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Jane Russell
1921-
Updated 3/21/2008 with more films available on DVD. Don't forget to see the Jane Russell Gallery.
biography
Born in Minnesota in June 1921, Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was the daughter of an Army lieutenant and a former actress. In the early 1930s, Russell's family moved to California. After Russell's father passed away in 1937, in order to help support the family she took a job as a receptionist. By 1940, Russell began to take acting classes, where she was discovered by producer Howard Hughes, who signed her to a seven-year contract. Her first film for Hughes was The Outlaw, which was filmed in 1941. The controversy surrounding the picture helped delay its release and, as a consequence, Russell's acting career. Russell didn't appear in another film until the 1946 drama Young Widow; afterward, her career took off. In the meanwhile, she married future pro-football Hall-of-Famer Bob Waterfield in 1943. After Waterfield returned from duty after World War II, he played for the Los Angeles Rams until 1952.
Bob Waterfield in a late 1940s Rams photo
the films of jane russell
The Outlaw (1943)
Promotional photos of Jane Russell from The Outlaw
Russell's first film was the notorious western The Outlaw, which became known for its then-shocking display of Russell's charms rather than as a quality western film. Filmed in 1941 and directed by Howard Hawks, American censors almost immediately banned the film. It was briefly released in 1943 and again in 1946 and 1947, but The Outlaw did not gain a wide release until 1950. In some European countries, the film was banned until the early 1960s.
Montana Belle (1952)
Russell in Montana Belle
Although Montana Belle was originally filmed in 1948, the release of this RKO retelling of the Belle Starr story was delayed until 1952, when the film was recut and additional footage was added. This color western is not a bad film by any means and is an early showcase for Jane Russell's singing talent.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Images from in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. LEFT, CENTER A and B: From Russell's musical number Ain't There Anyone Here for Love?. Russell's brother Jamie is pictured in CENTER B, on the far right. CENTER C: Russell with Marilyn Monroe. RIGHT: Promotional photo
The French Line (1954)
Promotional photos from The French Line
Underwater! (1955)
Hot Blood (1956)
With Cornel Wilde in the Columbia musical Hot Blood
After Russell's 1957 film The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown, she called a halt to her filmmaking career. By this time, she and her husband were raising three children, so Russell focused her efforts on her nightclub act and acting on the legitimage stage. In 1967, Russell and Bob Waterfield divorced, and Russell briefly resumed her acting career, appearing in four films between 1964 and 1967. She married Roger Barrett in 1968, but tragically he died just a few months after their wedding at the age of 47. Russell made only one more film, Darker than Amber, in 1970. She remarried again, this time to John Peoples, in 1974. Following her retirement from films, Russell did quite a bit of television work, including commercials for Playtex in the 1970s. Today, Russell is a widow who devotes her efforts to WAIF, an organization she began in the 1950s that helps place abandoned and orphaned children in adoptive homes.
Red Skelton: America's Clown Prince, Vol. 2 (Two-Disc Set) [DVD] DVD
He's one Red that no American minded inviting into his or her home in the '50s and '60s, and here the lovable Skelton brings guest stars Jane Russell, Cesar Romero, Rhonda Fleming, and Ed Wynn with him. See hilarious segments featuring Sheriff Deadeye, Freddie the Freeloader, San Fernando Red, and other Skelton characters. Also included in this collection is footage of Skelton performing on stage, plus his moving "Pledge of Allegiance." 5 hrs. total on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
Classic Car Commercials From The '50s & '60s, Vol. 1 [DVD] DVD
Vintage TV motor ads turn your living room into an auto show! See spots for the `60 Falcon and Thunderbird, `61 Ford, `64 Dodge, and Pat Boone and Dinah Shore for the `59 Chevrolet. Also, Prestone Anti-Freeze, Jane Russell for Lustre Creme's Cadillac Giveaway, and more. 60 min.
Lustre Creme Shampoo Commercials: The Movie Star Collection [DVD] DVD
Shampoo maker Lustre Creme peddled its soap with movie stars in the late `40s and mid-`50s in commercials that featured the lathered heads of Sandra Dee, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Jones, Jane Russell, Barbara Stanwyck, Esther Williams, Piper Laurie, Yvonne DeCarlo, Jeanne Crain and many others. 60 min.
