Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell[1] (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011) was an American actress, model, and singer. She was one of Hollywood's leadingsex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s and starred in more than 20 films.
Russell was known for her beauty, silhouette, and a great presence that combined charisma and seriousness. She moved from theMidwest toCalifornia, where she had her first film role inHoward Hughes'The Outlaw (1943). In 1947, Russell delved into music before returning to films. After starring in several films in the 1950s, includingGentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) andThe Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957), Russell again returned to music while completing several other films in the 1960s.
Russell married three times, adopted three children, and in 1955 founded Waif, the first international adoption program. She received several accolades for her achievements in film. Her hand and footprints were immortalized in the forecourt ofGrauman's Chinese Theatre along withMarilyn Monroe's.[2] A star with her name was placed on theHollywood Walk of Fame.
Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell[1] was born on June 21, 1921, inBemidji, Minnesota.[3][4] She had four brothers: Thomas, Kenneth, Jamie, and Wallace.[5]
Her father had been a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and her mother an actress with a road troupe;[6] her mother was also the subject of a portrait byMary Bradish Titcomb,Portrait of Geraldine J., which received public attention when purchased byWoodrow Wilson.[7] Russell's parents lived inEdmonton, Alberta, until shortly before her birth and returned there nine days later, where they lived for the first year or two of her life.[8] The family then moved toSouthern California where her father worked as an office manager.[3]
Russell's mother arranged for her to take piano lessons. Jane was also interested in drama, and participated in stage productions atVan Nuys High School.[9] Her early ambition was to be a designer of some kind, until the death of her father in his mid-40s, when she decided to work as a receptionist after high school graduation. She alsomodeled for photographers, and, at the urging of her mother, studied drama and acting withMax Reinhardt's Theatrical Workshop, and actress and acting coachMaria Ouspenskaya.[3]
Publicity still of Russell inThe Outlaw byGeorge Hurrell
In 1940, Russell was signed to a seven-year contract by film mogulHoward Hughes,[10] and made her motion-picture debut inThe Outlaw (1943), a story aboutBilly the Kid that went to great lengths to showcase her figure.
The movie was completed in 1941, but it was not released until 1943 in a limited release. Problems occurred with thecensorship of theproduction code over the way hercleavage was displayed in promotion of the film.[citation needed]
When the movie was finally approved, it had a general release in 1946. During that time, Russell was kept busy doing publicity and became known nationally. Contrary to countless incorrect reports in the media since the release ofThe Outlaw, Russell did not wear the specially designedunderwire bra that Howard Hughes had designed and made for her to wear during filming.[6] According to Jane's 1985 autobiography, she said that the bra was so uncomfortable that she secretly discarded it and wore her own bra with the cups padded with tissue and the straps pulled up to elevate her breasts.[11][12]
Russell's measurements were 38-24-36, and she stood 5 ft 7 in (97-61-91 cm and 1.7 m), making her more statuesque than most of her contemporaries. Her favorite co-starBob Hope once introduced her as "the two and only Jane Russell". He joked, "Culture is the ability to describe Jane Russell without moving your hands."[13] Howard Hughes said, "There are two good reasons why men go to see her. Those are enough."[13]
She was a popularpin-up photo withservicemen duringWorld War II. Speaking about her sex appeal, Russell later said, "Sex appeal is good – but not in bad taste. Then it's ugly. I don't think a star has any business posing in a vulgar way. I've seen plenty of pin-up pictures that have sex appeal, interest, and allure, but they're not vulgar. They have a little art to them.Marilyn's calendar was artistic."[14][15]
She did not appear in another movie until 1946, when she played Joan Kenwood inYoung Widow forHunt Stromberg, who released it throughUnited Artists. The film went over budget by $600,000 and was a box office failure.[16]
In 1947, Russell launched a musical career. She sang with theKay Kyser Orchestra on radio, and recorded two singles with his band, "As Long As I Live" and "Boin-n-n-ng!" She also cut a 78 rpm album that year forColumbia Records,Let's Put Out the Lights, which included eighttorch ballads and cover art that included a diaphanous gown.[citation needed]
In a 2009 interview for the liner notes to another CD,Fine and Dandy, Russell denounced the Columbia album as "horrible and boring to listen to". It was reissued onCD in 2002, in a package that also included the Kyser singles and two songs she recorded for Columbia in 1949 that had gone unreleased at the time. In 1950, she recorded a single, "Kisses and Tears", withFrank Sinatra andThe Modernaires for Columbia.[citation needed]
Russell's career revived when she was cast asCalamity Jane oppositeBob Hope inThe Paleface (1948) on loan out toParamount. The film was a sizeable box office hit, earning $4.5 million and becoming Paramount's most successful release of the year.[17]
Russell shotMontana Belle for Fidelity Pictures in 1948, playingBelle Starr. The film was intended to be released by Republic Pictures, but the producer sold the film to RKO, who released it in 1952.[citation needed]
Howard Hughes boughtRKO Pictures, and would be Russell's main employer for the next few years.
