triumph over the Hughes hype, and beyond, is the reason I’d enjoy this bio.
It’s boring but my favorite Jane Russell movie is Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which is IMO one of Howard Hawks’ best pictures. While it is better remembered as a Marilyn Monroe picture, Russell is also hugely dynamic in the picture and accounts for so much of its satirical, sly, subversive humor under its fizzy, breezy facade. I love “Is there anyone here for love” as Russell really gets to exude raw hypersexuality the way she totally dominates the Olympian swimmers. Her “impersonation” of Lorelei Lee is a great scene as it demonstrates that each woman has their own distinct personality.
https://twitter.com/TawfikZone/status/1393675072200716293
I’ll go with the fun Gentleman Prefer Blondes. I enjoy musicals, and it’s a fun one. Great cast and musical numbers. Also, I’ve seen “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” performed at a number of dance competitions, thanks to my dancing daughters.
I finally saw The Paleface during the pandemic, and Russell was excellent in that, too.
My favourite Jane Russell movie is one I discovered recently: The Las Vegas Story.
Her chemistry with Victor Mature is great, and she really fits in with the noir-esque atmosphere.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
The Paleface and Son of Paleface. She was the perfect straight woman to Bob Hope. I could watch these movies over and over (and I have).
The revolt of mamie stover. I just like the movie, Jane looks fantastic, I have the first edition of the book, and the original lobby cards to the movie.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953). I think Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe are both great in this film.
Pingback: Screen Classics Discussion Video Series: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend with Author Christina Rice | Classic Movie Hub Blog
I am unfamiliar with her work, but I would love to win a copy because:
1. Read Rice’s Ann Dvorak book and it was so insightful and taught me new things about Miss Dvorak. It also gave me a better understanding of who she was as a person.
2. I would like to know who Jane Russell was, as well as be inspired to start watching her films… Which I should already be doing. Rice is a great author and I expect it to be a worthwhile read.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Gentlemen prefer Blondes, she was so funny in that movie. Her and Marilyn looked like that had so much fun making that movie. I wish she had done more comedies in her career. She was also was funny in Paleface.
My favorite Jane Russell film would be GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, she has the most subliminally sexual song around the swimming pool with the scantily clad men. How did that get past the MPPDA? I also like MACAO and HIS KIND OF WOMAN and her great chemistry with Robert Mitchum.
My favorite Jane Russell film is YOUNG WIDOW. For one thing it does not capitalize on her sex appeal, it presents her as a woman who is grieving for her husband who was killed in the war. Into her life comes an over-aggressive lieutenant played by Louis Hayward in what was one of his better post-war films. Russell didn’t think much of the film from what I’ve read but I consider it her sleeper.
It has to be Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She’s funny, smart, and beautiful. Great chemistry with Marilyn. Love the costumes and musical numbers. Been a favourite since I was a kid 🙂
Son of Paleface. One of Frank Tashlin’s funniest and Russell (along with Hope) is great in it.