The Ultimate Bob Hope Collection [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "My Favorite Brunette," "Road to Rio," "The Great Lover," "The Lemon Drop Kid," "Road to Bali," "Son of Paleface," "The Seven Little Foys," "Paris Holiday," "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell," and "How to Commit Marriage."
Marilyn Monroe: Special Anniversary Collection [DVD] DVD
Six-disc set includes "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Niagara," "River of No Return," "The Seven Year Itch," "Let's Make Love," and the documentary "Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days."
Robert Mitchum: The Signature Collection [DVD] DVD
Six-disc set includes "Angel Face," "Macao," "Home from the Hill," "The Sundowners" (1960), "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys," and "The Yakuza."
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 3 [DVD] DVD
A Mexican and an American agent team up to take on a California rancher who's been exploiting illegal Mexican farmworkers, in "Border Incident" (1949). Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy star. A professional gambler (Robert Mitchum) and a beautiful singer (Jane Russell) get caught up in a deported crime lord's plan to get back into the U.S., in "His Kind of Woman" (1951). With Vincent Price, Raymond Burr. "YOU look into the gun of a fear-maddened killer" in "Lady in the Lake" (1947), director/star Robert Montgomery's "subjective camera" adaptation of the Raymond Chandler mystery about Detective Philip Marlowe's return to sleuthing. "On Dangerous Ground" (1952) focuses on a hardened New York cop (Robert Ryan) who softens up when he meets a compassionate blind girl (Ida Lupino)...the sister of a murder suspect. "The Racket" (1951) depicts the struggle between the police and the gang of racketeers they hope to put out of business. Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Lizabeth Scott star. Also included in this six-disc set is the documentary "Film Noir: Bringing Darkness Into Light." 8 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; bonus shorts "Women in Hiding" (1940), "You, The People" (1940); more.
The Outlaw [DVD](1943) DVD
Howard Hughes' controversial Western drama, a loose retelling of the story of gunslinger Billy the Kid and lawman Pat Garrett, is best remembered now as the screen debut of Jane Russell (whose natural attributes were emphasized by producer-director Hughes). Jack Buetel, Walter Huston, Thomas Mitchell also star. 117 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English mono.
The Paleface [DVD](1948) DVD
Bob Hope is a daffy dentist and a shaky gun; Jane Russell is the gorgeous gunslinger Calamity Jane, and together they tame the Wild West with laughter in one of Bob's best comedies. Features the Oscar-winning song "Buttons and Bows." 91 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; biographies; production notes; theatrical trailer.
Frank Sinatra: The Early Years [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "Higher and Higher," "Step Lively," "It Happened in Brooklyn," "The Kissing Bandit," and "Double Dynamite" (1951) with Jane Russell.
Son Of Paleface [DVD](1952) DVD
A hilarious vehicle for Bob Hope, who plays "Junior" Potter, the Harvard graduate who ventures out West to claim the inheritance of his frontier "hero" pa. Jane Russell is the saloon-singing object of Hope's affections--and wisecracks, and Roy Rogers and Trigger play themselves. 95 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [DVD](1953) DVD
Showgirls Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell set sail for Paris on an ocean liner with the goal of landing some eligible millionaires in the lively musical/comedy based on Anita Loos' play. With Charles Coburn, Tommy Noonan, and Monroe's legendary "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" number. 91 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English stereo and mono, French; Subtitles: English, Spanish; Movietone newsreel; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Road To Bali [DVD](1953) DVD
The only "Road" movie in color has Bob Hope and Bing Crosby doing their best to dodge trouble, as the pleasure-lovin' pair take jobs as divers in the South Seas. Look for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in a hilarious cameo. Songs include "To See You," "Chicago Style," "Moonflowers." 90 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
Clark Gable Collection [DVD] DVD
In "Call of the Wild" (1935), the first adaptation of the classic Jack London novel to feature sound, Clark Gable stars as Jack Thornton, who strikes up a strong bond with a foul-tempered sled dog while prospecting for gold in Alaska. Loretta Young, Jack Oakie co-star; William Wellman directs. Then, Gable is the rugged title character in "Soldier of Fortune" (1955), a top-notch adventure saga about an American running a smuggling operation in China who is enlisted by beautiful Susan Hayward to find her missing photographer husband. Michael Rennie and Gene Barry also star. And, two ex-Confederate soldiers, brothers Gable and Cameron Mitchell, sign on as cowhands on a hazard-filled run from Texas to Montana, in "The Tall Men" (1955). With Robert Ryan and Jane Russell. 5 hrs. total on three discs. Standard/Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.