At that studio, Russell co-starred withGroucho Marx andFrank Sinatra in a musical comedy,Double Dynamite, shot in 1948 and released in 1951. It was a critical and commercial failure.
Russell did two more film noirs:The Las Vegas Story (1952) with Price andVictor Mature, andMacao (1952) with Mitchum.His Kind of Woman andMacao were minor hits but both involved so much re-shooting because of the interference of Hughes that they lost money.[18]
Photo ofMarilyn Monroe and Russell from the front cover of theNew York Sunday News magazine. The photo was taken during the filming ofGentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Back at RKO, she was in Howard Hughes's productionThe French Line (1954), a musical.[6] The movie's penultimate moment showed Russell in a form-fitting one-piece bathing suit with strategic cutouts, performing a then-provocative musical number titled "Lookin' for Trouble". In her autobiography, Russell said that the revealing outfit was an alternative to Hughes' original suggestion of abikini, a very racy choice for a movie costume in 1954. Russell said that she initially wore the bikini in front of her "horrified" movie crew while "feeling very naked". The movie earned $3 million.[21]
Hughes also producedUnderwater! (1955), an adventure film with Russell and Richard Egan at RKO. It made $2 million but because of its large cost was a financial flop.[22] Her contract with Hughes ended in February 1954.
In 1953, Russell and her first husband, formerLos Angeles RamsquarterbackBob Waterfield, formed Russ-Field Productions.[23] In March 1954, they signed a six-picture deal withUnited Artists to last over three years; Russell only had to appear in three of the films.[24][25]
Russ-Field loaned out Russell's services for appearing as Amanda Lawrence inFoxfire (1955) at Universal, opposite Jeff Chandler. Russell was paid $200,000 for her role and had the right to draw on Chandler's services for a film later on for her own production company. The film was a moderate success, earning $2 million.[26] That same year, Russell co-starred withClark Gable inThe Tall Men at 20th Century Fox, one of the most popular films of the year, with earnings of $6 million.[27]
Russ-Field producedGentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), a sequel toBlondes in which Russell starred alongsideJeanne Crain, for release through United Artists. It was not as successful as the original.[28]
On the musical front, Russell formed agospel quartet in 1954, with three other members of a faith-sharing group called the Hollywood Christian Group. The other original members wereConnie Hines,Beryl Davis andDella Russell. Hines was a former vocalist in theHarry James andTommy Dorsey orchestras, while Davis was aBritish emigrant who had moved to the United States after success entertaining American troops stationed in England duringWorld War II. Della Russell was the wife of croonerAndy Russell. Backed by an orchestra conducted byLyn Murray, their choral single "Do Lord" reached number 27 on theBillboard singles chart in May 1954, selling two million copies. Della Russell, no relation to Jane, soon left the group, but Jane, Haines and Davis followed up with a trioLP forCapitol Records,The Magic of Believing.[36] Later, another Hollywood bombshell,Rhonda Fleming, joined them for more gospel recordings. The Capitol LP was issued on CD in 2008, in a package that also included the choral singles by the original quartet and two tracks with Fleming replacing Della Russell. A collection of some of Russell's gospel andsecular recordings was issued on CD in Britain in 2005, and it includes more secular recordings, including Russell's spoken-word performances ofHollywood Riding Hood andHollywood Cinderella backed by a jazz group that featuredTerry Gibbs andTony Scott.[37]
In October 1957, she debuted in a successful solo nightclub act at theSands Hotel inLas Vegas. She also fulfilled later engagements in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. A self-titled solo LP was issued on MGM Records in 1959. It was reissued on CD in 2009 under the titleFine and Dandy, and the CD included some demo and soundtrack recordings, as well. "I finally got to make a record the way I wanted to make it," she said of the MGM album in the liner notes to the CD reissue. In 1959, she debuted with a tour ofJanus inNew England, performed inSkylark and also starred inBells Are Ringing at the Westchester Town House inYonkers, New York.[38][39]
Russell was referenced in a 1956 episode ofThe Honeymooners. Ralph Kramden (played byJackie Gleason) arrives home "dead" tired, vowing to go straight to bed after dinner, quipping, "You couldn't get me out of this house tonight if you told me that Jane Russell was runnin’ a party upstairs and she couldn't get started until I arrived!" Later, Kramden becomes aware that his best friend and neighbor, Ed Norton, is in fact throwing a party upstairs and did not invite him. After being reminded by his wife, Alice, of his reluctance to attend even a party that Jane Russell was throwing, an insulted Kramden rants, "I was talking about Jane Russell: I said nothing about any party that Norton's running!"
On the sitcomMaude (the episode "The Wallet"), Walter Findlay (played byBill Macy) carries a lipstick impression and autograph of Jane Russell on a cocktail napkin in his wallet as a good luck charm.
Her last on-screen appearance was in a 1986 episode ofHunter.[41]
Russell made her first movie appearance in a number of years inFate Is the Hunter (1964), in which she was seen as herself performing for theUSO in a flashback sequence. She was second-billed in twoA.C. Lyles Westerns,Johnny Reno (1966) andWaco (1966), and starred inCauliflower Cupids, filmed in 1966 but not released until 1970. Russell had a character role inThe Born Losers (1967) andDarker Than Amber (1970).[6] After this, she retired from acting in movies, saying she was getting too old.[42]
In 1971, Russell starred in the musical dramaCompany, making her debut onBroadway in the role of Joanne, succeedingElaine Stritch.[43] Russell performed the role of Joanne for almost six months.[44]
Also in the 1970s, Russell appeared in television commercials as a spokesperson forPlaytex's"'Cross-Your-Heart Bras' for us full-figured gals", featuring the "18-Hour Bra".[6][27]
Russell had a semi-recurring guest role in the soap operaThe Yellow Rose (1983) on television and guest-starred onHunter (1986). She wrote her autobiography,Jane Russell: My Path and My Detours, which was published in 1985.[45]
After Russell became pregnant with her high-school sweetheartBob Waterfield's baby, she underwent a botchedabortion in 1942 that left her unable to bear children.[51][45] The abortion went so wrong that Russell had to be hospitalized and nearly died.[52] After this experience, Russell described herself as "vigorouslypro-life".[53][42] She also spoke out against abortion in case ofrape orincest.[42]
Russell and Waterfield in 1952
Russell married Waterfield inLas Vegas on April 24, 1943.[54][55] He was aUCLAAll-American, quarterback for theCleveland Rams/Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Rams head coach, and member of thePro Football Hall of Fame. In February 1952, Russell and Waterfield adopted a baby girl, whom they named Tracy. In December 1952, they adopted a fifteen-month-old boy, Thomas, whose birth mother, Hannah McDermott, had moved to London to escape poverty in Northern Ireland, and, in 1956, they adopted a nine-month-old boy, Robert John. In 1955, Russell founded Waif, an organization to place children with adoptive families, and which pioneered adoptions from foreign countries by Americans.[56] In February 1968, Russell filed for divorce from Waterfield, charging him with "cruelty and physical abuse".[55] The divorce was finalized in July 1968, with Russell gaining full custody of her two eldest children and Waterfield gaining full custody of their youngest child. Both were granted visitation rights.[57]
On August 25, 1968, one month after her divorce from Waterfield, Russell married actor Roger Wyatt Barrett, whom she had met at astock company production.[58] Barrett died of a heart attack only three months later in November 1968, after returning from a long honeymoon in England.[42]
In the filmPhilomena (2013), Russell's photograph appears on a wall; a character states that Russell bought a child for £1,000 from the taintedSean Ross Abbey in Ireland featured in this true-life film; but this claim is countered in at least one recent British report, which states that in the mid-1950s, Russell and her husband "rather informally adopted a son from a woman living in London, but originating in Derry, Northern Ireland. There was a major scandal and a court case, after which Russell was allowed to formalise the adoption."[61]
Russell in February 2008
Russell was a devout Christian.[42] At the height of her career, Russell started the "Hollywood Christian Group", a weeklyBible study at her home which was attended by many of the leading names in the film industry.[62] Russell tried to invite Marilyn Monroe to join, but she declined.[52] Monroe once said, "Jane tried to convert me [to Christianity], and I tried to introduce her toFreud." In an interview, Russell later said "I certainly wasn't trying to convert her to religion because I don't like religion", noting that she didn't consider Christianity "a religion".[63] Russell appeared occasionally on thePraise the Lord television program on theTrinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television channel based inTustin, California.[64][65][66]
Russell resided in theSanta Maria Valley along theCentral Coast of California. She died at her home in Santa Maria[60] of a respiratory-related illness on February 28, 2011.[68][56][69] Her funeral was held on March 12, 2011, at Pacific Christian Church, Santa Maria.[60][70] Russell was survived by her three children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.[71]
^'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1954',Variety Weekly, January 5, 1955
^Glenn Lovell ,Escape Artist: The Life and Films of John Sturges, University of Wisconsin Press, 2008 p117-124
^Hopper, Hedda (December 17, 1953). "Looking at Hollywood: Jane Russell, Bob Waterfield Form Own Picture Company".Chicago Daily Tribune. p. C10.
^Hopper, Hedda (March 8, 1954). "Jane Russell and Mate Plan Six New Films".Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
^Pryor, Thomas M. (March 8, 1954). "New Movie Group Signs with United: Independent Unit Formed by Jane Russell and Husband to Produce Six Films".The New York Times. p. 22.
^" A Town Called Hollywood: Top Stars Now Share in Profits of Major Pictures". Scheuer, Philip K.,Los Angeles Times 24 July 1955: d2.
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