The All-Star Christmas Show(1958) VHS
Produced by the USO for the troops overseas, this must-see concert film features over 50 top names from stage, screen and TV in an evening of music and comedy. The stars include Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns, Jimmy Stewart, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Jane Russell and many, many more. 90 min.
Johnny Reno [DVD](1966) DVD
Top-notch sagebrush story about a U.S. marshal who arrives at his new assignment in Stone Junction, Kansas, and finds his work is cut out for him when he must protect an outlaw awaiting trial (and himself) from lynch mobs. With Jane Russell, Lon Chaney, Jr., John Agar and Tom Drake. 82 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English.
Billy Jack: 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collection [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "Born Losers," "Billy Jack," "The Trial of Billy Jack," and "Billy Jack Goes to Washington."
Hunter: The Complete Second Season [DVD](1985) DVD
All 23 episodes from season two--including "Case X," "Killer in a Halloween Mask," "Fagin 1986," the two-part "The Beautiful & the Dead," and "Saturday Night Special"--are collected in a six-disc set. 18 1/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; interviews.
filmography
Darker Than Amber (1970) with Rod Taylor and William Smith
Born Losers (1967) with Tom Laughlin, Jeremy Slate, and William Wellman Jr.
Johnny Reno (1966) with Dana Andrews, John Agar, Lon Chaney Jr., and Richard Arlen
Waco (1966) with Howard Keel, John Agar, Brian Donlevy, Terry Moore, Wendell Corey, Richard Arlen, John Smith, and Jeff Richards
Fate Is the Hunter (1964) with Glenn Ford, Suzanne Pleshette, Rod Taylor, Mark Stevens, and Max Showalter
The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957) with Fred Clark, Ralph Meeker, and Keenan Wynn
The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) with Richard Egan, Sally Todd, Agnes Moorehead, and Joan Leslie
Hot Blood (1956) with Cornel Wilde
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) with Scott Brady, Jeanne Crain, Alan Young, and Rudy Vallee
Underwater! (1955) with Richard Egan, Gilbert Roland, and Lori Nelson
The Tall Men (1955) with Clark Gable, Robert Ryan, and Cameron Mitchell
Foxfire (1955) with Jeff Chandler, Mara Corday, and Dan Duryea
The French Line (1954) with Gilbert Roland, Craig Stevens, Joi Lansing, and Jean Moorhead; originally released in 3-D
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) with Marilyn Monroe and Tommy Noonan
Macao (1952) with Robert Mitchum, Gloria Grahame, and William Bendix
Road to Bali (1952) with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour
Son of Paleface (1952) with Bob Hope, Bill Williams, and Roy Rogers
Montana Belle (1952) with George Brent and Scott Brady
The Las Vegas Story (1952) with Victor Mature and Vincent Price
Double Dynamite (1951) with Groucho Marx and Frank Sinatra
His Kind of Woman (1951) with Robert Mitchum, Vincent Price, and Tim Holt
The Paleface (1948) with Bob Hope
Young Widow (1946) with Louis Hayward and Faith Domergue
The Outlaw (1943) with Jack Buetel and Walter Huston
TELEVISION APPEARANCES
Hunter, episode Burned, originally aired January 18, 1986
The Yellow Rose, episode Chapter XIX: Sacred Ground, originally aired March 10, 1984
The Yellow Rose, episode Chapter XVII, originally aired February 25, 1984
The Yellow Rose, episode Chapter XII: Divide and Conquer, originally aired January 7, 1984
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, episode Ballad For A Bad Man, originally aired December 23, 1958
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This page premiered March 1, 2001.
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